Wireless Congestion Measurement and Dynamic Resource Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cellular wireless networks, performance degradation occurs due to increased cell loading, leading to higher packet latencies and reduced data rates, especially in congested areas, which existing mechanisms struggle to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

User devices measure and report congestion levels, allowing the network to dynamically adjust bandwidth and power allocation, prioritize applications, and anticipate upcoming congestion to optimize data transfer and reduce latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If cell loading increases to serve more users, then network coverage and user access improve, but performance degrades with higher packet latencies and reduced data rates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of users servedVSAvoidperformance quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future congestion levels at different locations based on current congestion data and mobility patterns. This allows the network to proactively allocate resources and adjust parameters before congestion actually occurs, preventing performance degradation rather than reacting to it after the fact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts network parameters such as bandwidth allocation, power settings, and resource block assignment based on real-time and predicted congestion conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the network to optimize performance for each user device according to its specific location and mobility state, rather than using static configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If transmitting power is increased to offset weak signal effects, then signal quality improves in weak signal areas, but energy consumption increases and interference worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidtransmitting power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously including transmit power, bandwidth allocation, and modulation schemes based on predicted congestion and signal conditions. This multi-parameter optimization allows achieving acceptable signal quality with lower power consumption by compensating through spectral efficiency and resource allocation rather than brute-force power increases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If bandwidth is increased to improve data rates, then throughput improves, but available resources for other users decrease and congestion worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidavailable network resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by allocating bandwidth and resources specifically to user devices in predicted congestion areas rather than uniformly across the network. User devices experiencing or about to experience congestion receive prioritized resource allocation, while users in non-congested areas maintain normal service levels, thus improving local throughput without unnecessarily reducing resources elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Device complexity

If reactive congestion control is used to respond to congestion after it occurs, then response simplicity is maintained, but latency increases and performance recovery is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol mechanism simplicityVSAvoidcongestion response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses preliminary action by predicting congestion before it occurs based on current congestion levels and user mobility patterns. This allows the network to take preventive measures such as pre-allocation of resources and proactive parameter adjustments, avoiding the need for reactive responses and the associated delays. The prediction mechanism adds computational complexity but eliminates the time loss inherent in reactive approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2962434B1Apparatus and method for measuring and using congestion in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2022.06.29 GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
  • EP2962434B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2962434B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2962434B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method (1300) and apparatus (150) are for receiving a set of individual congestion reports, wherein each individual congestion report comprises a set of congestion values and an associated location. Each individual congestion report has been generated (200) by one of a plurality of user devices (110) operating in a wireless communication system (150) and is based on at least one of a downlink congestion value, an uplink congestion value, and a core congestion value. The set of individual congestion reports is correlated to form one or more local congestion reports. One or more local congestion reports are transmitted (1320) to a user device (110). Additionally or alternatively, user device application interactions with a user device are altered (1320) based on the one or more local congestion reports. Additionally or alternatively, network performance parameters are altered (1320) to reduce congestion in at least on region based on one or more local congestion reports.