Mobile Network RTT Measurement Through Multiplexed User Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for measuring Round Trip Time (RTT) in 5G NR networks are not optimized for simplicity and efficiency, leading to excessive radio and battery resource consumption, particularly when frequent 'Ping' requests are used for extended periods.
Innovation Solution
A method for measuring RTT involves establishing a multi-access data connection, storing PDU parameters, and calculating RTT based on messages received, without frequent 'Ping' requests, by multiplexing PMF-Echo messages with user-plane data to minimize overhead and resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If frequent Ping requests are used for RTT measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but radio and battery resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines RTT measurement messages with regular user-plane data traffic in a single communication stream. Instead of sending separate Ping requests, the measurement functionality is merged into the existing data connection, allowing RTT measurements to be performed using the same radio resources already allocated for user data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The data connection serves multiple functions simultaneously: it carries user-plane traffic for normal communication and embedded measurement messages for RTT calculation. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated measurement channels, reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If frequent Ping requests are used for RTT measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measurement session with the user-plane data connection, consolidating multiple communication streams into one. This reduces the number of separate protocol handlers and session management structures needed, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining RTT measurement functionality.
3Measurement precision
If frequent Ping requests are used for RTT measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but network congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds measurement traffic within the user-plane data connection, allowing measurement messages to share the same network resources as regular data traffic. This approach prevents measurement traffic from adding to overall network congestion, as it utilizes already-allocated bandwidth rather than competing for additional network capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for measuring Round Trip Time (“RTT”). One apparatus includes a processor and a transceiver that communicates via an access network. The processor establishes a data connection capable of communicating PDUs over the access network and establishes a measurement session via the data connection. The processor stores a first set of parameters for each PDU sent over the data connection and receives a first message via the measurement session. The processor calculates a value based on the first message and the first set of parameters.