MAC Layer Virtualization for Wireless Resource Block Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless network virtualization methods fail to efficiently decouple user scheduling operations from resource assignment in base stations, leading to suboptimal allocation of wireless resources across multiple service groups.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a method for medium access control (MAC) layer virtualization, where physical resource blocks are mapped to virtual resource blocks based on Channel State Information (CSI) values, allowing each service group to dynamically schedule its own traffic flows on leased virtual resource blocks while resolving conflicts through iterative mapping and conflict resolution algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple virtual MAC layers share the same physical MAC layer without decoupling scheduling from resource assignment, then device complexity is reduced, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MAC layer into multiple virtual MAC layers (vMAC), each serving different service groups with independent scheduling capabilities. This segmentation allows each vMAC to optimize resource allocation for its specific service group while sharing the physical MAC layer infrastructure, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced complexity and maintained efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a resource block mapping mechanism as an intermediary between virtual resource blocks and physical resource blocks. This mapping layer decouples the scheduling decisions made by virtual MAC layers from the actual physical resource assignment, enabling efficient resource allocation across multiple service groups while maintaining manageable system complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If physical resource blocks are statically allocated to service groups, then resource assignment simplicity is improved, but adaptability to varying channel conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource block mapping that adapts to varying channel conditions. The mapping between virtual and physical resource blocks is not fixed but can be adjusted based on channel state information, allowing the system to maintain simple assignment procedures while adapting to changing wireless conditions for optimal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mapping parameters between virtual and physical resource blocks based on channel conditions, service group requirements, and traffic patterns. This parameter adjustment mechanism enables the system to maintain simple resource assignment logic while achieving high adaptability to varying wireless environments through dynamic parameter optimization.
3Reliability
If each service group is given dedicated physical resource blocks, then service guarantee reliability is improved, but overall network resource utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes physical resource blocks universal by allowing them to be shared across multiple service groups through virtualization. Each physical resource block can serve multiple virtual resource blocks from different service groups, enabling the system to provide service guarantees through virtual allocation while achieving high overall utilization through physical resource sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of resource blocks for each service group without requiring physical duplication. The virtual resource block mapping mechanism allows each service group to have dedicated virtual resources that map to shared physical resources, providing the illusion of dedicated allocation while maintaining efficient physical resource utilization through multiple virtual instances mapping to the same physical blocks.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed within is a communication architecture for medium access control (MAC) layer virtualization, where the architecture is made up of: a physical MAC layer, a plurality of physical resource blocks (RBs) associated with the MAC layer, a plurality of virtual medium access control (vMAC) layers, where each vMAC layer corresponds to a separate service group, with each service group programming its own scheduling logic in each vMAC layer, and a plurality of virtual resource blocks (vRBs) associated with each vMAC layer, where the vRBs are filled with data packets according to the scheduling logic in each vMAC instance. The physical MAC layer virtualizes the RBs as vRBs and assigns them to each vMAC layer according to a service level agreement associated with each service group, and each vMAC maps traffic flows of subscribers associated with it onto the assigned vRBs.