Periodic Resource Conflict Resolution in LTE Networks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In communication networks, particularly in LTE systems, conflicts arise between pre-configured resources such as MBMS services and other time-sensitive services like VoLTE, leading to delays in packet scheduling and perceived speech quality issues, and also result in battery drain when DRX is disabled.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for configuring periodic radio resources in a communication network that determines conflicts between resources with different periodicities and reconfigures conflicting resources to conflict-free positions within a defined search region, ensuring efficient use of resources without overlapping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If periodic resources are pre-configured for MBMS services, then resource allocation is simplified and MBMS transmission is enabled, but conflicts arise with other services (VoLTE, measurement gaps, DRX) causing scheduling delays and quality degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation simplicityVSAvoidservice quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary conflict detection between periodic resources before finalizing the configuration. By checking for overlaps with other periodic resources (measurement gaps, DRX, VoLTE) in advance and adjusting the configuration to avoid conflicts, the system maintains both allocation simplicity and service quality without requiring complex real-time arbitration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If DRX is disabled to avoid conflicts with MBMS resources, then scheduling conflicts are eliminated, but battery consumption increases due to continuous reception

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling reliabilityVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the DRX configuration dynamic by allowing the network to adjust DRX parameters (such as drx-OnDurationTimer, drx-SlotOffset) based on the detected conflict with MBMS resources. Instead of permanently disabling DRX, the system adapts the DRX timing to avoid MBMS subframes, maintaining battery efficiency while eliminating scheduling conflicts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If measurement gaps are configured for UE mobility, then inter-frequency measurements are enabled, but conflicts with MBMS resources cause measurement failures and handover issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidhandover reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the timing parameters of measurement gaps (such as measGapOffset, measGapRepeatFactor) to avoid overlapping with MBMS periodic resources. By adjusting these parameters, the system ensures that measurement gaps occur in subframes not dedicated to MBMS transmission, enabling both mobility measurements and MBMS services to coexist without interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If MBMS subframes are allocated for broadcast services, then multicast transmission is enabled, but these subframes cannot be used for unicast traffic (VoLTE, FTP) causing service conflicts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroadcast service efficiencyVSAvoidservice flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the radio frame structure by identifying and separating MBMS-dedicated subframes from those available for unicast services. By configuring other periodic resources (DRX, measurement gaps, SRS) to avoid MBMS subframes, the system creates distinct time segments for different service types, enabling both broadcast and unicast services to operate efficiently without resource contention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3216284B1Management of periodic resources in a communication network

Publication Date: 2020.01.08 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A system and method for handling conflicts between periodic resources configured or assigned to a wireless device in a communication network including, in one embodiment, a system and method for determining whether a conflict exists between a first periodic resource occurring with a first periodicity and at least one other periodic resource occurring with a second periodicity in a search region defined based on the first periodicity and the second periodicity, and when a conflict exists, configuring the at least one other periodic resource at a conflict-free position in the search region. By defining the search region based on periodicities of conflicting resources, the present disclosure helps to reduce computations and/or processing time required for identifying and resolving conflicts.