MBMS Decoding Performance Reporting in Radio Access Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Assessing the performance of a radio access network's Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) decoding without relying on feedback from retransmission mechanisms, particularly for communication devices in idle mode, is challenging, as existing methods do not provide clear procedures for transmitting quality-of-service (QoS) reports after transitioning to connected mode.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves configuring user equipment (UE) to recognize configuration messages from eNodeBs requesting QoS information on MBMS service decoding performance, which includes specifying the type and format of reports, allowing for recording and reporting in idle mode and transmitting these reports when the device enters connected mode, using messages like RRCConnectionReconfiguration or LoggedMeasurementConfiguration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If communication devices in idle mode are required to report QoS information for MBMS services, then network performance assessment capability is improved, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork performance assessment capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network configures QoS reporting parameters and criteria in advance while the device is in idle mode. The device performs measurements and stores results locally without active transmission, ready to report when transitioning to connected mode or when triggered. This preliminary preparation enables performance assessment without continuous active signaling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The idle mode device autonomously performs QoS measurements, evaluates results against configured criteria, and determines when reporting is appropriate without continuous network control. The device self-manages the measurement and reporting process, reducing network signaling overhead while maintaining assessment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If QoS reports are transmitted continuously from idle mode devices, then network performance monitoring is improved, but uplink resource consumption and energy usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork performance monitoringVSAvoidenergy usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous reporting, the device transmits QoS reports periodically or event-triggered based on configured criteria such as measurement thresholds or specific network events. This periodic transmission maintains monitoring capability while significantly reducing uplink resource consumption and device energy usage compared to continuous reporting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Measurement precision

If detailed QoS measurement reporting is enabled for MBMS services, then service quality monitoring is improved, but signaling overhead and network load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice quality monitoringVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The network configures different QoS reporting requirements for different MBMS services, devices, or geographic areas based on local needs. Not all devices report all parameters for all services - reporting is tailored to local requirements, reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining necessary monitoring precision for each service area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The device reports QoS measurements selectively based on configured thresholds and criteria rather than reporting all measurements unconditionally. Only measurements that exceed thresholds or meet specific criteria are reported, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining adequate service quality monitoring through targeted reporting of significant events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2848034B1Service performance feedback in a radio access network
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP2848034B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2848034B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2848034B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A technique, comprising: transmitting from an access node of an access network an instruction to transmit one or more decoding performance reports relating exclusively to a specific type of service, which decoding performance report comprises information about the result of one or more attempts to decode at a communication device one or more transmissions via which said specific type of service is provided.