Carrier Load Balancing via Air-Interface Utilization Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in managing air-interface utilization across multiple channels, leading to uneven load distribution and potential bottlenecks, which can result in suboptimal performance and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method where a base station calculates and compares the average air-interface utilization of multiple channels, selectively transferring wireless devices from a busy channel to a less busy one, ensuring that the transferred devices' utilization exceeds half the difference between the two channels' utilizations, thereby converging the load and optimizing channel usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless devices are concentrated on a single channel to simplify channel management, then device connectivity is maintained, but air-interface utilization becomes unbalanced and bottlenecks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless device population across multiple channels based on air-interface utilization metrics. Instead of managing all devices on a single channel, the system divides devices into different channel groups, allowing parallel utilization of multiple channels while maintaining balanced load distribution. This resolves the contradiction by preserving operational simplicity through automated segmentation rules while improving productivity through multi-channel parallelism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic channel assignment where devices are continuously monitored and reassigned based on real-time air-interface utilization measurements. When one channel becomes overloaded, devices are dynamically transferred to underutilized channels. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple centralized control logic while achieving balanced resource utilization across multiple channels through continuous adjustment.
2Productivity
If devices are evenly distributed across multiple channels to balance load, then air-interface utilization is optimized, but channel management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the system automatically monitors air-interface utilization on each channel and autonomously decides which devices to transfer between channels. The base station measures utilization metrics, identifies imbalances, and executes device transfers without manual intervention. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by achieving balanced load distribution across multiple channels while keeping management complexity hidden within the automated control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback loops where air-interface utilization measurements are continuously collected from each channel, compared against target utilization thresholds, and used to trigger device transfer decisions. This feedback-driven automation resolves the contradiction by implementing sophisticated load balancing through simple threshold-based rules, optimizing productivity while maintaining manageable system complexity through reactive control.
3Stability of the object's composition
If air-interface utilization threshold is set low to ensure balanced load, then channel utilization equality is improved, but device transfer frequency increases causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by setting the air-interface utilization threshold at an intermediate value that triggers device transfers only when necessary to correct significant imbalances. Rather than triggering transfers at every minor deviation (excessive action), the system waits until utilization differences exceed the threshold, reducing unnecessary transfers while still maintaining acceptable balance. This resolves the contradiction by achieving sufficient load balance with minimal transfer overhead.
4Loss of time
If air-interface utilization threshold is set high to reduce device transfers, then system stability is improved, but channel utilization balance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the utilization threshold parameter based on system conditions and channel characteristics. Rather than using a fixed high threshold that would allow severe imbalances, the system optimizes the threshold value to achieve the right balance between transfer frequency and load equality. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the threshold setting that minimizes both transfer overhead and utilization imbalance simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. A first set of wireless devices is communicated with using a first frequency range. A second set of wireless devices is communicated with using a second frequency range. A first air-interface utilization associated with the first frequency range is determined. The first air-interface utilization is determined to satisfy a criteria. A second air-interface utilization associated with the second frequency range is determined. A subset of the first set of wireless devices is selected. The subset is selected to have a total air interface utilization that exceeds one-half of the difference between the first air-interface utilization and the second air-interface utilization. The subset of wireless devices is controlled to use the second frequency range.