Downlink Scheduling Pre-Scheduling Idle DSP Utilization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The sequential nature of downlink scheduling in communication networks leads to inefficient use of processing resources, resulting in idle DSPs and limited capacity for assigning radio resources, particularly due to the per-cell basis processing requirements and timing variations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a pre-scheduling scheme where regular scheduling decisions are made for the current interval, and additional decisions are made for the subsequent interval, allowing for parallel processing and timely scheduling of users with deadlines in the next interval, thereby optimizing resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sequential downlink scheduling steps are performed on a multi-core processor, then scheduling decisions are made for the current interval, but multiple DSPs remain idle due to per-cell processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs scheduling decisions for the subsequent interval in advance during the current interval. The second scheduler process identifies users with deadlines in the next interval and makes scheduling decisions beforehand, utilizing otherwise idle DSP resources during the current interval's processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the scheduling function into two separate scheduler processes: a first scheduler process for current interval decisions and a second scheduler process for subsequent interval pre-scheduling. This segmentation allows parallel operation on different DSPs, preventing idle resources.
2Productivity
If pre-scheduling is performed for subsequent interval users during current interval, then processing efficiency increases, but scheduling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scheduling function is segmented into two independent scheduler processes with distinct responsibilities. The first scheduler handles current interval users while the second scheduler handles subsequent interval users. This segmentation manages complexity by creating modular, independent processes rather than one complex monolithic scheduler.
Solution Approach 2:
The second scheduler process performs multiple functions: identifying users with future deadlines, making scheduling decisions for them, and preparing resource reservations in advance. This multi-functionality improves efficiency without requiring separate specialized processes for each sub-task.
3Productivity
If scheduling decisions are limited to current interval only, then scheduling process is simple, but capacity for assigning radio resources is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs scheduling decisions for the subsequent interval in advance during the current interval. By preparing resource reservations beforehand, the system increases capacity to serve more users without delaying scheduling responses, as pre-scheduled users are already reserved when their interval arrives.
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments herein provide a method and apparatus for scheduling users of a communication system, based on an advantageous pre-scheduling scheme. As a first scheduler process during a current scheduling interval, first users selected for scheduling in the current scheduling interval are regularly scheduled to thereby make radio resource reservations for the first users. As a second scheduler process during the current scheduling interval, second users not among the first users are identified as having scheduling deadlines falling in a subsequent scheduling interval. As a further operation of the second scheduler process, the second users for the subsequent scheduling interval are prescheduled to thereby make radio resource reservations in the subsequent scheduling interval for the second users. The second scheduling may be performed using processing resources that would otherwise be left idle by the first scheduler process during the current scheduling interval.