eMTC VoLTE Subframe Configuration for Latency Budget
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face challenges in optimizing real-time services like VoLTE for devices with limited communication resources, such as MTC and eMTC devices, due to limitations in bandwidth, transmit power, and scheduling constraints, which affect their ability to meet strict latency budgets.
Innovation Solution
A method where a base station determines and transmits an indication of unavailable subframes to UEs, allowing them to override a cell-specific subframe configuration with a UE-specific configuration for bundled communications, increasing scheduling flexibility and repetition levels to meet the link budget for VoLTE operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If eMTC devices use standard VoLTE scheduling with cell-specific subframe configuration, then network resource utilization is maintained, but devices cannot meet strict latency budgets due to limited bandwidth and transmit power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transitioning from cell-specific subframe configuration (applicable to all UEs) to UE-specific subframe configuration (applicable only to eMTC devices). This allows tailored scheduling parameters including subframe allocation, bundling size, and repetition levels to be optimized specifically for eMTC devices' limited bandwidth and transmit power constraints, enabling them to meet latency budgets without affecting other UEs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making subframe configuration adaptable and configurable per UE rather than static and uniform across the cell. The base station can dynamically adjust subframe allocation, bundling sizes, and repetition levels based on individual eMTC device capabilities and channel conditions, allowing the system to respond to varying latency requirements and resource availability
2Reliability
If eMTC devices increase bundling sizes and repetition levels to meet link budget, then latency budget is satisfied, but device complexity and scheduling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling eMTC devices to autonomously determine their own subframe configurations based on received indications from the base station. Devices can independently calculate appropriate bundling sizes and repetition levels according to their specific link budget requirements, reducing the need for complex centralized scheduling and minimizing scheduling overhead while ensuring link budget satisfaction
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for optimizing real time services (e.g., such as a voice over Long Term Evolution (LTE) (VoLTE)) for devices with limited communications resources, such as machine type communication (MTC) devices and enhanced MTC (eMTC) devices. In one aspect, a UE determines a first configuration of subframes within at least one radio frame available for the UE and other UEs to use for bundled communications with a BS. The UE receives an indication of one or more subframes within the at least one radio frame that are unavailable for bundled uplink transmissions, and determines a second configuration of subframes to use for bundled communications based on the indication. The UE overrides the first configuration of subframes with the second configuration of subframes, and communicates with the BS using the second configuration of subframes. Numerous other aspects are provided.