Buffer Status Reporting Using Multiple Transport Blocks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the LTE communication system, User Equipment (UE) lacks a method to report buffer status using multiple Transport Blocks (TBs) in a coordinated manner, which limits efficient resource allocation and utilization of radio resources.

Innovation Solution

The UE selects a TB compliant with specific conditions to transmit Buffer Status Reports (BSRs), utilizing padding bits and channel quality to efficiently report buffer status across multiple Logical Channel Groups (LCGs), allowing flexible use of multiple TBs within a Transmission Time Interval (TTI).

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the UE uses only one TB to report buffer status, then the reporting method is simple, but the resource utilization is insufficient and transmission efficiency is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidreporting method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the buffer status reporting across multiple TBs instead of using a single TB. Each TB can carry BSR for specific LCGs, allowing parallel transmission of buffer status information for different logical channel groups, thereby improving transmission efficiency without requiring a completely new reporting mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a one-dimensional reporting approach (single TB) to a multi-dimensional approach by utilizing multiple TBs in the time-frequency space. This allows simultaneous reporting of buffer status for multiple LCGs across different TBs, effectively adding spatial and temporal dimensions to the reporting structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the UE uses multiple TBs to report buffer status, then the resource utilization improves, but the coordination method becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidcoordination method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by assigning specific LCGs to specific TBs based on their characteristics. Each TB is optimized to carry BSR for particular LCGs, allowing targeted resource allocation and simplifying the coordination logic by creating clear mappings between TBs and LCGs rather than requiring complex global optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the mapping relationships between LCGs and TBs before actual buffer status reporting. This allows the UE to efficiently select which TB to use for reporting without real-time complex calculations, reducing coordination complexity while maintaining high resource utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If padding bits are not utilized, then the TB structure is simple, but the transmission capacity is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capacityVSAvoidTB structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies self-service by having the UE autonomously utilize its own padding bits to carry BSR information. The UE identifies available padding bits in allocated TBs and automatically embeds buffer status reports within them, transforming previously wasted resources into useful transmission capacity without requiring external assistance or complex reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3664387B1Method and apparatus for reporting buffer status
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3664387B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3664387B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3664387B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and an apparatus for reporting buffer status are provided. The method includes: obtaining multiple Transport Blocks (TBs) from a base station within one Transmission Time Interval (TTI); selecting a TB compliant with a condition of transmitting a Buffer Status Report (BSR) among the multiple TBs; and bearing a BSR of a Logical Channel Group (LCG) and a Control Element (CE) sub-header of the BSR onto the selected TB and sending the TB to the base station. In this way, a UE can make full use of the padding bits of the obtained multiple TBs, and report the buffer status flexibly.