Dynamic Backhaul Bandwidth Allocation for Cellular Traffic

Solution Overview

Problem

Current 3GPP cellular communication systems face inefficiencies in managing backhaul link bandwidth between just-in-time (JIT) and non-just-in-time (NJIT) traffic, leading to suboptimal utilization and potential waste of bandwidth resources, especially when the backhaul link capacity is limited.

Innovation Solution

A communication network element with traffic scheduler logic and manager logic that dynamically allocates backhaul bandwidth based on available resources, prioritizing JIT traffic while ensuring minimum guaranteed bandwidth for NJIT traffic, allowing for flexible sharing strategies and rate control mechanisms to optimize bandwidth utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a predefined bandwidth sharing ratio is allocated between JIT and NJIT traffic, then each traffic type is assured a certain amount of bandwidth, but valuable bandwidth resource is wasted when one traffic type has low demand while the other has greater demand than its allocation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth guaranteeVSAvoidbandwidth waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the RNC continuously monitors backhaul link utilization and adjusts the bandwidth sharing ratio between JIT and NJIT traffic in real-time. Instead of using a static predefined ratio, the system adapts the allocation based on current traffic conditions, allowing bandwidth to be reassigned from low-demand traffic types to high-demand traffic types, thus eliminating bandwidth waste while maintaining reliability guarantees

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback mechanisms where the RNC monitors backhaul link utilization metrics and uses this information to dynamically adjust bandwidth allocation. The feedback loop continuously evaluates the performance of JIT and NJIT traffic and modifies the bandwidth sharing ratio accordingly, ensuring that bandwidth is allocated efficiently based on actual demand patterns while maintaining service level agreements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If more bandwidth is allocated to JIT traffic to ensure timely delivery, then JIT traffic reliability improves, but available bandwidth for NJIT traffic decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveJIT traffic deliveryVSAvoidavailable bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the RNC continuously monitors backhaul link utilization and adjusts the bandwidth sharing ratio between JIT and NJIT traffic in real-time. Instead of using a static predefined ratio, the system adapts the allocation based on current traffic conditions, allowing bandwidth to be reassigned from low-demand traffic types to high-demand traffic types, thus eliminating bandwidth waste while maintaining reliability guarantees

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the bandwidth allocation parameter dynamically based on traffic conditions. The RNC monitors the utilization of the backhaul link and adjusts the bandwidth sharing ratio between JIT and NJIT traffic accordingly. When JIT traffic demand is high, more bandwidth is allocated to it; when NJIT traffic demand increases, the allocation is adjusted to accommodate it, thus optimizing the use of available bandwidth while ensuring JIT traffic delivery requirements are met

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If backhaul link capacity is limited to match early-stage network requirements, then network deployment cost is reduced, but bandwidth utilization efficiency decreases when traffic demand exceeds allocation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork deploymentVSAvoidbandwidth utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the RNC continuously monitors backhaul link utilization and adjusts the bandwidth sharing ratio between JIT and NJIT traffic in real-time. Instead of using a static predefined ratio, the system adapts the allocation based on current traffic conditions, allowing bandwidth to be reassigned from low-demand traffic types to high-demand traffic types, thus eliminating bandwidth waste while maintaining reliability guarantees

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the bandwidth allocation parameter dynamically based on traffic conditions. The RNC monitors the utilization of the backhaul link and adjusts the bandwidth sharing ratio between JIT and NJIT traffic accordingly. When JIT traffic demand is high, more bandwidth is allocated to it; when NJIT traffic demand increases, the allocation is adjusted to accommodate it, thus optimizing the use of available bandwidth while ensuring JIT traffic delivery requirements are met

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8804743B2Cellular communication system, apparatus and method for management of backhaul resources

Publication Date: 2014.08.12 NVIDIA CORP

AI summary

A communication network element comprises traffic scheduler logic capable of scheduling transmission of a first category of queued traffic across a backhaul interface in accordance with a rate control value. The communication network element further comprises traffic manager logic capable of scheduling transmission of a second category of queued traffic across the backhaul interface in accordance with a determined backhaul bandwidth allocation, the backhaul bandwidth allocation being based on a determination of available bandwidth across the backhaul interface not required for scheduled first category traffic.