Small Cell BSR Timer Segmentation for E-UTRAN Latency Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing data transmission and buffer status reporting in Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) systems, leading to increased transmission delay and suboptimal traffic offloading due to the lack of efficient information exchange between macro and small cells.

Innovation Solution

The method involves triggering Buffer Status Reports (BSR) and Power Headroom Reports (PHR) in specific serving cells, using multiple periodic and retransmission timers to configure the reporting, and mapping these timers to serving cells or groups based on network-provided information, ensuring that only transmissible data is reported in the appropriate serving cell, thereby optimizing data transmission and reducing latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If traditional buffer status reporting is used in E-UTRAN systems, then the reporting mechanism is simple, but data transmission delay increases and traffic offloading becomes suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission delayVSAvoidreporting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the buffer status reporting mechanism by introducing separate periodic BSR timers (periodicBSR-Timer1, periodicBSR-Timer2) and retransmission BSR timers (retxBSR-Timer1, retxBSR-Timer2) for different serving cells. This segmentation allows independent control of BSR timing for each cell, enabling optimized data transmission without requiring a complete redesign of the reporting mechanism, thus reducing transmission delay while maintaining manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic timer configuration where the network can independently set and adjust periodicBSR-Timer1, periodicBSR-Timer2, retxBSR-Timer1, and retxBSR-Timer2 values for different serving cells. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt reporting intervals to traffic conditions, optimizing data transmission delay in real-time while keeping the overall mechanism flexible and controllable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multiple serving cells are used for data transmission, then traffic offloading is enhanced, but buffer status reporting becomes suboptimal without proper timer configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic offloading efficiencyVSAvoidbuffer status reporting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the BSR reporting mechanism by cell association, linking specific timers (periodicBSR-Timer1 with servingCell1, periodicBSR-Timer2 with servingCell2) to specific serving cells. This segmentation ensures that buffer status reporting for each cell is independently managed, maintaining reporting accuracy while enabling effective traffic offloading across multiple cells through proper timer coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where BSR reports are triggered based on timer expiry and buffer status conditions for each serving cell. The network receives accurate buffer status information from each cell independently, enabling it to make informed scheduling decisions and optimize traffic offloading while maintaining reporting reliability through dedicated timer control for each cell.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2765731B1Methods and apparatus of small cell enhancement in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 INNOVATIVE SONIC CORPORATION
  • EP2765731B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2765731B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2765731B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and apparatus are disclosed to provide small cell enhancement in a wireless communication system. The method includes connecting to more than one serving cell. The method further incudes triggering a Buffer Status Report (BSR) or a Power Headroom Report (PHR). The method further includes transmitting a Medium Access Control (MAC) control element corresponding to the BSR or the PHR in a serving cell, wherein the serving cell depends on a trigger of the BSR or the PHR.