Cell Load Assessment for Deterministic Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cellular networks struggle to guarantee data transmission parameters such as latency, packet loss, and data rate for User Equipment (UE) due to non-deterministic resource allocation, leading to potential service rejection or suboptimal performance.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that determine a UE's traffic profile and assess whether a cell can guarantee specific data transmission parameters by comparing resource capabilities with the UE's requirements, allowing detachment if guarantees cannot be met and enabling attachment if they can, with the option to switch to a more relaxed traffic profile if resources are insufficient.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the network allocates resources to maximize spectral efficiency and throughput, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates because the network cannot guarantee data transmission parameters such as latency and packet loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiency and throughputVSAvoidguarantee of data transmission parameters
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into multiple cell types: overload cells that handle best-effort traffic and underload cells that can guarantee data transmission parameters. This segmentation allows the network to simultaneously optimize for throughput in overload cells while providing reliability guarantees in underload cells, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality levels of service are provided locally based on cell conditions. Underload cells provide guaranteed service with deterministic parameters, while overload cells provide best-effort service. The network dynamically determines which cell type applies to each UE based on current resource availability, allowing local optimization of both productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the network accepts all UE attach requests, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates because the network may reject bearer requests when resources are allocated already

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE attach acceptanceVSAvoidbearer request fulfillment
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary assessment of resource availability before accepting UE attach requests. By evaluating whether the cell is in an underload or overload state prior to attachment, the network can determine in advance whether it can guarantee the required data transmission parameters, preventing future rejections and ensuring reliable service from the outset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The determination of cell load state (underload/overload) acts as an intermediary mechanism between UE attach requests and resource allocation. This intermediary assessment enables the network to adaptively accept or reject attachments based on current conditions, maintaining both high adaptability and reliable bearer request fulfillment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the network provides best effort service to all UEs, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates because service delivery is non-deterministic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice delivery simplicityVSAvoiddeterministic service delivery
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network dynamically adjusts the service model based on cell conditions. Cells transition between providing best-effort service (overload state) and guaranteed service (underload state) based on real-time resource availability. This dynamic adaptation allows the network to maintain ease of operation while providing deterministic service delivery when resources permit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The network changes the service parameters (from best-effort to guaranteed) based on cell load state. When a cell transitions from overload to underload state, the service parameters change to provide guarantees on latency, packet loss, and data rate. This parameter change enables the network to maintain operational simplicity while achieving reliable deterministic service delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3791508B1Determining whether a cell can guarantee at least one data transmission parameter
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3791508B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3791508B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In one example aspect, a method is provided of determining whether a cell can guarantee at least one data transmission parameter, the method comprising, in response to a notification of an attach procedure of a User Equipment (UE) to attach to a cell, determining a traffic profile for the UE, wherein the traffic profile indicates the at least one data transmission parameter for the UE, and determining whether the cell can guarantee the at least one data transmission parameter for the UE based on the traffic profile and available resources for the cell.