User Device Control Plane Latency Measurement for Drive Testing Minimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated approaches for minimizing drive testing in wireless communication networks are inefficient, as they do not effectively measure control plane latency and resource allocation delays, which are critical for improving network performance, especially with the increasing dominance of data communication devices like smartphones.
Innovation Solution
Implementing mechanisms in user devices to measure and report the elapsed time for uplink transmission resource requests, allowing for the collection and transmission of latency-related measurement information to base stations, enabling network performance adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If automated approaches are used for minimizing drive testing, then cost and environmental impact are reduced, but measurement capability for control plane latency and resource allocation delays is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The user device autonomously measures control plane latency and resource allocation delays using its own processing capabilities and existing measurement functions, without requiring external measurement equipment or drive testing vehicles. The device self-configures measurement parameters, performs measurements on uplink resource allocation, and generates reports automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The user device's existing measurement and reporting infrastructure is extended to perform multiple measurement functions including control plane latency measurement, resource allocation delay measurement, and signal quality measurement, making the device a universal measurement platform that eliminates the need for specialized drive testing equipment.
2Measurement precision
If drive testing is performed to gather network performance data, then measurement capability is improved, but cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using physical drive testing vehicles equipped with measurement equipment, the invention uses copies of the measurement functionality already present in user devices. The user device replicates the measurement capabilities previously requiring external equipment, thereby eliminating the need for costly and environmentally impactful drive testing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The user device independently performs network performance measurements without requiring external measurement systems or human operators to conduct drive tests. The device self-configures measurement parameters, executes measurements for control plane latency and resource allocation, and autonomously reports results to the network.
3Speed
If immediate MDT reporting is used, then reporting speed is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reporting mechanism dynamically adapts between immediate reporting and logged reporting modes based on network conditions and resource availability. The system can switch reporting strategies in real-time, using immediate reporting when network resources are abundant and logged reporting when resources are constrained, thereby optimizing the balance between reporting speed and resource consumption.
4Use of energy by moving object
If logged MDT reporting is used, then network resource consumption is reduced, but reporting delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between logged reporting and immediate reporting based on current network conditions, measurement urgency, and resource availability. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to minimize reporting delays when possible while conserving network resources when conditions warrant deferred reporting.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and techniques for minimize drive testing measurements. Network elements including UEs and eNBs are configured to define measurement procedures to determine control plane latency affecting scheduling requests, RACH procedures, and combinations thereof. Upon initiation of a request for uplink resources, such as a scheduling request or a RACH procedure, a UE notes the time of the request and measures the time until its fulfillment. If a scheduling request fails, a RACH procedure may be performed and in such cases, the time from initiation of the scheduling request, through its failure, until successful completion of the RACH procedure may be measured. Once a measurement has been made, the measured duration and other associated information are assembled and analyzed, and when the measurement and other information meets criteria for inclusion in a measurement report, the report is assembled and sent, or logged for sending, to an eNB.