Subscriber-Aware Congestion Relief in Communication Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Self-Optimized Networks (SON) for radio access networks lack subscriber awareness, which is essential for effective congestion relief and superior customer service, as they rely solely on network congestion indicators without considering specific subscriber activities and business policies.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that collect and analyze real-time subscriber information, including identities and service types, to determine sector status and initiate congestion relief actions based on business policies, allowing for Customer Value Driven SON, which activates Mobile Load Balancing (MLB) based on subscriber activity and business rules to ensure superior service quality and experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Mobile Load Balancing (MLB) is implemented without subscriber awareness, then network congestion can be prevented to some extent, but the ability to deliver superior service to customers and optimize RAN capacity effectively is severely challenged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that collects real-time subscriber information (identities, service types, locations) and sector status data, processes this information through a decision support system, and uses the results to dynamically adjust MLB actions. This closed-loop feedback enables the system to adapt congestion relief actions to actual subscriber needs and business policies, resolving the contradiction between basic congestion prevention and effective service optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts MLB parameters and congestion relief actions based on real-time subscriber activity patterns, sector status, and business policies. Rather than using static thresholds, the system continuously adapts its behavior to match changing network conditions and customer requirements, enabling both reliable congestion prevention and superior service delivery.
2Adaptability or versatility
If subscriber information is collected and analyzed for congestion relief decisions, then targeted congestion relief and superior service quality can be achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a decision support system as an intermediary component that sits between the data collection layer (subscriber information, sector status) and the MLB execution layer. This intermediary processes and analyzes the collected information, applies business policies, and generates appropriate congestion relief decisions, thereby managing system complexity through modular architecture while enabling targeted congestion relief.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the complex congestion relief process into distinct functional modules: subscriber information collection, sector status monitoring, decision support analysis, and MLB action execution. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific tasks independently, making the overall complex system more manageable and maintainable while achieving targeted congestion relief capabilities.
3Reliability
If real-time subscriber information is collected and processed, then service quality and customer experience can be enhanced, but information processing requirements and system resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by selectively processing and analyzing only the most relevant subscriber information and sector status parameters needed for congestion relief decisions, rather than processing all available data. This targeted approach enhances service quality where needed while reducing unnecessary information processing resources and energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for congestion relief in a communication network. In use, information is collected for all subscribers utilizing at least one service in at least one of a plurality of sectors associated with a communication network, the information including at least an identity associated with each subscriber and a service type being utilized by each subscriber. Further, the collected information is aggregated to determine a sector status for each of the plurality of sectors, the sector status for each of the plurality of sectors including a total number of active subscribers for a corresponding sector, a service distribution associated with the corresponding sector, and a bandwidth consumption associated with the corresponding sector. Additionally, specific business data associated with the active subscribers in each of the plurality of sectors is received. Furthermore, it is determined whether to initiate a congestion relief action for any of the plurality of sectors based on the sector status for each of the plurality of sectors and the specific business data associated with each of the plurality of sectors. Moreover, the congestion relief action is initiated for each of the plurality of sectors in which it is determined to initiate the congestion relief action.