QoS Packet Validity Timing for Critical XR Frame Delivery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G communication systems face challenges in efficiently handling the transmission of high-quality 3D media content for extended reality services due to the loss of critical frames, such as I-frames, which can render entire 3D scenes unviewable when packets are dropped beyond the packet delay budget (PDB), leading to poor user experience.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a new QoS parameter called packet validity time, which allows for the continued transmission and potential retransmission of packets beyond the PDB, ensuring that critical frames like I-frames are delivered within a validity time window to support decoding of subsequent frames, thereby improving the reliability of 3D media delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If packets are discarded after packet delay budget (PDB) expiration to maintain strict timing requirements, then timing precision is improved, but reliability of critical frame delivery deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming precisionVSAvoidreliability of critical frame delivery
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts packet handling behavior based on frame type. Critical frames (I-frames) are retained beyond PDB expiration while non-critical frames (P-frames, B-frames) are discarded according to timing requirements. This dynamic differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying different timing strictness to different packet types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality of service treatments are applied to different parts of the data stream based on frame type. I-frames receive extended validity time and higher priority retention, while P-frames and B-frames follow strict PDB timing. This local quality approach allows timing precision for non-critical frames while ensuring reliability for critical frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If packets are retained beyond PDB for extended validity time, then reliability of critical frame delivery is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of critical frame deliveryVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the validity time parameter based on frame type. I-frames are assigned an extended validity time beyond PDB expiration, while P-frames and B-frames use the standard PDB timing. This parameter change approach enables reliability improvement for critical frames without requiring complex structural modifications to the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The packet handling process is segmented into different paths based on frame type identification. Critical I-frames are routed through an extended validity time path, while non-critical P-frames and B-frames follow the standard PDB expiration path. This segmentation allows reliability improvement for critical frames while maintaining simple handling for non-critical frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If strict PDB timing is enforced for all packets, then timing precision is improved, but loss of information increases due to premature discarding of critical frames

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming precisionVSAvoidloss of critical frame information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Different timing quality requirements are applied to different frame types. I-frames, which contain critical scene information, are granted extended validity time beyond PDB to prevent information loss. P-frames and B-frames, which are less critical, maintain strict PDB timing. This local quality approach prevents information loss for critical frames while maintaining timing precision for non-critical frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary identification of frame types (I-frame, P-frame, B-frame) before applying timing rules. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare appropriate handling strategies in advance, ensuring critical I-frames are retained beyond PDB while non-critical frames are handled with strict timing, thus preventing information loss without compromising overall timing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4274189B1Packet validity time enhancement for quality of service flows
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4274189B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4274189B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4274189B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for enhancement of quality of service flows, for extended reality services or other services are proposed. For example, a method can include receiving a plurality of quality of service parameters for first packet-based communication. The quality of service parameters can include a packet delay budget for the first packet-based communication having a first end time. The plurality of quality of service parameters can further include a packet validity time for the first packet-based communication having a second end time equal to or later than the first end time. The packet validity time can be applicable to the first packet-based communication on a protocol data unit session basis, a quality of service flow basis, a set of protocol data units basis, or a packet basis. The method can also include transmitting the packet of the first packet-based communication to a further communication device.