RAN Session Burst Alignment for Air Interface Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for delivering multiple simultaneous sessions over a Radio Access Network (RAN) are inefficient, leading to suboptimal utilization of air interface resources and increased power consumption in User Equipment (UE), as they fail to effectively manage communication states during simultaneous data transmissions from different applications.

Innovation Solution

The method involves identifying streaming and non-time-critical sessions, reshaping them into sequences of bursts and silent periods, and synchronizing these sequences to maximize common silent periods, allowing the UE to switch to less resource-consuming communication states and efficiently utilize air interface resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple simultaneous sessions are delivered to a client via RAN without synchronization, then each session can be transmitted independently, but air interface resources are underutilized and UE power consumption increases due to inability to switch to low-resource states

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair interface resource utilizationVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple simultaneous sessions into synchronized transmission patterns, combining their burst and silent periods to create unified communication phases. This allows the UE to transition to low-resource communication states during combined silent periods, improving air interface utilization while reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic burst and silent period patterns across multiple sessions, creating rhythmic transmission cycles. By synchronizing these periodic actions, the system ensures that silent periods align, enabling the UE to periodically switch to energy-saving states while maintaining productive data transmission during burst phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the UE switches to less resource consuming communication states during silent periods, then power consumption is reduced, but this is prevented when other applications transmit data simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUE power consumptionVSAvoidcommunication state flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by synchronizing burst and silent periods of multiple sessions in advance, before actual data transmission begins. This pre-coordination ensures that silent periods align across all sessions, allowing the UE to confidently switch to low-resource states without risk of missing data from other applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network node monitors and coordinates the transmission patterns of multiple sessions, adjusting burst and silent period timing based on the aggregate traffic pattern. This feedback loop ensures that synchronized silent periods are maintained, enabling consistent power-saving state transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If streaming sessions are reshaped into bursts and silent periods, then air interface efficiency is improved, but coordination with other simultaneous sessions becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair interface efficiencyVSAvoidsession coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a standardized burst-silent period framework that can accommodate multiple different session types and applications. This universal pattern structure simplifies coordination complexity by providing a common rhythm that all sessions can follow, regardless of their individual data requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2952036B1Delivering a plurality of simultaneous sessions to a client via a radio access network

Publication Date: 2019.05.01 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

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AI summary

A method (300) of a network node for delivering a plurality of simultaneous sessions to a client via a Radio Access Network (RAN) is provided. The method comprises identifying (301) a streaming session, reshaping (302) the streaming session into a sequence of bursts and silent periods, identifying(303) at least one non-time-critical session, reshaping(304) the at least one non-time-critical session into respective sequences of bursts and silent periods, and transmitting (305) the sequences of bursts and silent periods to the RAN. The reshaping (304) of the non-time-critical sessions is performed such that bursts, or silent periods, or both, of the at least one non-time-critical session are aligned with bursts, silent periods, or both, respectively, of the streaming session. By timely aligning the respective bursts and silent periods with each other, the duration of common silent periods may be increased, thereby utilizing air interface resources more efficiently. In addition, a method of a client for receiving a plurality of simultaneous sessions via a RAN is provided.