Wireless Resource Control via Congestion Pricing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless network resource control methods fail to seamlessly integrate congestion control between wireless and fixed networks, and do not effectively manage scarce wireless resources, including bandwidth, transmission power, and battery power, especially in 3G networks supporting multimedia services with high bandwidth requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method where a radio network controller sets prices for wireless resources like bandwidth and transmission power, communicating these prices to mobile users, who then optimize their resource usage to maximize utility, using explicit congestion notification (ECN) bits for seamless integration with fixed networks, and incorporating user utility functions that account for transmission rate, bit-energy-to-noise spectral density ratio, and battery power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If congestion pricing is implemented to control wireless network resources, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for price signaling and user utility function processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ECN bits, originally designed for fixed network congestion signaling, to wireless network congestion pricing. This multi-functional use of existing signaling mechanisms avoids adding new complex protocols while achieving resource control in wireless networks, thereby improving allocation efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a price signaling mechanism that acts as an intermediary between network congestion state and user resource allocation decisions. The ECN bits carry pricing information that mediates the interaction between network load conditions and user transmission rate choices, enabling efficient resource control without direct complex control loops
2Adaptability or versatility
If ECN bits are used for congestion signaling, then integration between wireless and fixed networks is improved, but information accuracy deteriorates due to packet loss and retransmission affecting ECN bit reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where users adjust their transmission rates based on received ECN bits, and the network observes actual resource usage to set subsequent prices. This closed-loop feedback compensates for information loss due to packet loss, as the pricing mechanism adapts to actual successful delivery conditions rather than relying on perfect ECN bit reception
Solution Approach 2:
The patent treats ECN bits as disposable signaling elements that don't require perfect delivery. Since pricing information is statistical and aggregated over multiple packets, individual ECN bit losses are tolerable. The system uses probabilistic pricing based on overall ECN mark rates rather than requiring accurate reception of every single ECN signal
Data Source
AI summary
Wireless resource control is used in a wireless user terminal. A user utility function is stored which gives a user utility value for the user terminal as a function of one or more wireless resources. Price per unit of each wireless resource usage is also stored. An indication of the price per unit of wireless resource usage is received over a wireless link from another wireless terminal. A rate of wireless resource usage is calculated using the indicated price per unit of wireless resource usage as an input to the user utility function such that the user utility value is maximized.