RAN Resource Management via Stored Context for Access Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio access networks (RANs) face congestion and overload issues due to the lack of efficient prioritization mechanisms, leading to wasted resources and increased network traffic, as they rely on core network communication for access class information, resulting in suboptimal resource allocation and delayed responses.
Innovation Solution
The RAN stores user device context information even when the device is in an RRC inactive state, allowing for prioritized access decisions during congestion/overload conditions, reducing resource-intensive processes and network traffic by using stored ARP and subscription priority information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the RAN relies on core network communication for access class information during congestion/overload conditions, then access prioritization can be determined, but network traffic increases and response delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN performs preliminary actions by storing user device context information including ARP parameters and subscription priority data before congestion occurs. When congestion/overload conditions arise, the RAN can immediately use this pre-stored information to determine access prioritization without needing to communicate with the core network, thus eliminating response delays while maintaining accurate prioritization decisions
2Reliability
If the RAN communicates with the core network to obtain access class information during congestion, then access decisions can be made, but network traffic and resource-intensive processes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential access prioritization information (ARP parameters, subscription priority data) from the core network and stores it locally at the RAN in advance. During congestion/overload conditions, the RAN uses only this extracted local information to make access decisions, completely eliminating the need for real-time core network communication and thus reducing network traffic to zero for this purpose
3Productivity
If the RAN allocates resources without stored context information during congestion, then resource allocation can proceed, but bandwidth is wasted and messaging traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN performs preliminary actions by storing user device context information including ARP parameters and subscription priority data before congestion occurs. When congestion/overload conditions arise, the RAN can immediately use this pre-stored information to determine access prioritization without needing to communicate with the core network, thus eliminating response delays while maintaining accurate prioritization decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring RAN load conditions and using stored context information to dynamically adjust access decisions. The stored ARP parameters and subscription priority data provide feedback mechanisms that enable the RAN to make informed resource allocation decisions during congestion, preventing bandwidth waste by prioritizing high-value connections and rejecting low-priority ones without core network communication
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method provide for receiving, at a radio access network (RAN), a radio resource connection (RRC) connection request from user equipment (UE) in a disconnected/idle state; allocating signaling radio bearer (SRB) resources to the UE; sending an initial UE message to a core network; receiving an initial context set-up from the core network; establishing an RRC session with the UE in an RRC connected state; storing the context information; detecting inactivity in the RRC session while the UE is in the RRC connected state; suspending the RRC session and transitioning the UE device from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state based on the inactivity; determining a congested/overloaded state in the RAN; receiving an RRC resume request from the UE; and determining, using the stored context information, whether the UE is to be granted prioritized access to the RAN and transitioned to the RRC connected state.