User-Differentiated QoS for Shared LTE Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communications networks, such as LTE, lack the ability to differentiate quality of service (QoS) between users connecting through shared user equipment, which is unacceptable for time-sensitive communications like those of public safety officers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an enhanced Policy Services Manager (PSM) and Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) to generate a unique differentiated services code point (DSCP) for each user's communications device, allowing the PSM client application to mark network communications and route them to appropriate service data flows with specific QoS, ensuring user-differentiated QoS even when using shared user equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple users share the same user equipment to connect to the network, then resource utilization is improved, but the ability to differentiate QoS between users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the QoS handling by introducing a QoS profile identifier that distinguishes different users even when they share the same user equipment. The network infrastructure is segmented to recognize and process different QoS profiles independently, allowing multiple users to share resources while maintaining individualized QoS treatment through separate profile identification and routing mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If the network treats all users equally through shared equipment, then system complexity is reduced, but service quality for time-sensitive communications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning specific QoS profiles to different users based on their service requirements. Critical communications receive specialized QoS treatment with higher priority and guaranteed resources, while non-critical communications use standard handling. This allows the network to maintain simplicity for general traffic while providing enhanced quality where needed through localized QoS policy application.
3Reliability
If unique QoS handling is implemented for each user, then service quality is improved, but device and network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a multi-functional QoS profile identification mechanism that works across all users and service types. A single QoS profile identifier field in the data bearer enables the network to universally recognize and apply appropriate QoS policies for any user, whether critical or non-critical. This universal approach avoids the need for complex user-specific processing logic while maintaining differentiated service quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A set of different communication flows (270-272) can be established between a set of end-user devices (210) and remote devices (265) through an intermediary node (225). For each communication flow (270-272), a flow-specific bearer (250) can be generated between the intermediary node (225) and a corresponding one of the remote devices (265). Each bearer (250) can have quality of service attributes that correspond to flow-specific quality of service attributes of the flow (270-272) to which the flow-specific bearer (250) corresponds. Communication can occur between each of the proximate end-user devices (210) and the remote devices (265) in accordance with the flow-specific quality of service attributes. The intermediate node (225) can direct the exchanged data between unique local communication links and corresponding ones of the flow-specific bearers (250).