UE Feedback Adjustment for Downlink Flow Rate Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly LTE, face challenges in managing downlink flow rates effectively to balance user equipment (UE) internal conditions and network adjustments, leading to inefficiencies in throughput control due to Outer Loop Link Adaption (OLLA) counteracting UE attempts to reduce flow rates.

Innovation Solution

The UE adjusts feedback to the base station by simulating degraded channel conditions through lower Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) reporting and overriding HARQ feedback, allowing for NACK transmission even for correctly received transport blocks to manage internal overload conditions and neutralize CQI offsets applied by the base station.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the UE reports accurate CQI to the base station, then the downlink throughput is maximized, but the UE cannot reduce flow rate during internal overload conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownlink throughputVSAvoidflow rate adjustment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The UE applies preliminary anti-action by intentionally reporting lower CQI values than actually measured, and by sending NACK feedback for correctly received transport blocks. This preemptive deception counteracts the base station's OLLA mechanism before it can increase the flow rate, allowing the UE to control downlink throughput during internal overload conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Productivity

If the UE overrides HARQ feedback to send NACK for correctly received blocks, then flow rate is reduced, but error rates improve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow rateVSAvoiderror rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The UE converts the harmful effect of increased error rates into a beneficial flow rate reduction mechanism. By intentionally sending NACK feedback for correctly received transport blocks, the UE creates artificial retransmissions that force the base station to reduce downlink flow rate, thereby preventing internal overload conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If the base station applies CQI offset through OLLA, then link reliability is improved, but the UE loses control over flow rate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink reliabilityVSAvoidthroughput control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Productivity

If the UE simulates degraded channel conditions, then flow rate is reduced during overload, but throughput control precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow rateVSAvoidthroughput control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The UE changes the CQI parameter reported to the base station, transmitting values lower than the actually measured channel quality. This parameter manipulation allows the UE to simulate degraded channel conditions and thereby control the downlink flow rate to match its internal processing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9999037B2Methods and apparatus for adjusting flow rate of transmissions received by a device

Publication Date: 2018.06.12 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for adjusting flow rate of transmissions received at a device. A user equipment (UE) determines, in response to detecting a trigger condition, a proposal to adjust feedback provided to a base station (BS) in order to adjust a flow rate of transmissions received at the UE from the BS. The UE adjusts the feedback based on the proposal and at least one additional condition and transmits the adjusted feedback to the BS.