Terminal Device Capability Reporting for Dynamic Overhead Scheduling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile communication systems limit peak air interface throughput due to fixed overhead values, which restrict maximum instantaneous scheduling rates, leading to lower actual peak rates compared to the maximum supported by terminal devices.

Innovation Solution

Terminal devices report capability information to network devices about their supported transmission rates and overheads, allowing for flexible scheduling based on actual capabilities rather than fixed overhead values, enabling higher peak data rates and increased network throughput.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a fixed overhead value is used for scheduling, then system simplicity is maintained, but the instantaneous peak throughput cannot reach the maximum supported by the terminal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstantaneous peak throughputVSAvoidscheduling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic overhead adjustment by allowing the network device to configure different overhead values for different terminals based on their capabilities. Instead of using a fixed overhead value for all terminals, the system dynamically adapts the overhead parameter to match each terminal's actual processing capability, thereby enabling higher instantaneous peak throughput for capable terminals while maintaining system manageability through standardized configuration procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the overhead parameter from a fixed system-wide value to a configurable terminal-specific value. The network device determines appropriate overhead values based on terminal capabilities and configures them accordingly. This parameter change allows the system to optimize throughput for each terminal individually, resolving the contradiction between maintaining simplicity and achieving maximum performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the average overhead is used as the lowest overhead for scheduling, then scheduling is simplified, but the actual average peak rate becomes lower than the expected peak rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactual average peak rateVSAvoidscheduling flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the overhead parameter to be changed from a fixed average value to configurable values that reflect actual terminal capabilities. The network device can set different overhead levels (e.g., 0.07 or 0.14) based on each terminal's processing capability, allowing the actual average peak rate to reach its expected maximum while maintaining standardized scheduling procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary capability assessment where the network device evaluates terminal capabilities before configuring overhead values. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-determine appropriate overhead settings for each terminal, ensuring that scheduling can operate at optimal rates without requiring complex real-time adjustments during data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If a fixed overhead value is used, then system consistency is maintained, but terminals with lower actual overhead capability cannot achieve their maximum throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal throughputVSAvoidterminal capability adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allows the overhead parameter to be adapted to each terminal's actual capabilities. Terminals with lower overhead requirements (e.g., 0.07) can be configured with appropriate values to achieve their maximum throughput, while terminals with higher requirements (e.g., 0.14) receive corresponding configurations. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining system consistency and enabling terminal-specific optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different overhead values to be assigned to different terminals based on their specific capabilities. Instead of imposing a uniform overhead value across all terminals, the system tailors the overhead parameter to each terminal's local characteristics, enabling each terminal to operate at its optimal performance level while maintaining overall system coherence through standardized configuration mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4185054B1Communication method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4185054B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4185054B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4185054B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

This application provides a communication method and apparatus. A terminal device can report capability information to a network device based on a capability of the terminal device, to enable the network device to learn that the terminal device supports a peak data rate higher than a peak data rate determined based on a specified overhead, or enable the network device to learn that the terminal device supports an overhead lower than a specified overhead, so that when scheduling data of the terminal device, the network device performs scheduling based on an overhead lower than the specified overhead, instead of performing scheduling based on only the specified overhead in the conventional technology, to increase a network throughput.