Network Controller Scheduling Grant Scheme for Uplink Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks face congestion issues due to high uplink data traffic from radio terminals, leading to resource wastage and packet drops, which existing methods fail to efficiently manage.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where a network controller detects data traffic congestion and generates a second scheduling grant scheme with a reduced number of scheduling grants per time slot, transmitted to the radio terminal, to manage the transmission rate and alleviate congestion by adjusting the uplink data rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of scheduling grants per time slot is increased to handle high uplink data traffic, then the data transmission capacity is improved, but data traffic congestion occurs on the access bearer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the scheduling grant scheme by the network access point. When congestion is detected on the access bearer, the system dynamically switches from a first scheduling grant scheme (with higher data transmission capacity) to a second scheduling grant scheme (with reduced grants per time slot). This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between productivity and reliability based on real-time network conditions, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high data transmission capacity and preventing congestion.
2Device complexity
If a fixed scheduling grant scheme is used to simplify network management, then device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot adapt to varying congestion conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The network access point performs autonomous congestion detection and self-adjusts the scheduling grant scheme without requiring complex external control. The system monitors congestion conditions on the access bearer and automatically switches between scheduling schemes based on detected conditions. This self-service mechanism maintains relatively simple device complexity while achieving high adaptability to varying congestion conditions through automated decision-making at the network access point.
3Productivity
If uplink data rate is increased to improve user-perceived throughput, then productivity is improved, but physical resources are wasted during congestion situations
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the network access point monitors congestion conditions on the access bearer and uses this feedback to adjust the scheduling grant scheme. When congestion is detected, the system reduces the number of scheduling grants per time slot, thereby reducing the uplink data rate and preventing resource wastage. When congestion is alleviated, the system can increase the data rate again. This feedback-driven approach optimizes the balance between improving user-perceived throughput and preventing physical resource wastage during congestion situations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention proposes a method of managing a transmission rate on a communication link between a radio terminal and a network access point of a communication network, the communication network further comprising a network controller, the network controller being coupled to a scheduler, the network controller being coupled to a core network via an access bearer, the radio terminal using a first scheduling grant scheme for the communication link. The method comprises: detecting data traffic congestion on the access bearer between the network controller and the core network by checking if data traffic of the access bearer fulfills a condition; if the condition is fulfilled, generating a second scheduling grant scheme having a smaller number of scheduling grants per time slot of the communication link than the first scheduling grant scheme for the radio terminal; transmitting the second scheduling grant scheme to the radio terminal for replacing the first scheduling grant scheme.