Bidirectional QoS Alignment via Sub-Flow Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, bidirectional sub-flows often face challenges in maintaining aligned Quality of Service (QoS) in both directions, leading to potential performance issues, especially when sub-flows are unidirectional or require differentiated QoS treatment.
Innovation Solution
A network node can request alignment of incoming and outgoing QoS by providing an in-band or out-of-band indication, allowing bidirectional connections to operate effectively with similar QoS, and devices can infer classification rules for opposite-direction sub-flows based on attributes of the first-direction sub-flow, using indicators like two-bit codes in protocol data units or RRC messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bidirectional sub-flows are established in communication networks, then communication capability is improved, but QoS alignment between incoming and outgoing directions becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where network nodes exchange QoS information about incoming and outgoing sub-flows. This allows nodes to detect QoS misalignment and trigger corrective actions such as modifying packet marking rules or adjusting resource allocation to achieve balanced QoS in bidirectional communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts QoS parameters including packet marking values, priority levels, and resource allocation based on the detected characteristics of sub-flows. By changing these parameters in response to feedback, the system maintains QoS alignment despite the complexity of bidirectional communication requirements.
2Reliability
If differentiated QoS treatment is applied to sub-flows, then service quality is improved, but complexity of managing multiple QoS levels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments QoS management into distinct functional components: sub-flow detection, QoS parameter extraction, packet marking rule generation, and resource allocation. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific aspects of QoS differentiation independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining differentiated service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-defining QoS parameter sets and packet marking rules for different service types before actual data transmission occurs. This preparation allows the system to quickly apply appropriate QoS treatment without complex real-time decision-making, reducing management complexity while ensuring service quality.
3Device complexity
If unidirectional sub-flows are used for communication, then resource allocation is simplified, but bidirectional communication performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of incoming and outgoing sub-flows into a unified QoS control framework. By combining resource allocation decisions for both directions and using joint feedback mechanisms, the system achieves simplified resource management while maintaining optimal bidirectional communication performance through coordinated QoS treatment.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a memory configured to store information relating to a first sub-flow of a protocol connection, at least one processing core configured to determine, based on the stored information, the first sub-flow as a differentiated quality of service, QoS, sub-flow and to cause transmission of an indication of the differentiated QoS to an endpoint of the protocol connection, to thereby request the endpoint to apply the differentiated QoS to a sub-flow corresponding to the first sub-flow toward the apparatus.