Dynamic TDD Configuration Adjustment for Uplink Voice Muting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly those using Time Division Duplex (TDD) configurations, voice call quality issues such as voice muting occur due to heavy air interface loading and limited uplink capacity, leading to delayed or failed transmission of voice packets, which affects user experience.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism that dynamically adjusts the TDD configuration by increasing the number of uplink subframes per frame in response to detected high rates of voice muting, allowing for more timely scheduling and retransmissions to improve call quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of uplink subframes is increased to improve voice transmission reliability, then voice call quality improves, but downlink capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic TDD configuration adjustment, allowing the system to switch between different TDD configurations (e.g., Configuration 0 with 2 uplink subframes to Configuration 6 with 5 uplink subframes) based on real-time voice muting detection. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to optimize uplink capacity during voice calls while maintaining flexibility for other traffic patterns, resolving the contradiction between uplink reliability and downlink capacity through time-varying resource allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the TDD configuration parameter (specifically the number of uplink subframes per frame) in response to detected voice muting conditions. When voice muting exceeds a threshold, the system transitions to a configuration with more uplink subframes, directly changing the resource allocation parameters to improve voice transmission reliability without permanently sacrificing downlink capacity.
2Reliability
If the TDD configuration is dynamically adjusted to increase uplink subframes, then voice muting is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors voice muting rates and uses this information to trigger TDD configuration changes. The voice muting detection unit provides feedback about transmission quality, and when muting exceeds a threshold, this triggers an automatic configuration switch to a more uplink-heavy TDD configuration, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically adapts to voice traffic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of TDD configuration based on automatically detected voice muting conditions without requiring manual intervention or complex external control. The access network device autonomously monitors its own performance metrics and reconfigures resources accordingly, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining adaptive optimization capabilities.
3Loss of time
If more uplink subframes are allocated, then transmission latency is reduced, but available downlink resources decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the TDD configuration based on real-time detection of voice muting conditions rather than using a static configuration. During periods when voice traffic requires more uplink capacity, the system switches to configurations with more uplink subframes, reducing latency for voice packets. During other periods, it reverts to configurations optimized for downlink traffic, thereby minimizing the overall impact on downlink resource availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling configuration of an air interface between an access node and at least one user equipment device (UE), where the air interface is divided over time into frames and the frames are further divided at least into subframes, where the air interface operates in accordance with a time-division-duplex (TDD) configuration that defines at least a number of uplink subframes per frame for communication over the air interface. An example method includes (i) detecting at least a threshold high rate of uplink voice muting on the air interface, and (ii) responsive to at least the detecting, changing the TDD configuration to increase the number of uplink subframes per frame over the air interface.