Network Node Bandwidth Recommendation for Wireless Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication networks face challenges in maintaining high Quality of Experience (QoE) due to varying throughput, which can lead to service interruptions and poor quality of services like video calls and streaming, as existing methods rely on outdated throughput estimations and do not effectively manage bandwidth across radio and transport networks.

Innovation Solution

A network node that obtains and combines bandwidth information from both radio and transport networks to determine available bandwidth for wireless devices, allowing for real-time recommendations on suitable bitrates and bandwidth allocation, even in scenarios with multiple radio access nodes using carrier aggregation or dual connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If applications estimate throughput based on historic data from when the application last fetched a video segment, then the application can adapt to varying throughput by changing video resolution, but the estimation becomes outdated (5-10 seconds old) and inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication adaptability to varying throughputVSAvoidthroughput estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The network node performs preliminary actions by obtaining current bandwidth information from the radio interface and transport network before the application needs to adapt. This allows the network to proactively determine available bandwidth and provide recommendations to the application, eliminating the delay inherent in application-based historic estimation methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network node acts as an intermediary between the application and the network resources. Instead of the application directly estimating throughput from historic data, the network node mediates by collecting current bandwidth information from both the radio interface and transport network, then providing this accurate current information to the application for immediate adaptation decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the service is delivered with a bitrate higher than the available throughput, then higher quality service can be provided, but the throughput varies substantially over time causing service interruptions and poor QoE

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice qualityVSAvoidservice continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The solution implements dynamic bandwidth determination by continuously obtaining current bandwidth information from both the radio interface and transport network. This allows the system to dynamically adjust the recommended bitrate to match current available throughput, ensuring service quality is optimized for current conditions while preventing interruptions that would occur with static or outdated bitrate selections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The network node establishes a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring current bandwidth conditions on both the radio interface and transport network, then using this feedback to determine and communicate appropriate bitrate recommendations to applications. This closed-loop approach ensures service quality is maintained by adapting to real-time throughput variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If applications attempt to estimate throughput independently, then applications can adapt video resolution, but the estimation is based on outdated historic data and does not reflect current network conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication autonomy in adaptationVSAvoidcurrent network bandwidth information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The network node serves as an intermediary that bridges application autonomy with accurate network information. Applications maintain their adaptation autonomy by still making resolution decisions, but the network node mediates by providing current bandwidth information that applications would otherwise lack, eliminating the information loss inherent in independent historic estimation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution replaces the mechanical system of application-based historic data estimation with a network-based current information provision system. Instead of applications mechanically estimating throughput from outdated local data, the network node substitutes by actively collecting and providing current bandwidth information from both radio and transport networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3603019B1A network node and a method performed thereby for providing a recommendation associated with a service to a wireless device
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3603019B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3603019B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3603019B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b

AI summary

A network node and a method performed by a network node for providing a recommendation associated with a service to a wireless device are provided. The network node is operable in a wireless communication network. The method comprises obtaining (210) bandwidth information associated with a radio interface between a radio access node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, of the wireless communication network and the wireless device; and obtaining (220) bandwidth information associated with a transport network of the wireless communication network. The method further comprises determining (230) available bandwidth for providing the service to the wireless device based on the obtained bandwidth information associated with the radio interface and the obtained bandwidth information associated with the transport network.