Base Station Reflective QoS Management via Selective SDAP Header Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing uplink quality of service (QoS) in 5G mobile communication networks are inefficient, particularly when using the control plane to configure reflective QoS, as they result in wastage of radio resources and increased complexity due to the need to transmit QoS flow IDs (QFI) for all packets, even when only a specific QoS flow is applicable.

Innovation Solution

Implement a method where the base station (BS) selectively sets the reflective QoS indicator (RQI) and/or QoS flow ID (QFI) in the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) header only for packets that require it, using a timer to manage the lifetime of QoS rules and reducing the frequency of setting RQI and QFI, thereby optimizing resource usage and reducing battery consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control plane is used to configure reflective QoS by transmitting QFI for all packets, then QoS management is achieved, but radio resources are wasted and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS management effectivenessVSAvoidradio resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the QFI transmission selective rather than universal. The base station determines whether to include QFI in the SDAP header based on specific conditions (whether the UE has stored QoS rules matching the current packet). This means QFI is transmitted only where needed (local requirement) rather than in all packets, thereby reducing overall radio resource consumption while maintaining QoS management effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by transmitting QFI only for a subset of packets rather than all packets. The base station performs partial transmission of QFI information based on whether the UE has relevant QoS rules stored. This partial transmission approach is sufficient to maintain QoS management while avoiding the excessive resource consumption of universal QFI transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If QFI is transmitted in SDAP header for all packets, then reflective QoS is maintained, but device complexity and processing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereflective QoS integrityVSAvoidbase station processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station applies local quality by making its processing effort proportional to the actual need. It checks whether the UE has stored QoS rules that match the current packet and only transmits QFI when necessary. This selective approach reduces the base station's processing burden while maintaining reflective QoS integrity for packets that require it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The UE serves itself by maintaining stored QoS rules that allow it to independently determine QoS requirements for certain packets. This self-service capability reduces the need for continuous base station intervention and QFI transmission, thereby reducing base station processing complexity while maintaining QoS integrity through the UE's own rule-based determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If RQI and QFI are set frequently in SDAP header, then QoS flow identification is accurate, but radio resources are consumed unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS flow identification accuracyVSAvoidradio resource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by having the UE maintain stored QoS rules that are periodically updated and used for packet classification. Instead of requiring continuous QFI transmission with every packet, the UE uses its stored rules periodically to determine QoS requirements, reducing the frequency of RQI and QFI setting in the SDAP header while maintaining accurate QoS flow identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE performs preliminary action by pre-storing QoS rules before packets arrive. These pre-stored rules allow the UE to independently identify QoS flows without requiring frequent QFI transmission from the base station. This preliminary preparation reduces the need for continuous RQI and QFI setting, thereby reducing radio resource consumption while maintaining identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3614721B1Method for managing uplink quality of service and base station for performing same method
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3614721B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3614721B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3614721B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A disclosure of the present specification provides a method for managing uplink quality of service (QoS) by a base station. The method may comprise the steps of: determining whether a timer, driven by a terminal in relation to reflective QoS, has expired; during driving of the timer of the terminal, transmitting multiple packets within a traffic flow, to which the reflective QoS is applied, without setting at least one of a reflective QoS indication (RQI) and a QoS flow ID (QFI) for the multiple packets therewithin; and before expiration of the timer being driven by the terminal, setting at least one of the RQI and the QFI for at least one packet within the traffic flow and transmitting the set packet.