Wireless Network Congestion Control via Transport-RAN Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks lack a mechanism for near real-time exchange of information across the transport and RAN layers, leading to potential congestion in the transport layer that can cause degradation in user equipment services.
Innovation Solution
A network layer element and transport layer element collaborate through a second interface for near real-time communication, monitoring user equipment and network parameters, identifying congestion, and performing actions such as transferring user equipment to nodes with lower congestion or increasing bandwidth between distributed and control units to mitigate congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional separate monitoring of transport layer and RAN layer is maintained, then system simplicity is preserved, but congestion cannot be detected or mitigated in near real-time across layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges transport layer monitoring and RAN layer monitoring into a unified congestion detection and mitigation framework. The network element performs both transport layer congestion detection (monitoring bandwidth utilization, latency, packet loss) and RAN layer quality monitoring (signal strength, interference, cell load) simultaneously, enabling coordinated response across layers to maintain QoS while managing the complexity through integration rather than separate mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where monitoring results from both transport layer and RAN layer are continuously analyzed, and mitigation actions are triggered based on detected congestion conditions. The system provides feedback loops that adjust resource allocation, handover decisions, and bandwidth management dynamically based on real-time conditions, ensuring reliable QoS maintenance through adaptive control
2Reliability
If user equipment is transferred to different network nodes frequently to mitigate congestion, then service degradation is reduced, but handover overhead and network signaling increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by proactively detecting congestion conditions and preparing mitigation strategies before service degradation occurs. The system monitors transport layer parameters (bandwidth utilization, latency, packet loss) and RAN layer parameters (signal strength, interference, cell load) in advance, enabling preemptive handover decisions or bandwidth adjustments that prevent service degradation without requiring frequent reactive handovers, thus reducing signaling overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic handover management where the decision to transfer user equipment is based on real-time analysis of both transport layer and RAN layer conditions. The system dynamically adjusts handover thresholds and parameters based on current network state, enabling intelligent handover decisions that balance service continuity with minimizing unnecessary handovers and associated signaling overhead
3Productivity
If bandwidth between distributed unit and control unit is increased to mitigate congestion, then transport layer throughput is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes bandwidth allocation parameters based on detected congestion conditions and service requirements. The system monitors transport layer parameters (throughput, latency, packet loss) and RAN layer parameters (signal strength, interference, cell load) to intelligently adjust bandwidth allocation between distributed units and control units, optimizing data transmission rates while minimizing unnecessary network resource consumption through adaptive parameter adjustment rather than static over-provisioning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by increasing bandwidth allocation only to the extent necessary to mitigate detected congestion and maintain QoS requirements. Rather than uniformly increasing bandwidth across all connections, the system selectively allocates additional bandwidth to specific distributed unit-control unit pairs experiencing congestion, based on real-time monitoring results, thus improving productivity while minimizing overall network resource consumption
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a method and an apparatus performing the method, the method comprising: monitoring one or more user equipment via a first interface; receiving network information from a transport layer element via a second interface between a network layer and a transport layer; determining, based at least on the monitoring of the one or more user equipment and the network information, congestion or degradation associated with the one or more user equipment; identifying a cause of the congestion or degradation associated with the one or more user equipment; and performing one or more action to mitigate or remove the cause of the congestion or degradation.