Relay Node Traffic Management via Congestion Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless networks face challenges in providing high-quality service to increasing numbers of wireless devices due to congestion in the air interface of donor access nodes, particularly when the backhaul connection from the donor access node to the relay node is limited, leading to reduced throughput and quality of service for end-user devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for traffic management that determines congestion in the air interface by monitoring physical resource block utilization, assigns a quality of service class identifier to relay nodes, and transmits a congestion indicator to the relay node within a radio resource control reconfiguration message, triggering a handover of end-user devices to neighboring access nodes or different frequency bands to alleviate resource utilization and congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If relay nodes are deployed to improve coverage and service quality, then coverage area and service quality are improved, but congestion in the donor access node air interface occurs due to limited backhaul throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic traffic management by introducing a congestion indicator mechanism that allows the donor access node to signal congestion status to relay nodes in real-time. This enables relay nodes to dynamically adjust their operations by triggering handovers of end-user devices when congestion is detected, thereby adapting the network configuration to current load conditions and resolving the contradiction between extended coverage and maintained throughput.
2Quantity of substance
If more wireless devices are served in crowded areas, then network capacity is increased, but quality of service deteriorates due to air interface congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the donor access node monitors air interface congestion and sends congestion indicators to relay nodes. This feedback loop enables the network to automatically respond to changing traffic conditions by triggering handovers of end-user devices from congested relay nodes to less congested ones, thereby maintaining quality of service while serving a large number of devices in crowded areas.
3Productivity
If relay nodes are used to increase available throughput, then network capacity is improved, but congestion in the donor access node air interface occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the congestion management function from the relay node by introducing a congestion indicator mechanism controlled by the donor access node. When congestion is detected, the donor access node can signal the relay node to hand over specific end-user devices to other access nodes, thereby removing the harmful congestion effect while preserving the throughput benefits of relay node deployment.
Data Source
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AI summary
Upon a determination that a relay backhaul link of a relay node is using excessive resources of a donor access node, wireless devices attached to the relay node are offloaded to other access nodes such as neighbor access nodes or to a different frequency band deployed by the donor access node or its neighbors. A donor access node transmits a congestion indicator to the relay node. The relay node transmits updated measurement parameters to end-user wireless devices connected thereto. An end-user wireless device reports back to the relay node in the event it measures a signal strength that is stronger than the current signal strength. This measurement event triggers a handoff of the end-user wireless device, thereby helping to alleviate the resource utilization of the air-interface of the donor access node.