Bandwidth Throttling in Radio Access Network Overload

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radio Access Networks (RAN) face overload issues due to increasing data service demands, leading to resource cannibalization by heavy users in congested areas, which affects network resource distribution and usage.

Innovation Solution

A bandwidth management system that monitors cell load status, identifies overloaded regions, and downgrades bandwidth allocated to User Equipment (UE) in those areas to prevent resource cannibalization and ensure fair distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bandwidth is allocated to UEs in overloaded regions, then individual user data service quality is improved, but network resource overload worsens and resources are cannibalized by heavy users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata service qualityVSAvoidnetwork resource distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the bandwidth allocation parameter for UEs based on their location in overloaded regions. When a UE is identified as being in an overloaded region, the system modifies the bandwidth parameter from the originally allocated amount to a throttled amount, thereby preventing resource cannibalization while maintaining service quality through adaptive parameter adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the location of UEs is continuously monitored and used to determine bandwidth allocation. The system receives UE location information, identifies whether the UE is in an overloaded region, and adjusts bandwidth allocation accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures that bandwidth management responds dynamically to network conditions and user locations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If bandwidth is allocated to all UEs uniformly, then service fairness is improved, but network overload worsens in congested areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice fairnessVSAvoidnetwork overload status
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different bandwidth allocation policies to different geographic locations rather than treating all UEs uniformly. UEs in overloaded regions receive throttled bandwidth allocation, while UEs in non-overloaded regions receive normal allocation. This local differentiation maintains fairness within each region's capacity constraints while preventing overall network overload

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4064756B1Bandwidth throttling in a radio access network
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP4064756B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4064756B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4064756B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Systems, methods, and software of managing bandwidth allocated to User Equipment (UE). In one embodiment, a bandwidth management system collects cell load information for a plurality of cells within a Radio Access Network (RAN), and processes the cell load information to determine a cell load status for each of the cells. The system performs bandwidth throttling for the UE by determining a location of the UE, identifying the cell load status for one or more cells in a region of the RAN corresponding with the location of the UE, determining whether the region of the RAN is overloaded based on the cell load status, and controlling a downgrade of bandwidth allocated to the UE in the RAN responsive to a determination that the region is overloaded.