Group Scheduling for VoIP Control Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing voice over IP (VoIP) traffic due to increased overhead in control and feedback mechanisms, particularly in systems like HSDPA and 802.16e, where the large number of voice packets overwhelm existing resource allocation and channel quality feedback systems, affecting speech quality and capacity.

Innovation Solution

The method involves grouping wireless communication terminals based on radio channel conditions and terminal characteristics to efficiently allocate radio resources using shared channels, assigning control channels to groups, and optimizing resource assignment control channel information to minimize overhead and enhance capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of VoIP users is increased by using smaller packet sizes, then system capacity is improved, but control and feedback overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidcontrol overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple control functions into a single shared control channel. Instead of having separate dedicated control channels for each user, the invention combines resource allocation, channel quality feedback, and acknowledgment mechanisms into a unified shared control channel that serves multiple VoIP users simultaneously, thereby reducing overall control overhead while maintaining system capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared control channel is designed to perform multiple functions: resource allocation for multiple users, channel quality feedback collection, and acknowledgment signaling. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated control channels for each user, reducing control overhead while supporting increased system capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If dedicated control signaling is used for each user, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but control channel overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation accuracyVSAvoidcontrol channel overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control channel into logical groups rather than dedicating separate physical channels to each user. Users are organized into groups that share common control resources, allowing the system to maintain precise resource allocation through group-based signaling while reducing the total number of control channels required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating unique dedicated control channels for each user, the invention uses copied or reused control channel structures for groups of users. The same control channel format and signaling mechanisms are replicated and shared across multiple user groups, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining allocation accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If voice packets are grouped together for transmission, then control overhead is reduced, but speech quality deteriorates due to longer loss periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol overheadVSAvoidspeech quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic packet grouping where the grouping strategy adapts based on channel conditions and traffic patterns. Rather than fixed large packets, the system can dynamically adjust packet sizes and grouping configurations to balance control overhead reduction with speech quality maintenance, allowing smaller packets to be used when quality is prioritized

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor speech quality and channel conditions in real-time. This feedback enables the system to adjust packet grouping strategies dynamically, reducing control overhead through grouping while maintaining speech quality by switching to smaller packets or different grouping configurations when quality degradation is detected

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP1941765B1Group scheduling in wireless communication systems
Publication Date: 2019.04.17 GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
  • EP1941765B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1941765B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1941765B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A wireless communication network (100) wherein information is communicated in frames comprising multiple sub-frames, including grouping a terminal in first and second groups, assigning the first and second groups to less than all sub-frames in a frame, assigning a control channel of at least one assigned sub-frame to the first and second groups.