Base Station Access Network Congestion Control via PCRF Resource Reallocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly LTE, face challenges in managing access network congestion, leading to poor user experience due to uneven radio frequency resource allocation, resulting in congested and over-served states among user equipment, which can cause call delays and poor voice quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for access network congestion control that involves sending congestion reports from base stations to a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) network element, allowing for radio frequency resource adjustments by reallocating resources from over-served user equipment to congested ones, ensuring smooth communication by optimizing resource allocation based on predefined policies and algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If radio frequency resources are allocated to user equipment in an over-served state, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but communication quality deteriorates due to congestion in congested user equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating resource allocation strategies for different user equipment states. Congested UE receives resource guarantees to maintain minimum communication quality, while over-served UE has resources limited or reallocated. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable communication for congested users without completely sacrificing overall resource utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation through the PCRF network element that continuously monitors UE states (congested, normal, over-served) and adjusts resource policies in real-time. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to shift resources from over-served to congested users as conditions change, maintaining both communication quality and resource utilization efficiency under varying network conditions.
2Reliability
If resource allocation is increased for congested user equipment, then communication quality is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates due to over-allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures that resource allocation improvements are localized only to congested user equipment that actually needs them, rather than uniformly increasing resources for all users. This targeted approach improves communication quality for affected users while avoiding wasteful over-allocation to users who are already well-served, thus maintaining overall resource utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCRF network element implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring UE communication states and adjusting resource allocation policies accordingly. When congestion is detected, resources are allocated to improve communication quality; when congestion resolves, allocation is optimized back to maintain efficiency. This feedback-driven dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between quality improvement and efficiency preservation.
3Ease of operation
If uniform resource allocation is applied to all user equipment, then ease of operation is improved, but communication quality deteriorates due to congestion in high-traffic scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces uniform resource allocation with localized differentiation based on actual UE states. The system automatically identifies congested, normal, and over-served users and applies appropriate resource policies to each category. This maintains operational simplicity through automated state-based classification while dramatically improving communication quality by providing targeted resource support to congested users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automated UE state monitoring and policy enforcement by the PCRF network element. Rather than requiring manual resource allocation decisions, the system automatically detects congestion states and adjusts resource allocation accordingly, maintaining ease of operation while preventing communication quality deterioration in high-traffic scenarios.
4Productivity
If resource allocation is reduced for over-served user equipment, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex resource management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback-driven automated resource management where the PCRF network element continuously monitors UE states and dynamically adjusts allocation policies. This automation handles the complexity of differential resource management (identifying over-served users, calculating appropriate reductions, and enforcing limits) without requiring manual intervention, thus maintaining resource utilization efficiency while preserving operational simplicity through system automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically managing complex resource allocation decisions. The PCRF network element autonomously identifies over-served user equipment, determines appropriate resource limits or reallocation strategies, and enforces these policies without human intervention. This self-managing approach resolves the contradiction by handling resource management complexity internally while maintaining overall system efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
An access network congestion control method, a base station device, and a policy and charging rules function network element are provided. The method includes the following steps: sending a congestion report to a policy and charging rules function network element (PCRF), where the congestion report includes information about user equipment in a congested state in at least one user equipment, information about user equipment in an over-served state in at least one user equipment, and information about radio frequency resources occupied by the user equipment in the congested state and the user equipment in the over-served state (S101); receiving a radio frequency resource adjustment policy sent by the PCRF (S102); and performing the radio frequency resource adjustment policy for the user equipment in the congested state and the user equipment in the over-served state (S103). A corresponding base station device and PCRF are further disclosed. According to embodiments of the present invention, when congestion occurs in a radio access network, radio frequency resources that are of user equipment in a congested state and that are of user equipment in an over-served state may be reallocated to ensure smooth communication.