Wireless Transmit Patterns for Uplink Scheduling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current uplink grant procedures in cellular communications networks require multiple scheduling passes, leading to delays and resource overloading during congestion periods, where UEs often exhaust retransmissions and restart Random Access Channel procedures due to competing SRs and BSRs with regular traffic.

Innovation Solution

Implementing transmit patterns that define multiple transmit opportunities with pre-allocated data and delay constraints, allowing wireless devices to determine when to send Scheduling Requests (SRs) based on these patterns, thereby reducing the need for Buffer Status Reports (BSRs) and optimizing resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current uplink grant procedures are used with multiple scheduling passes, then the eNB can allocate resources based on BSR feedback, but the uplink transmission experiences delays and resource overloading during congestion periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation accuracyVSAvoiduplink transmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The eNB pre-allocates uplink resources to the UE based on predicted traffic patterns and historical BSR data before the UE actually has data to transmit. This preliminary resource allocation eliminates the need for SR/BSR exchange and multiple scheduling passes, directly reducing uplink transmission delay while maintaining reliable resource allocation through the eNB's scheduling authority

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the uplink resource allocation process into predicted resource blocks assigned to specific UEs for specific time intervals. By dividing the uplink resources into predetermined segments and assigning them based on traffic predictions, the system reduces contention and multiple scheduling passes while maintaining allocation accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If SRs are transmitted frequently to request uplink grants, then the UE can ensure data transmission opportunities, but the eNB becomes overloaded during congestion periods causing SR retransmission exhaustion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink data transmission rateVSAvoidSR retransmission success
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The eNB performs preliminary resource allocation based on traffic predictions before UEs need to transmit SRs. This advance preparation reduces the need for frequent SR transmissions and prevents SR overload during congestion, maintaining both uplink productivity and SR retransmission reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces predicted traffic patterns and historical BSR data as intermediary information that the eNB uses to pre-allocate resources. This intermediary mechanism allows the eNB to anticipate UE needs and allocate resources proactively, reducing SR transmission frequency while maintaining uplink data transmission productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If BSR procedures are used to inform eNB of data volume, then the eNB can allocate appropriate resources, but the signaling overhead increases and resource competition with downlink traffic occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation adaptabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the resource allocation decision-making process from the interactive SR/BSR signaling sequence and embeds it in the eNB's prediction-based scheduling algorithm. By taking out the need for BSR feedback and SR requests, the system maintains adaptability through predictive analytics while eliminating the signaling overhead associated with repeated BSR transmissions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The eNB creates a copy or model of the UE's traffic pattern based on historical BSR data and uses this model for resource allocation predictions. This copying approach allows the eNB to adapt to UE traffic characteristics without requiring continuous BSR signaling, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining allocation adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Ease of operation

If multiple scheduling passes are performed for SR and BSR, then the eNB can prioritize traffic properly, but the scheduling complexity increases and uplink scheduling is disadvantaged compared to downlink

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling managementVSAvoidscheduling procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The eNB performs preliminary resource allocation based on predictions before the actual data transmission occurs. This single preliminary scheduling action replaces multiple scheduling passes, simplifying the scheduling management process while maintaining the eNB's ability to prioritize traffic based on predicted needs and historical patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the SR request, BSR feedback, and resource allocation decisions into a single predictive scheduling process. By combining these previously separate scheduling passes into one unified prediction-based allocation mechanism, the system reduces scheduling complexity while maintaining proper traffic prioritization through the eNB's centralized control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3469843B1Systems and methods for signaling and using transmit patterns
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3469843B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3469843B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3469843B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods relating to transmit patterns that define multiple transmit opportunities for a wireless device in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a wireless device in a cellular communications network comprises receiving an indication of one or more transmit patterns for one or more logical channel groups. Each transmit pattern of the one or more transmit patterns defines a plurality of transmit opportunities. The method further comprises, based on the one or more transmit patterns, determining when to transmit a scheduling request for transmission of data in accordance with the one or more transmit patterns. The method further comprises, upon determining that it is time to transmit a scheduling request, transmitting a scheduling request to a radio access node to thereby request resources for transmission of uplink data in accordance with the one or more transmit patterns.