Base Station Dynamic Resource Allocation for Broadcast Unicast Services

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication networks face inefficiencies in resource allocation between unicast and broadcast services due to inaccurate demand estimates, leading to excess carrier resources being dedicated to few users, resulting in suboptimal use of system resources.

Innovation Solution

A method where a base station dynamically allocates users and resources between broadcast and unicast services by monitoring the number of users accessing broadcast content on each carrier, transferring users to other carriers when necessary, and reallocating resources based on predefined thresholds to optimize resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If carrier resources are dedicated to eMBMS transmissions based on network operator's usage estimates, then broadcast service can be provided, but system resources are inefficiently used when estimates are inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebroadcast service provisionVSAvoidsystem resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the base station continuously monitors the number of UEs interested in broadcast services and adjusts carrier resource allocation between unicast and broadcast functions in real-time, rather than using static pre-provisioned allocation based on estimates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The base station receives feedback from UEs through interest indication messages that report the number of users interested in specific broadcast services, using this feedback to dynamically adjust resource allocation decisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If excess carrier resources are dedicated to eMBMS transmissions, then broadcast service coverage is maintained, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebroadcast service coverageVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the amount of carrier resources allocated to eMBMS transmissions based on actual UE interest levels, reducing resource allocation when fewer UEs are interested and maintaining coverage when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The base station changes the parameter of resource allocation by adjusting the number of subframes dedicated to broadcast transmissions based on monitored UE interest, optimizing the balance between coverage and efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3183928B1Dynamic resource allocation by base station providing both broadcast and unicast services
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3183928B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3183928B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3183928B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A base station (10) dynamically allocates users among broadcast carriers and dynamically allocates carrier resources between broadcast and unicast service, based on the number of users actually receiving broadcast service on a carrier. The base station (10) periodically measures (204) the number of broadcast-only users registered to a carrier. As the number of such users decreases, the remaining idle broadcast-only are transferred (212) to other carriers transmitting the same broadcast content, and carrier resources are reallocated (208) to unicast service. When the carrier is moderately loaded, it may accept broadcast users transferred from other, lightly-loaded carriers, which are attempting to shed users to reallocate resources to unicast service. As the carrier becomes more heavily loaded, it will refuse (216) to accept transferred broadcast users. When the carrier's load reaches an upper threshold, the base station (10) allocates (220) resources of a new carrier to broadcast service, and moves users to the new carrier.