Group-Based Resource Allocation for Low Rate Mobile Users

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Solution Overview

Problem

In fast scheduled packet mobile radio systems, especially in OFDMA and CDMA systems, efficiently serving low data rate users is challenging due to large signalling overhead and resource wastage when allocating minimum resource chunks, as the amount of data to be transmitted is often smaller than the smallest allocable resource, leading to inefficient use of resources.

Innovation Solution

The method involves setting a group identifier for mobile users, scheduling physical layer resources, and using a higher layer header to indicate sub-resource allocations within shared physical layer resources, allowing multiple users to decode resources efficiently by pre-allocating positions and using predefined partitions, thereby reducing signalling overhead and improving resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If large resource allocation chunks are used to reduce signalling overhead, then signalling efficiency improves, but resource utilization deteriorates for low data rate users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignalling overheadVSAvoidresource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides physical layer resources into sub-resources (sub-PDUs) that can be individually allocated to different users within a group. This segmentation allows the system to allocate only the necessary amount of resources to each low data rate user rather than forcing allocation of large resource chunks, thereby improving resource utilization while maintaining efficient signalling through group-based addressing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If small resource allocation chunks are used to improve resource utilization for low data rate users, then resource allocation efficiency improves, but signalling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidsignalling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple users into scheduling groups that share common resource allocations. By assigning a group identifier to multiple users and indicating sub-resource positions within a shared physical layer resource, the system can efficiently serve multiple low data rate users with fine-grained resource allocation without proportionally increasing signalling overhead, as the group-level indication serves all members simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If individual user identities are used for resource allocation, then user-specific resource allocation precision improves, but signalling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation precisionVSAvoidsignalling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dual-level identification system where group identifiers provide universal addressing for sets of users, and sub-resource position indicators provide specific allocation precision within the group. This multi-functional approach allows the same signalling structure to serve both group-level resource sharing and individual user-specific allocation, reducing overall signalling complexity while maintaining allocation precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1974567B1Method of scheduling groups of mobile low rate data users
Publication Date: 2011.03.30 NOKIA SIEMENS NETWORKS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP1974567B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D

AI summary

A method of scheduling groups of mobile users (A, B, C, D, E) comprises setting a group identifier for each mobile user and scheduling physical layer resources at a base station (1) for those users requiring resources. The physical layer resources (5) are divided into sub-resources (6) shared between mobile users having the same group identifier and provide an indication with the physical layer resources of the occurrence and position within the physical layer resources of the sub-resources allocated to each mobile user in the group.