Radio Base Station Congestion Reporting for HSPA Resource Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for managing high-speed packet access channels in cellular networks lack accurate and efficient resource estimation and reporting, leading to inadequate congestion detection and control, particularly between radio network controllers and radio base stations, which affects service quality and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where the radio base station determines and reports load/congestion on high-speed packet access channels, including guaranteed and non-guaranteed services, to the radio network controller, using measurements of power and priority levels, and generating congestion reports with severity indicators and recommended actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the radio base station autonomously determines and reports congestion information to the radio network controller, then the accuracy and timeliness of congestion detection is improved, but the signaling overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the congestion detection function by dividing responsibilities between the radio base station (congestion detection and initial assessment) and the radio network controller (resource allocation and control). The base station autonomously determines congestion status using specific criteria (e.g., buffer occupancy thresholds, signal quality metrics) and reports only when congestion conditions are met, rather than continuous reporting. This segmentation improves detection accuracy while controlling complexity by distributing functions appropriately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the radio base station continuously monitors network conditions (traffic load, signal quality, buffer status) and provides feedback reports to the radio network controller when congestion thresholds are exceeded. The controller uses this feedback to adjust resource allocation parameters and send control messages back to the base station. This closed-loop feedback system improves congestion detection accuracy while managing complexity through structured information exchange protocols.
2Productivity
If detailed congestion information and recommended actions are reported from the radio base station to the radio network controller, then the resource allocation efficiency is improved, but the information processing load and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by having the radio base station perform local analysis of congestion conditions and generate context-specific recommendations based on the particular congestion scenario detected. Rather than reporting all possible parameters uniformly, the base station selectively reports information relevant to the specific congestion situation (e.g., buffer occupancy levels, affected service types, recommended QoS adjustments). This approach improves resource allocation efficiency by providing targeted information while reducing signaling overhead through selective reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the radio base station pre-analyze congestion conditions and prepare recommended actions before reporting to the controller. The base station evaluates multiple potential solutions locally and pre-ranks them based on expected effectiveness. This preliminary processing reduces the information processing load on the controller by arriving with curated, action-oriented information rather than raw data requiring extensive analysis, thereby improving resource allocation efficiency while managing signaling overhead.
3Speed
If the system implements autonomous congestion management at the radio base station, then the response time to congestion events is improved, but the control authority and coordination with the radio network controller become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling the radio base station to autonomously adjust certain operational parameters in real-time based on congestion conditions (e.g., modifying scheduling algorithms, adjusting power allocation, changing admission control decisions) while maintaining coordination with the radio network controller. The base station can dynamically respond to congestion events without waiting for controller instructions, improving response time. Simultaneously, the system maintains control coordination through periodic status reports and controller-initiated parameter adjustments, managing the complexity of distributed control through structured interaction protocols.
Data Source
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AI summary
A radio access network (20) comprises a radio network controller (26) and a radio base station (28). The radio network controller (26) is configured to perform admission control and to allocate resources of a cell. The radio base station (28) is configured to determine load/congestion on a high speed shared channel and to generate an indication of the load/congestion for transmission to the radio network controller. In some example embodiments and modes, at least one of the radio network controller and the radio base station is configured to allocate at least some of the resources for the high speed shared channel to support a guaranteed service and also to allocate at least some resources to support a non-guaranteed service. In some example implementations of this aspect, a user(s) of the non-guaranteed service is permitted to use the resources up to a reserved resource level of resources. According to another non-limiting aspect of the technology, the radio base station is further configured to generate a recommended action for dealing with the load/congestion.