Adjusting Packet Drop-Timer for Relay-UEs in Cellular Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular wireless networks, data packets destined for relay-user equipment (UEs) are often dropped due to buffer timeout processes, leading to issues such as failed bearer connections and interrupted voice calls, as the donor base station (BS) cannot distinguish between relay-UEs and end-user UEs, resulting in inappropriate timeout settings.
Innovation Solution
The donor BS determines if a served UE is a relay-UE providing wireless backhaul connectivity and adjusts the timeout period accordingly, setting a longer duration to reduce the rate of dropped data packets, ensuring that packets intended for relay-served UEs are received.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a uniform buffer timeout process is applied to all UEs, then the base station can simplify its operation and management, but data packets for relay-UEs are dropped due to insufficient timeout duration, causing service disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different timeout values to different UE types. The base station determines whether a UE is a relay-UE or end-UE and assigns a first timeout value to relay-UEs and a second timeout value to end-UEs. This local differentiation ensures that relay-UEs receive adequate timeout duration for their multi-hop communication requirements while end-UEs maintain standard timeout handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The timeout value is made dynamic based on UE type classification. The base station dynamically adjusts the timeout parameter by determining the UE type (relay-UE or end-UE) and selecting the appropriate timeout value from different sets of parameters. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for reliability when needed while maintaining operational simplicity through automated classification.
2Reliability
If the base station distinguishes between relay-UEs and end-UEs to optimize timeout settings, then data packet delivery reliability improves, but the base station complexity increases due to additional determination and classification processes
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary determination of UE type before applying the timeout process. By classifying UEs as relay-UEs or end-UEs in advance and selecting appropriate timeout values from pre-defined sets of parameters, the system improves reliability without requiring complex real-time adjustments. The determination process identifies relay-UEs based on their specific characteristics and prepares the appropriate timeout configuration beforehand.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timeout parameter based on UE type. The base station selects from different sets of timeout values (first set for relay-UEs, second set for end-UEs) based on the determined UE type. This parameter change approach improves data packet delivery reliability for relay-UEs while keeping the implementation relatively simple by using pre-defined parameter sets rather than complex adaptive algorithms.
3Reliability
If a longer timeout period is set for relay-UEs, then the rate of dropped data packets decreases, but the buffer occupancy time increases, potentially affecting overall network throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different timeout durations locally to different UE types. Relay-UEs receive longer timeout values from the first set of parameters to ensure reliable packet delivery over the multi-hop path, while end-UEs receive standard timeout values from the second set. This localized optimization ensures that only the necessary packets (those for relay-UEs) experience extended buffer occupancy, minimizing the impact on overall network throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies extended timeout periods partially, only to relay-UEs that require it, rather than uniformly to all UEs. This partial action approach ensures adequate timeout duration for relay-UE packets without unnecessarily holding buffers for end-UE packets, thereby maintaining higher overall network throughput while still improving reliability for the critical relay communication path.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods and systems for setting a timeout period. In particular, a BS may have data storage defining a buffer. Also, the BS may be configured to (i) provide an air interface through which the BS serves UEs, (ii) buffer data packets destined to individual UEs, and (iii) apply a buffer timeout process according to which the BS drops a data packet from the buffer in response to that data packet being in the buffer for a timeout period. As such, the BS may make a determination that a served UE is a relay-UE that provides wireless backhaul connectivity for a relay-BS, and may set the timeout period based on the determination. When the BS then applies the buffer timeout process, the BS drops a data packet from the buffer in response to that data packet being in the buffer for the timeout period set based on the determination.