Uplink Control Signaling Prioritization in LTE

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE wireless communication systems, the existing methods for transmitting Power Headroom Reports (PHR) and Buffer Status Reports (BSR) can lead to delayed or segmented PHR transmissions, especially during VoIP services, resulting in inefficient modulation and coding scheme adaptations and reduced transmission efficiency due to the higher priority of BSRs over PHRs.

Innovation Solution

A method where the UE checks if the BSR is triggered for an empty uplink transmission buffer and, if so, checks if there is room for a PHR in the uplink resource; if not, it generates and transmits the PHR instead of the BSR, ensuring timely adaptation of the modulation and coding scheme by prioritizing PHR transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If BSR is transmitted with higher priority than PHR, then buffer status information is reported timely, but power headroom report transmission is delayed or segmented

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePHR transmission delayVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the priority of PHR transmission based on buffer status. When the uplink buffer is empty, PHR priority is increased to replace BSR transmission, ensuring timely power headroom reporting for MCS adaptation while avoiding unnecessary empty BSR transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmission parameter (priority level) of PHR based on buffer conditions. By monitoring whether the buffer is empty or contains data, the system adjusts whether to transmit BSR, PHR, or both, optimizing the timing and content of uplink control information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If PHR is transmitted instead of empty BSR, then power headroom information is reported timely, but buffer status reporting function is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMCS adaptation timeVSAvoidbuffer status information
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary control information based on buffer status. When the buffer is empty, only PHR is transmitted since BSR would convey no useful information. When data is present, both BSR and PHR are transmitted to provide complete buffer and power status for optimal scheduling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional priority relationship between BSR and PHR under specific conditions. Instead of always prioritizing BSR, the system prioritizes PHR when the buffer is empty, recognizing that power headroom information is more valuable for MCS adaptation in this scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If both BSR and PHR are transmitted when buffer has data, then complete status information is provided, but uplink resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatus reporting accuracyVSAvoiduplink resource usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges BSR and PHR transmissions into a single uplink opportunity when both are needed. By coordinating their transmission in the same TTI, the system provides complete status information (both buffer and power state) while minimizing the number of separate transmission opportunities required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by selectively transmitting only the necessary combination of BSR and PHR based on actual buffer conditions. This avoids excessive transmission of redundant information while ensuring that all necessary status information is conveyed for reliable scheduling decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2306780B1Method and apparatus for transmitting power headroom report and buffer status report in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2013.04.24 HTC CORP
  • EP2306780B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2306780B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2306780B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for transmitting a power headroom report, abbreviated to PHR, and a buffer status report, abbreviated to BSR, for a user equipment in a wireless communication system includes triggering a BSR when a triggering event for the BSR occurs for reporting a status of an uplink transmission buffer of the user equipment to a network of the wireless communication system (402), checking whether the BSR is triggered for reporting that the uplink transmission buffer is empty (404), when the BSR is triggered for reporting the empty uplink transmission buffer, checking whether a PHR is triggered (406) and whether there is room for the PHR in an uplink resource according to a priority order (408), and generating the PHR and transmitting the PHR instead of the BSR to the network when the PHR is triggered and there is not enough room for the PHR in the uplink resource (410).