RAN-Assisted Rate Adaptation for End-to-End Bit Rate Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems lack a mechanism for determining whether endpoints in an end-to-end communication support Radio Access Network (RAN) assisted rate adaptation, leading to inefficiencies in managing bit rates that exceed Guaranteed Bit Rates (GBR), which can result in packet loss or delay.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a Session Description Protocol (SDP) parameter to indicate RAN assisted rate adaptation capability between endpoints, allowing network devices to configure Maximum Bit Rates (MBR) that exceed GBR only when both endpoints support this capability, ensuring efficient rate adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If network devices configure Maximum Bit Rates (MBR) that exceed Guaranteed Bit Rates (GBR), then data transmission efficiency is improved, but packet loss and delay increase when endpoints do not support rate adaptation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidpacket loss and delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having endpoints advertise their RAN assisted rate adaptation capability support in advance during session establishment. This allows the network device to know beforehand whether it can safely configure MBR exceeding GBR, preventing packet loss and delay by avoiding rate configuration mismatches before they occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through the SDP parameter exchange mechanism where endpoints provide information about their rate adaptation capabilities to the network device. This feedback loop enables the network device to make informed decisions about MBR configuration, ensuring that higher bit rates are only configured when endpoints can handle them, thus maintaining reliability while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If network devices configure higher bit rates for endpoints, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but system complexity increases due to capability verification requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidcapability verification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a specific SDP parameter to indicate RAN assisted rate adaptation capability. This standardized parameter allows the network device to efficiently verify endpoint capabilities through simple presence/absence checking, avoiding complex verification procedures while enabling effective bandwidth utilization optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If network devices set Maximum Bit Rates (MBR) exceeding Guaranteed Bit Rates (GBR), then communication flexibility is improved, but risk of exceeding supported bandwidth increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoidbandwidth support reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having endpoints advertise their rate adaptation capability in advance through SDP parameters before the network device configures MBR. This allows the network device to confidently set MBR exceeding GBR only when endpoints have confirmed capability, maintaining flexibility while ensuring reliability through prior verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through the SDP parameter exchange where endpoints communicate their capability status to the network device. This feedback mechanism ensures that the network device has accurate information about endpoint capabilities before configuring flexible bit rates, preventing situations where MBR exceeds actual supported bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3794867B1End-to-end rate adaptation using ran assisted rate adaptation
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3794867B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3794867B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3794867B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for end-to-end rate adaptation using radio access network (RAN) assisted rate adaptation. Particularly, when a user equipment (UE) risks operating at rates greater than the guaranteed bit rates (GBR), the UE may rely on rate adaptation mechanisms to indicate when it has exceeded the supported bandwidth such that the UE may reduce its rate accordingly. Specifically, in some examples, a network device (e.g., call session control function (CSCF) and/or policy and charging rules function (PCRF)) may configure endpoints in an end-to-end communication to operate at rates that exceed GBR based on determining that all endpoints support RAN assisted rate adaptation capability. In other examples, the network device may configure maximum bit rates (MBR) that exceed GBR for only the endpoint that supports RAN assisted rate adaptation capability.