Buffer Status Reporting in Base Station Protocol Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rapid increase in mobile data usage and user applications in wireless communication systems leads to a high number of internal control messages within network entities, causing processing delays and degrading the quality of service (QoS).
Innovation Solution
A method and system for efficient buffer status reporting at a base station, which involves identifying transmission opportunities, determining a time interval for sending buffer status reports based on transmission capacity and packet incoming rates, and sending reports from the radio link control layer to the medium access control layer, reducing the frequency of internal control messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If buffer status reports are sent frequently to maintain accurate buffer status information, then measurement precision is improved, but processing delays increase and quality of service degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic buffer status reporting where the RLC layer sends buffer status reports to the MAC layer at determined time intervals rather than continuously or on every buffer update. This periodic action reduces the frequency of control messages while maintaining adequate buffer status information for scheduling decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the time interval for buffer status reporting based on buffer occupancy thresholds, packet arrival rates, and transmission opportunities. By changing the reporting parameter (time interval) adaptively, the system balances between providing accurate buffer status information and minimizing processing delays.
2Loss of time
If the number of internal control messages is reduced to decrease processing delays, then loss of time is improved, but measurement precision of buffer status deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculations to determine optimal buffer status reporting time intervals based on expected buffer occupancy, packet arrival rates, and MAC layer transmission opportunities. By pre-determining when reports should be sent based on predicted conditions, the system reduces the number of control messages while ensuring reports are sent at appropriate times to maintain scheduling accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The RLC layer autonomously determines when to send buffer status reports to the MAC layer based on its own buffer occupancy conditions and the MAC layer's transmission opportunities. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for frequent MAC layer requests, reducing control message overhead while maintaining adequate buffer status information.
3Speed
If buffer status reports are sent at every transmission opportunity to maintain real-time buffer status, then speed of information update is improved, but productivity of the system decreases due to increased processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of sending buffer status reports at every transmission opportunity, the patent implements periodic reporting where the RLC layer determines specific time intervals for sending reports. This reduces the frequency of control messages and associated processing overhead, thereby improving system productivity while maintaining adequate buffer status update speed for effective scheduling.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for efficient buffer status reporting at a base station is provided. The method may include identifying a transmission opportunity associated with a first protocol layer of the base station, where the transmission opportunity indicates a transmission capacity of the base station. The method may further include determining, via one or more hardware processors, a time interval for sending a buffer status report from a second protocol layer of the base station to the first protocol layer based on at least the transmission opportunity. The method may further include determining, via the one or more hardware processors, an expected buffer occupancy based on at least the time interval and a packet incoming rate associated with downlink packets, and sending the buffer status report from the second protocol layer to the first protocol layer based on at least the time interval.