Throughput Measurement via Padding Bit Exclusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring end user throughput in wireless cellular networks, such as E-UTRAN LTE, fail to accurately account for small data bursts, which are common in network traffic, leading to incomplete and inaccurate throughput measurements.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves measuring the effective number of symbols in a transmission time interval (TTI) corresponding to useful data transmission, and using these measurements to calculate end user throughput, rather than relying solely on volume-based measurements, which can be influenced by padding bits. This approach is applied in both downlink and uplink directions, and for each successfully transmitted transport block, regardless of whether it's a re-transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If volume-based throughput measurement is used, then measurement simplicity is maintained, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to inclusion of padding bits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes padding bits from the throughput measurement calculation. The measurement apparatus identifies transport blocks containing padding bits and excludes their volume from the cumulative data volume calculation, thereby measuring only the volume of actual useful data transmitted through the radio interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the transport block into useful data portions and padding portions. By dividing the measurement object into these two segments, the system can selectively measure only the useful data portion while excluding the padding portion, improving measurement accuracy without requiring complete redesign of the measurement system.
2Measurement precision
If small data bursts are excluded from measurement, then measurement reliability for large data transmissions is maintained, but measurement completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic measurement approach that adapts to different data burst sizes. Rather than applying a fixed threshold that excludes small bursts, the system dynamically evaluates each transport block and measures useful data regardless of burst size, using the same padding exclusion logic for both small and large transmissions.
3Reliability
If all transmitted data volume is measured, then measurement simplicity is maintained, but measurement reliability worsens due to padding bit inclusion
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement apparatus extracts and identifies padding bits within transport blocks by examining transmission acknowledgments and determining which blocks contain padding. This extracted information is then used to exclude padding volume from the cumulative measurement, improving reliability while maintaining operational feasibility through automated identification processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for measuring throughput as a measure of performance and/or quality of service are provided. One method comprises, over an observation period for at least one of an uplink direction and a downlink direction, measuring an amount of padding bits in each protocol data unit (PDU) that is successfully transmitted in the said direction and that carries data relevant to a given throughput measure. The method may also comprise transforming the measured amounts of padding bits to the time domain and summing the transformed amounts of padding in the time domain. The method may also comprise utilizing the summed amount of padding in the time domain to account for small data transmissions in a calculation for the given throughput measure.