Data Session Scheduling for Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication systems, users often experience low data rates and lengthy download times due to network congestion and limited capacity, despite advanced technologies like LTE, leading to inefficient network utilization and potential revenue loss during off-peak hours.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that link user data session requirements to network conditions, allowing for delayed data session setup based on sensed or provided network load, using a communication device to acknowledge requests and schedule sessions when network conditions are favorable, thereby optimizing data throughput and network efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If data sessions are scheduled during peak hours to meet user demand, then user service availability is improved, but network congestion and data throughput deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser service availabilityVSAvoidnetwork data throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by scheduling and queuing data sessions during off-peak hours before peak demand occurs. The network scheduler pre-allocates resources and prepares data transmissions during low-utilization periods, so that when peak hours arrive, the data is already ready for immediate delivery, thus maintaining user service availability while avoiding peak-hour congestion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling system dynamically adjusts data session timing based on real-time network conditions. The scheduler monitors network load and automatically shifts data transmissions from congested peak periods to less busy off-peak periods, creating a dynamic balance between user service requirements and network throughput capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If data sessions are delayed to off-peak hours to reduce network congestion, then network efficiency is improved, but user download time and responsiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoiduser download time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-scheduling data sessions during off-peak hours. The network scheduler queues data transmissions and pre-allocates resources during low-utilization periods, preparing data for immediate delivery when users initiate requests, thus delivering data quickly without actual delay while improving overall network efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network scheduler acts as an intermediary between user data requests and the physical network transmission medium. It buffers and manages data sessions, decoupling user requests from actual transmission timing, allowing users to experience immediate responsiveness while the scheduler handles transmissions during efficient off-peak periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If network capacity is increased to handle peak-hour demand, then data throughput is improved, but network cost and resource utilization during off-peak hours deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata throughputVSAvoidnetwork resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduling system dynamically adjusts resource allocation based on temporal network conditions. During peak hours, full network capacity is utilized to meet demand; during off-peak hours, the scheduler reduces active transmissions to match lower utilization needs, thereby maintaining high data throughput when required while minimizing energy consumption and resource waste during low-demand periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by shifting data transmission timing from peak to off-peak periods. This temporal parameter adjustment allows the network to operate at optimal capacity levels throughout the day, maintaining high throughput during peak hours while reducing energy consumption during off-peak hours when demand is lower.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2649856B1Load sensitive data session scheduling mechanisms for wireless/wireline access networks
Publication Date: 2015.06.24 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2649856B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2649856B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2649856B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method and apparatus for linking user requirements of data sessions to the network conditions. Such a method and apparatus achieves mutually beneficial results for the user and for the network by providing an application making an advance request for a data session which communication device will immediately acknowledge but will attend to the request at its convenience. This data session setup is based on the actual network conditions which are either sensed by the device or provided by an agent in the network. The method can be overlaid on top of existing wireless handsets using existing technologies. Hence all the flexibility and configurability associated with data sessions offered by the existing solutions can remain intact with added advantages for the customer and the operator. In various embodiments, the method makes use of a network load measurement capability in the device and/or a network agent.