Network Congestion Detection via Priority-Based Bearer Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing data packets generated by machine-type communications (MTC) devices, leading to network congestion due to the inability to differentiate and prioritize data traffic effectively.
Innovation Solution
The infrastructure equipment dynamically configures communications bearers based on the type of data packets, using indicators such as low priority and MTC indicators to manage network congestion by storing lower priority data packets and prioritizing higher priority packets, and discarding lower priority packets when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the network accepts all data packets from MTC devices without differentiation, then the network capacity is fully utilized, but network congestion occurs and service quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data packets into different priority levels (high priority and low priority) based on their importance. High priority packets are transmitted immediately while low priority packets are buffered or discarded, preventing network congestion while ensuring critical services maintain quality. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by dividing the homogeneous data stream into heterogeneous categories with different handling rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality of service (QoS) treatments to different data packets based on their priority classification. High priority packets receive preferential treatment (immediate transmission, guaranteed bandwidth) while low priority packets receive standard or reduced treatment (buffering, discarding). This local differentiation of quality resolves the contradiction by ensuring critical services maintain high reliability while allowing non-critical services to be sacrificed during congestion.
2Reliability
If the network prioritizes high priority data packets by buffering and discarding low priority packets, then service quality is maintained, but network resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively buffering only low priority packets while immediately transmitting high priority packets. Instead of buffering all packets or applying uniform QoS, the system applies differentiated actions based on packet priority. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining service quality for critical packets while efficiently utilizing network resources for non-critical packets without unnecessary buffering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the handling parameters (transmission timing, buffering duration, discarding threshold) based on packet priority classification. High priority packets have parameters set for immediate transmission with minimal buffering, while low priority packets have parameters allowing buffering and potential discarding. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing resource utilization while maintaining service quality through priority-based differentiation.
3Productivity
If the network buffers low priority data packets for later transmission, then network congestion is reduced, but transmission delay increases for these packets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional FIFO (first-in-first-out) buffering approach by prioritizing high priority packets for immediate transmission while allowing low priority packets to be buffered or discarded. Instead of treating all packets equally in buffer queues, the system reverses the priority logic by giving preferential treatment to high priority packets and accepting delayed or lost low priority packets. This resolves the contradiction by reducing congestion through selective buffering while minimizing the impact on overall transmission delay.
Data Source
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AI summary
An infrastructure equipment is for forming part of a mobile communications network. The mobile communications network is arranged to communicate data to and/or from mobile communications devices. The infrastructure equipment is arranged in operation to receive an indication of one or more communications bearers provided by the mobile communications network on request to the mobile communications devices in accordance with a relative type of data packets communicated via the communications bearers for supporting communications sessions, the indications of the type of the data packets being used to configure the communications bearers, to determine the number of bearers of each of the type of the communications bearers for a plurality of pre-determined types provided to the mobile communications devices within the mobile communications network, and to determine a state of the mobile communications network in accordance with the number of each type of the communications bearers for each of the plurality of pre-determined types. By for example counting the number of each of the different types or communications bearers provided by the mobile communications network, an assessment can be made of the state of the mobile communications network, for example by comparing the number of each of the different types of communications bearers with one or more corresponding predetermined thresholds. As such, for example, if one or more of the count of each of the types of communications bearers exceeds the corresponding threshold then the mobile communications network can be determined to be in a congested state. The mobile communications network can then control the communication of data packets via the communications bearers to reduce the congestion.