Uplink Scheduling Scheme for Mobile Communication Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE communication systems using Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS), User Equipments (UEs) are forced to transmit padding MAC PDUs even when they have no data, leading to battery waste, signaling overhead, and processing load for the eNB due to unnecessary decoding of these padding PDUs.

Innovation Solution

The proposed blind scheduling method allows UEs to determine whether to transmit padding MAC PDUs based on the type of UL grant, specifically not transmitting them when no data is available, thereby preventing unnecessary transmissions and reducing processing loads for the eNB.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a UE transmits padding MAC PDUs using a UL grant even when it has no data, then the UL resource allocation is maintained, but battery is wasted and signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUL resource allocation maintenanceVSAvoidUE battery waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful element (padding MAC PDU transmission) from the system. When the UE has no data to transmit, it simply does not transmit anything on the UL grant, eliminating the waste of battery energy and signaling overhead while maintaining the resource allocation framework through selective transmission based on actual data availability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic behavior to the previously static transmission pattern. The UE dynamically decides whether to transmit based on the presence of data, transitioning from continuous padding transmission to conditional transmission only when data is available, thereby adapting resource usage to actual needs and reducing energy waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a UE transmits padding MAC PDUs using a UL grant even when it has no data, then the UL resource allocation is maintained, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUL resource allocation maintenanceVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the unnecessary signaling element (padding MAC PDU) from the transmission stream. By eliminating transmissions when no data is present, the system reduces signaling overhead and network processing requirements while maintaining resource allocation through the persistent grant mechanism itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Extent of automation

If an eNB decodes padding MAC PDUs, then the decoding process is completed, but processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding process completionVSAvoideNB processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preventing the creation of the problematic element in the first place. The UE refrains from transmitting padding MAC PDUs when no data is available, thereby preemptively avoiding the need for eNB decoding and eliminating the associated processing load before it can occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Loss of time

If blind scheduling is used to reduce latency, then UL resource allocation process is skipped, but padding MAC PDU transmission occurs unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatency reductionVSAvoidbattery waste from padding transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the benefits of blind scheduling (latency reduction through process skipping) with dynamic transmission behavior. The UE maintains the fast access advantage of blind scheduling while adding conditional transmission logic that prevents padding MAC PDU transmission when no data is present, thereby eliminating energy waste while preserving latency benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4072051B1Uplink scheduling scheme in a mobile communication system
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4072051B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4072051B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4072051B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and a method minimize power consumption, signalling overhead, and processing load in blind scheduling Iin a mobile communication system., aA User Equipment (UE) detects a type of an UpLink uplink (UL) grant, while it is periodically allocated a the UL grant. If there is no data to transmit using the UL grant, the UE determines whether to transmit a padding Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) to an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) Node B (eNB) using the UL grant according to the type of the UL grant.