PDCP Marking for TCP ACK Delay Reduction in 5G
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Long-Term Evolution (LTE) communication system's protocol architecture is not beneficial for reducing TCP acknowledgement (ACK) delay, which is a challenge for high data rate transmission, particularly in the context of the New Radio (NR) or 5th Generation (5G) communication systems, where TCP transmission throughput is inversely proportional to the round-trip transmit time (RTT).
Innovation Solution
A method involving an apparatus that determines whether specific information is comprised in a protocol data unit (PDU), marks it, and prioritizes the marked PDU by inserting it at the head of the queue without changing the sequence number of unmarked PDUs, allowing for expedited delivery to the next protocol layer, thereby reducing the need for re-numbering and re-encryption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If TCP acknowledgement packets are processed through the standard LTE protocol architecture, then protocol compliance is maintained, but TCP ACK delay increases reducing transmission throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-marking PDCP PDUs that contain TCP ACK packets with a specific indicator before they enter the normal processing queue. This marking is done in advance at the PDCP layer, allowing these packets to be identified and prioritized later in the transmission process without requiring real-time analysis, thus reducing TCP ACK delay while maintaining protocol compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the PDCP PDU processing by creating a distinct handling path for marked packets containing TCP ACKs versus normal data packets. By separating the processing flow into marked and unmarked packet paths, the system can apply different handling strategies - expedited processing for marked packets and standard processing for others - thereby improving TCP transmission throughput without disrupting overall protocol architecture
2Loss of time
If marked PDCP PDUs are inserted at the head of the queue, then TCP ACK delay is reduced, but queue management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complexity of queue management is reduced by performing the marking action in advance before packets enter the queue. This preliminary marking allows the queue insertion logic to simply check for the presence of a mark and insert at the appropriate position, rather than requiring complex real-time analysis of packet content and priority determination, thus reducing TCP ACK delay without significantly increasing queue management complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a marking indicator as an intermediary element between the packet content and the queue management system. This mark serves as a mediator that carries priority information without requiring the queue management logic to directly analyze packet contents or implement complex priority algorithms, thereby simplifying queue management while still achieving expedited TCP ACK transmission
3Speed
If sequence numbers are changed for prioritized packets, then packet delivery order is improved, but re-encryption overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-marking packets with priority indicators before they require sequence number changes. This allows the system to identify which packets will need re-encryption in advance and prepare them accordingly, optimizing the re-encryption process by batching operations or pre-computing encryption parameters, thus improving packet delivery speed while reducing the energy overhead associated with re-encryption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the marking information that can be used to identify prioritized packets without requiring the original packet to be fully re-processed. By maintaining the mark as a separate identifier that can guide packet handling, the system avoids redundant encryption/decryption operations on the full packet content, thereby improving delivery speed while minimizing re-encryption overhead
Data Source
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AI summary
Various solutions for data transmission enhancements with respect to user equipment (UE) and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. As a transmitter, a UE may determine whether specific information is comprised in a protocol data unit (PDU). The UE may mark the PDU in an event that the specific information is comprised in the PDU. The UE may further prioritize the marked PDU and deliver the marked PDU to a next protocol layer. As a receiver, a UE may receive a marked PDU comprising the specific information. The UE may deliver the marked PDU to a higher protocol layer out-of-order.