Traffic Controller for Cellular Network Bandwidth Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies fail to efficiently adjust and optimize the transmission rate in cellular communication networks, particularly in scenarios where multiple wireless terminals with varying priorities transmit data, leading to suboptimal use of available bandwidth and difficulty in managing traffic through the core network.
Innovation Solution
A traffic controller system that monitors total transmission rates and adjusts packet flow rates based on priority, using a traffic monitor to generate control messages that instruct base stations or packet transfer nodes to implement traffic shaping, thereby optimizing bandwidth allocation and usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the transmission rate of wireless terminals is increased to improve data transmission efficiency, then the total transmission rate exceeds the upper limit value, but this causes network congestion and violates bandwidth agreements with MVNOs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic traffic shaping by continuously monitoring the total transmission rate and dynamically adjusting individual terminal transmission rates based on real-time network conditions. The traffic controller modifies transmission rates on-demand rather than using static rate limits, allowing the system to adapt to varying traffic patterns while maintaining compliance with bandwidth agreements and preventing network congestion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission rate parameter dynamically based on monitored total transmission rates. When the total transmission rate approaches or exceeds the upper limit value, the traffic controller reduces individual terminal transmission rates. This parameter adjustment mechanism ensures that the sum of all terminal transmission rates remains within agreed bandwidth limits while maximizing overall data transmission efficiency.
2Reliability
If static upper limit values are set for each wireless terminal to maintain network capacity, then network stability is preserved, but bandwidth is wasted when terminals do not simultaneously communicate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static bandwidth allocations with dynamic traffic shaping that responds to real-time communication needs. The traffic controller monitors which terminals are actively communicating and adjusts transmission rates accordingly, allocating bandwidth only when and where needed. This dynamic approach eliminates wasted bandwidth from simultaneous non-communication while maintaining network capacity management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors total transmission rates and self-regulates individual terminal rates without requiring manual intervention. The traffic controller continuously evaluates network conditions and autonomously adjusts transmission parameters to optimize bandwidth utilization, allowing the network to serve itself in managing capacity while maximizing productivity.
3Reliability
If traffic shaping is applied to reduce total transmission rate, then bandwidth agreement compliance is improved, but the transmission rate of high-priority packet flows may be unnecessarily reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different traffic shaping strategies to different packet flows based on their priority levels. High-priority packet flows receive preferential treatment and maintain higher transmission rates even when the total transmission rate needs to be reduced. The traffic controller selectively applies rate reduction only to lower-priority flows, ensuring that bandwidth agreement compliance is maintained while high-priority data transmission productivity is preserved.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes transmission rate parameters differentially based on packet flow priority. Instead of uniformly reducing all terminal transmission rates, the traffic controller adjusts parameters selectively - maintaining higher rates for high-priority flows while reducing rates for lower-priority flows. This differentiated parameter change approach ensures compliance with bandwidth agreements while protecting high-priority data transmission.
Data Source
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AI summary
A traffic controller (8) receives, from a traffic monitor (7), a first control message generated in response to an increase in a total transmission rate of a plurality of packet flows sent from a plurality of wireless terminals (1) to a specific external network. The controller (8) determines, based on an evaluation criterion received from a criteria manager (6), one or more packet flows on which traffic shaping is to be imposed. In response to the first control message, the controller (8) controls a base station within a RAN (2) or a packet transfer node within a mobile backhaul (30) to execute the traffic shaping. This, for example, contribute to adjusting traffic that passes through a cellular communication network based on a monitoring result of a total transmission rate of traffic sent from the cellular communication network to the external network.