User Equipment Bottleneck Detection via Transport Block Size Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for identifying bottlenecks in cellular networks, particularly in the downlink channel, are inadequate as they rely on measuring throughput, which can be attributed to multiple factors and do not distinguish between radio access network and core network issues, and active measurements increase traffic overhead.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for user equipment (UE) to passively determine bottlenecks by analyzing transport block sizes in transmission slots, identifying states such as Active, Busy, and Underflow, and calculating burst characteristics to assess network traffic patterns, allowing for appropriate actions like switching to different RATs or energy-saving operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If throughput measurement methods are used to identify bottlenecks, then bottleneck detection capability is provided, but measurement precision is insufficient because throughput can be attributed to multiple factors and does not distinguish between radio access network and core network issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bottleneck detection process into distinct phases: identifying transport block sizes in transmission slots, categorizing slots into states (Active, Busy, Last-Active, Underflow), and analyzing burst characteristics. This segmentation allows precise identification of network bottlenecks by breaking down the complex measurement into manageable, analyzable components that preserve information about network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of measuring throughput directly to detect bottlenecks, the patent inverts the approach by analyzing transport block size patterns and slot states. By examining the inverse indicators (TBS variations, slot activity patterns) rather than throughput itself, the method achieves more precise bottleneck detection that can distinguish between different network issues.
2Measurement precision
If active measurements are implemented for bottleneck detection, then measurement capability is provided, but traffic overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the user equipment passively analyze transport block sizes and slot states from existing downlink transmissions. The UE uses its own received data to identify bottlenecks without requiring additional measurement messages or network-initiated probe traffic, thereby providing measurement capability while avoiding increased traffic overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts bottleneck detection information from existing transport block size data already present in downlink transmissions. By taking out and analyzing the TBS information that is already being transmitted for data delivery purposes, the method provides measurement capability without adding separate measurement traffic, thus avoiding increased overhead.
3Measurement precision
If transport block size analysis is performed on each transmission slot, then bottleneck identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing analysis on specific local indicators within the transmission stream - namely transport block sizes in individual slots and their categorization into states. Rather than performing complex global throughput measurements, the method analyzes local TBS variations and slot patterns, achieving high bottleneck identification accuracy with reduced processing complexity through targeted, localized analysis.
4Quantity of substance
If passive determination method is used, then traffic overhead is reduced, but measurement capability is limited compared to active measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by making the user equipment multi-functional - the UE simultaneously performs its normal data reception function and bottleneck detection function using the same received transport blocks. By analyzing transport block sizes from regular downlink transmissions, the UE gains bottleneck detection capability without requiring separate measurement procedures, thus maintaining low traffic overhead while preserving measurement capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) passively determines the presence of a cellular network bottleneck in a downlink channel and may take appropriate actions to mitigate the bottleneck. The UE may analyze the transport block size (TBS) of slots of received downlink traffic and assign states the to various slots based on this analysis. Based on these assigned states, the UE may identify a burst of network traffic from network traffic received from the cellular network, and the UE may also determine the burst duration as well as a busy estimation. The UE may determine that the cellular network is experiencing a bottleneck based at least in part on the burst duration and the busy estimation.