eNB Local Scheduling for MBMS Service Multiplexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE MBMS architectures face challenges in supporting variable bitrates and maintaining content synchronization across eNBs, particularly in distributed solutions, which leads to inefficient use of radio resources and increased receiver activity due to the need for centralized signaling and buffering to manage data rate variations in multimedia broadcast services.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a synchronization protocol (SYNC) that allows eNBs to perform local scheduling of multiplexed services, ensuring uniform operation and content synchronization by using timestamped data bursts with packet and octet counters, enabling dynamic sharing of radio resources and reducing the need for centralized control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If centralized signaling and buffering are used to manage data rate variations in MBMS services, then guaranteed bitrate per service can be provided, but device complexity and network overhead increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguaranteed bitrate per serviceVSAvoidcentralized signaling and buffering
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the MBMS service management into multiple independent service multiplexes, each handled by individual eNBs through local scheduling. This distributes the complexity from a centralized controller to multiple distributed eNBs, reducing network overhead while maintaining guaranteed bitrate through local resource management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each eNB is empowered to perform autonomous local scheduling of MBMS services without requiring centralized control signaling. The eNBs independently manage their own radio resources and buffer management based on local traffic conditions, eliminating the need for complex centralized buffering and signaling mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If variable bitrate transmission is used for MBMS services, then radio resource efficiency improves, but maintaining content synchronization across eNBs becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio resource efficiencyVSAvoidcontent synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic local scheduling at each eNB, allowing flexible adaptation to variable bitrate conditions. Each eNB independently adjusts its scheduling decisions based on real-time traffic conditions and service requirements, enabling efficient variable bitrate transmission while maintaining synchronization through distributed coordination rather than rigid centralized control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of each eNB locally, allowing them to adapt their scheduling behavior to match the variable bitrate characteristics of different services. This enables efficient resource utilization while maintaining content synchronization through parameter adaptation rather than centralized coordination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If centralized control is used to manage MBMS services, then service coordination is simplified, but network overhead and signaling traffic increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coordinationVSAvoidnetwork overhead and signaling traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments service coordination into multiple independent service multiplexes, each managed locally by individual eNBs. This eliminates the need for extensive centralized signaling while maintaining coordinated service delivery through distributed management of separate service streams

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the scheduling function from centralized control and places it locally at each eNB. This removes the need for continuous centralized signaling and buffering management, reducing network overhead while maintaining service coordination through independent local decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2163105B1A method for providing a plurality of services
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP2163105B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2163105B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2163105B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method comprising providing a plurality of services to be transmitted over a common area by a plurality of nodes; and providing information relating to a quantity of data of said plurality of services for all of said services to said plurality of nodes.