Bandwidth Optimization System for Mobile Network Congestion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Network congestion in mobile communications networks is a persistent issue due to varying bandwidth demands, often resulting in prolonged response times, increased error rates, and dropped connections, as existing solutions like transcoding, transrating, caching, and media link adaptation are either impractical or limited in scope when applied on a network-wide basis.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for detecting congested cells in mobile communications networks, identifying subscribers with active data sessions, and optimizing bandwidth usage by applying media delivery optimization functions such as traffic shaping, transcoding, transrating, caching, and media link adaptation on a per-subscriber basis, utilizing subscriber profiles and network sampling to determine the most effective optimization techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network-wide transcoding, transrating, or caching is implemented to combat congestion, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but device complexity and infrastructure cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements media delivery optimization selectively in congested cells rather than network-wide. The system detects congestion conditions and applies transcoding, transrating, or caching only to subscribers in affected cells, maintaining bandwidth efficiency while avoiding the complexity of network-wide deployment. This localized approach allows the network to combat congestion where it occurs without the overhead of universal implementation.
2Reliability
If traffic shaping policies are enforced to prevent congestion, then network stability improves, but subscriber service quality varies by priority level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts traffic shaping parameters based on congestion conditions and subscriber priority. During congestion, the system modifies bandwidth allocation parameters to maintain service quality for high-priority subscribers while restricting lower-priority traffic. This allows the network to maintain stability through traffic shaping while managing the variation in service quality through priority-based parameter adjustment rather than uniform restriction.
3Productivity
If buffer management manipulates time-to-view to match download rate with viewing rate, then bandwidth demand is reduced, but user experience quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies buffer management and time-to-view manipulation selectively rather than universally. The system monitors download rates and buffer status, applying TTV adjustments only when necessary to prevent congestion while maintaining acceptable user experience. This partial application allows bandwidth demand reduction through buffer management without consistently compromising user experience quality across all subscribers.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for alleviation of congestion in a mobile communications network includes detecting congested cells in the mobile communications network, identifying subscribers with active data sessions in the congested cells; and optimizing bandwidth usage for at least one of the identified subscribers. A bandwidth optimization system includes a network sampling interface to receive at least subscriber, cell and data session identifiers from a network data packet sampler, where the sampler identifies the identifiers from internal data traffic within a mobile communications network, and a network awareness engine (NAE) to at least cross reference the identifiers with external data traffic output by the mobile communications network to at least detect congested cells and associated subscriber data sessions emanating from the mobile communications network.