Fronthaul Packet Loss Determination via Vulnerable UE Subset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fronthaul links in 5G networks experience packet loss due to congestion, leading to erroneous radio interface issues as data loss is misinterpreted, impacting radio capacity and network performance.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining packet loss in fronthaul links by identifying vulnerable user equipment (UEs) based on scheduling intervals, modulation and coding schemes, retransmission numbers, and geographical proximity, and assessing communication success through HARQ feedback or channel quality indicators to differentiate between fronthaul and radio-related data loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packet loss monitoring is implemented to distinguish fronthaul from radio issues, then network performance and radio capacity are improved, but device complexity and measurement difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet loss detection process into distinct components: identifying vulnerable UEs based on scheduling intervals and MCS, monitoring HARQ feedback specifically for these vulnerable UEs, and separately analyzing channel quality indicators. This segmentation allows the system to focus measurement efforts on specific subsets of UEs rather than all UEs, reducing overall system complexity while improving detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of vulnerable UEs before actual packet loss occurs. By pre-selecting UEs based on their scheduling intervals, MCS values, and other vulnerability indicators, the system prepares detection mechanisms in advance. This preliminary action enables faster and more accurate packet loss detection when it actually occurs, improving reliability without requiring complex real-time analysis of all UEs.
2Measurement precision
If all UEs are monitored for communication success, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing measurement resources on vulnerable UEs rather than uniformly monitoring all UEs. Vulnerable UEs are identified by their specific characteristics (scheduling intervals, MCS values, retransmission counts), and monitoring efforts are concentrated on this localized subset. This approach maintains high measurement precision for the most critical cases while significantly improving overall system productivity by reducing the number of UEs requiring continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial monitoring by selecting a specific subset of vulnerable UEs for intensive monitoring rather than monitoring all UEs equally. The subset is determined based on vulnerability criteria such as scheduling interval patterns and MCS values. This partial action approach achieves sufficient measurement precision for detecting fronthaul packet loss while maintaining high productivity by limiting the scope of monitoring to only those UEs most likely to exhibit symptoms of fronthaul issues.
3Loss of information
If vulnerable UEs are identified and monitored, then loss of information is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of vulnerable UEs using readily available scheduling information, MCS values, and retransmission counts. By preparing this vulnerability assessment in advance, the system ensures that when packet loss occurs, the information about which UEs are affected is already available. This prevents loss of critical diagnostic information while avoiding the need for complex real-time analysis infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes HARQ feedback and channel quality indicator feedback from vulnerable UEs to detect packet loss. The feedback mechanism provides continuous information about communication success or failure for the monitored vulnerable UEs. This feedback loop ensures that information about packet loss is captured and reported back to the network, preventing information loss while using established feedback protocols rather than requiring new complex reporting mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
It is presented a method for determining packet loss in a fronthaul link of a radio access network. The method being performed in a packet loss determiner and comprising the steps of: obtaining a set of user equipments, UEs, that are all scheduled to communicate over a radio interface in a scheduling interval; creating a subset of UEs, comprising a number of UEs, from the set of UEs, that are the UEs in the set being most vulnerable to fronthaul packet loss; determining, for each UE in the subset of UEs, whether the communication in the scheduling interval was unsuccessful; and determining a packet loss in the fronthaul link depending on to what extent each one of the UEs in the subset of UEs is determined to have had unsuccessful use of the radio interface.