Traffic Characteristic Indication for Cellular Connection Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cellular radio networks face challenges in efficiently managing connectivity due to inadequate decision-making in connection establishment and resource allocation, leading to suboptimal user experience and resource utilization, as existing methods lack sufficient information to differentiate between various applications' traffic characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A method where a radio device determines and communicates specific traffic characteristics to the cellular network, allowing the access node to make informed decisions on connection establishment, resource allocation, and inactivity timer settings based on the application's requirements, optimizing connection management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If connection management functionalities use generic admission control without application-specific traffic characteristics, then connection establishment is simplified and faster, but resource allocation becomes inefficient and connection decisions lack optimization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection establishment efficiencyVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The radio device determines and prepares traffic characteristics (such as data volume, duration, burstiness) before connection establishment. These pre-determined characteristics are included in the connection request message, allowing the network to make informed admission control decisions in advance without needing to analyze traffic patterns after connection is established.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces traffic characteristics as an intermediary information element that bridges the radio device and network. This intermediary data enables the network to understand application-specific requirements without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus improving resource allocation while maintaining connection establishment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the inactivity timer is set to a high value, then connection maintenance is extended and resources are blocked for longer periods, but connection stability is improved and premature releases are avoided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidresource block duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the inactivity timer parameter dynamically based on the determined traffic characteristics. For applications with longer expected duration or lower data volume, the timer is extended. For applications with short duration or high data volume, the timer is reduced. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing both stability and resource usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If the inactivity timer is set to a low value, then resource consumption is reduced and connections are released sooner, but additional connection requests increase signaling load and consume more resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource consumptionVSAvoidsignaling load

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inactivity timer is dynamically adjusted based on traffic characteristics to optimize the balance between resource consumption and signaling load. By setting appropriate timer values before connection establishment, the system avoids both premature releases and excessive signaling requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If connection management functionalities make decisions based on limited establishment cause information, then connection processing is faster and simpler, but decision accuracy and user experience optimization are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection processing speedVSAvoidtraffic characteristic differentiation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The radio device pre-determines detailed traffic characteristics (data volume, duration, burstiness patterns) before connection establishment and includes them in the request message. This preliminary action provides the network with accurate information for precise admission control decisions without requiring complex real-time measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces detailed traffic characteristics as an intermediary data structure that enhances the connection request information. This intermediary enables accurate differentiation between various application types while maintaining fast processing by using pre-determined characteristics rather than real-time analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10433238B2Traffic characteristic indication for connection establishment control

Publication Date: 2019.10.01 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A radio device (10) is configured with multiple applications. For each of the multiple applications, the radio device (10) determines at least one characteristic of traffic generated by the application. In response to one of the applications requiring establishment of a connection of the radio device (10) to the cellular radio network, the radio device (10) sends a request (202) for establishing the connection to the cellular radio network, the request (202) indicates the at least one characteristic corresponding to the application.