Reflective QoS Enhancements Using Inactivity Timer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing Reflective Quality of Service (QoS) enhancements, particularly in handling high processor utilization and throughput thresholds, which can lead to processing issues and bandwidth concerns for User Equipment (UE) devices.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of methods and mechanisms within User Plane Function (UPF) and User Equipment (UE) devices to enhance Reflective QoS (RQoS) processing, including the use of backoff timers, counter-based resets, flow ID management, and high-efficiency RQoS processing techniques to optimize parsing and processing of QoS-related packets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If RQI bit is reset for every downlink packet to ensure accurate QoS reflection, then QoS accuracy is improved, but processor utilization increases and leads to processing issues

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS accuracyVSAvoidprocessor utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by using an inactivity timer to reset the RQI bit only after a period of no packets, rather than resetting it for every packet. This periodic reset mechanism maintains QoS accuracy while significantly reducing processor utilization, as the RQI bit remains set during continuous packet flows and is only cleared when activity stops, thus avoiding processing issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the inactivity timer value before packet processing begins. This allows the system to establish a predetermined threshold for RQI bit resetting, enabling efficient decision-making without real-time complex calculations, thereby reducing processor load while maintaining accurate QoS reflection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If RQI bit is reset frequently to maintain QoS accuracy, then QoS reflection is improved, but bandwidth usage increases due to repeated signaling

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS reflection accuracyVSAvoidbandwidth usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces bandwidth usage by implementing periodic action through the inactivity timer mechanism. Instead of resetting the RQI bit with every packet (which generates continuous signaling), the timer-based approach resets the bit only after periods of inactivity, thereby maintaining QoS reflection accuracy while significantly reducing the quantity of signaling bandwidth consumed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If backoff timer is implemented to limit RQI bit resets, then processor load is reduced, but QoS update responsiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessor load reductionVSAvoidQoS update responsiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by implementing a backoff timer that dynamically limits the frequency of RQI bit resets. This dynamic mechanism reduces processor load by preventing excessive resetting operations while maintaining acceptable QoS update responsiveness through configurable timer values that can be adjusted based on network conditions and service requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3993489B1Reflective QOS enhancements
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 APPLE INC
  • EP3993489B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3993489B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3993489B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for Reflective Quality of Service (RQoS) enhancements. Methods may include enhancements for both UE behavior and network function behavior. Network function behaviors may include enhancements to UPF behavior and SPF behavior. Enhancements to RQoS may include methods for resetting an RQoS indicator (RQI) bit for downlink packets of a flow destined for a UE, methods for generating a flow ID to include in a SDAP header destined for a UE, methods for using the flow ID to limit L3 and L4 header parsing, methods for sending/receiving feedback regarding processing of the RQI bit, methods for maintaining a QFI mapping table, methods for skipping parsing of SDAP header fields, methods for specifying and signaling a QoS Flow Identifier (QFI) range to a UE, methods for limiting downlink header parsing, methods for updating a QFI, and methods for performing high efficiency RQoS processing.