Admission Control for LTE Control Channel Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current admission control methods in wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE, fail to accurately manage the load of control channel elements across both downlink and uplink in TDD environments, leading to inefficient resource allocation and potential service disruptions for E-RABs with QoS requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method and network node that accumulate and calculate the load of control channel elements separately for subframes with both downlink and uplink assignments, and those with only downlink assignments, allowing for threshold-based admission control to ensure accurate resource management and prevent overload, thereby improving the admission control process for E-RABs with QoS requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If admission control is performed without separating downlink and uplink control channel element loads, then the admission control process is simpler, but the resource allocation accuracy deteriorates leading to inefficient resource management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadmission control process complexityVSAvoidresource allocation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control channel element load into separate downlink and uplink components. The admission control function calculates downlink control channel element load and uplink control channel element load independently, allowing for precise resource allocation decisions for each direction while maintaining manageable process complexity through structured separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If separate load calculation for downlink and uplink control channel elements is implemented, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation accuracyVSAvoidadmission control process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the control channel resource monitoring into separate downlink and uplink segments. Each segment has its own load calculation and threshold comparison, enabling accurate resource allocation while organizing the increased complexity into manageable, independent evaluation streams that can be processed systematically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different threshold values for downlink and uplink control channel element loads, allowing each direction to have optimized admission control parameters tailored to its specific requirements. This local differentiation improves resource allocation accuracy without requiring uniform complexity across the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If threshold-based admission control is used for control channel elements, then service disruption is prevented, but the adaptability to varying traffic conditions decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidtraffic condition adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces configurable threshold parameters for downlink and uplink control channel element loads. These thresholds can be adjusted based on traffic conditions, service requirements, and network state, allowing the admission control function to adapt to varying traffic patterns while maintaining reliable service through threshold-based decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2789135B1Admission control for control channel
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2789135B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2789135B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2789135B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Network node (110) and method (600) in a network node (110), for admission control of an additional radio access bearer based on load of control channel elements on a control channel, assigned by a scheduler (700) comprised in the network node (110). The method (600) comprises assigning (601), by the scheduler (700), control channel elements on the control channel for already admitted radio access bearers. Further, a first and a second load of the control channel is computed (606, 607) based on the usage of assigned control channel elements subframes on which both downlink assignments and uplink grants are enabled, and on which downlink assignments are enabled, respectively. If any of the first or second loads exceeds a respective threshold value, the radio access bearer to be admitted is rejected (609A).