Radio Network Info to Data Center App via Control Link
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Applications running on application servers are often unaware of the underlying network conditions and may crash due to variations in network performance, particularly in cellular mobile radio networks where resource scarcity and radio conditions lead to significant data rate and latency fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that provide radio network-related information from a radio base station to an application server via a control communication link, using an application notification sender coupled with the scheduler to access network data, determine network service quality, and send this information to the application server, allowing the application to adapt its behavior and maintain service even during resource scarcity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If applications run without knowledge of network state in cellular networks, then device complexity is reduced, but application reliability deteriorates due to network performance variations
Solution Approach 1:
An application notification sender is introduced as an intermediary component at the base station that monitors network conditions and sends notifications to applications. This mediator bridges the gap between the network infrastructure and applications, providing reliability information without requiring complex integration between applications and network components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the network monitoring function from the application logic. The base station's application notification sender handles network condition monitoring and notification, while applications simply receive and respond to notifications. This segmentation improves reliability without burdening applications with complex network management logic.
2Productivity
If network resources are shared among multiple users in cellular networks, then network capacity utilization is improved, but network service quality deteriorates due to resource scarcity and radio conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring network conditions (data rate, latency, resource availability) and notifying applications of current service quality. Applications use this feedback to adapt their behavior, such as adjusting buffer sizes or transmission rates, thereby maintaining reliable operation despite shared resource constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
Applications dynamically adapt their operation based on real-time network conditions received through notifications. Instead of static configurations, applications adjust their parameters (buffer sizes, retransmission strategies) according to current network service quality, enabling reliable operation under varying resource availability.
3Reliability
If applications use buffers to overcome network deterioration, then application reliability is improved, but loss of information increases due to buffering delays and data storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reactively using large buffers when network deterioration occurs, the system performs preliminary action by notifying applications of impending network issues before they manifest as failures. Applications can proactively adjust their buffering strategies based on advance warning, reducing the need for large buffers and associated delays.
Solution Approach 2:
Applications change their operational parameters (buffer sizes, transmission intervals) based on network condition notifications. Instead of maintaining fixed large buffers, applications dynamically adjust parameters according to current network quality, reducing buffering delays while maintaining reliability through adaptive parameter selection.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention refers to a method and a system which enable a communication between a scheduler (113) of a radio base station (110) of a radio network (101) and an application server (AS-1,..., AS-n) running in a data center by establishing, besides a first communication link, a second communication link between an end user device (UE-1,..., UE-m) and the application server (AS-1,..., AS-n). This communication link is named control communication link and serves only to carry information about the state of the radio network (101) from the radio base station (110) to the application server (AS-1,..., AS-n) or to the end user device (UE-1,..., UE-m) and it is not intended to carry normal user traffic.