Active UE Estimation per QCI Using Buffer Status Reports

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE systems face challenges in accurately estimating the number of active mobile terminals per quality of service class identifier (QCI) due to the need to determine QCI after successful data reception, leading to complex interactions and varying results across different implementations.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves determining the number of active UEs per QCI based on the last received buffer status report, considering semi-persistent scheduling grants, and using history information to assess activity over a defined period, simplifying the calculation by assuming all QCIs within a logical channel group have the same needs and considering each data radio bearer without padding as active.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If QCI is determined after successful data reception, then measurement accuracy can be improved, but device complexity and implementation variability increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of active UE estimationVSAvoidcomplexity of QCI determination process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining QCI from the buffer status report before data reception occurs. The base station extracts QCI information from the BSR message itself, which is transmitted in advance of actual data transmission. This allows the active UE estimation to be performed based on pre-scheduled resources and pre-indicated QCI values, eliminating the need to wait for successful data reception while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If buffer status reports are frequently transmitted, then scheduling precision is improved, but system overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of scheduling decisionsVSAvoidsystem overhead from reporting
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts QCI information directly from the buffer status report message structure. By parsing the QCI field that is already embedded in the BSR, the base station obtains quality of service classification without requiring separate signaling messages. This extraction approach provides precise scheduling information while minimizing additional overhead, as the QCI data is obtained as a byproduct of the existing BSR transmission mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If per-logical-channel buffer reporting is implemented, then scheduling accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuffer information accuracyVSAvoidreporting overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the buffer status report serve multiple functions simultaneously. The single BSR message structure is designed to convey both the total buffered data amount and the QCI classification information. This multi-functional approach allows the base station to obtain both aggregate buffer status and quality of service details from one reporting message, achieving comprehensive scheduling accuracy without proportionally increasing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2394458B1Method and apparatus for estimating a quantity of mobile terminals per quality of service class identifier
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 LENOVO GRP LTD
  • EP2394458B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2394458B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2394458B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, and systems for measuring, on a per-QoS-class basis, the average number of user devices active on the uplink of a wireless communication system are disclosed. In an exemplary method, a number of mobile terminals with buffered data for transmission to a base station is estimated based on received buffer status reports. An estimated quantity of active mobile terminals is calculated, based on the received buffer status reports and a number of mobile terminals for which a semi-persistent scheduling grant has been granted. In some embodiments, the estimated quantity of active mobile terminals is estimated on a per-traffic-class basis, in which case the technique includes calculating first and second estimated quantities, corresponding to mobile terminals having active data bearers for first and second traffic classes, respectively, based on the received buffer status reports and the number of mobile terminals for which a semi-persistent scheduling grant has been granted.