U.S. patent application number 14/376282 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-18 for radio device and application server adapted for automated m2m access evaluation and method of operating a radio device.
The applicant listed for this patent is GEMALTO M2M GMBH. Invention is credited to Iavor Antonov, Volker Breuer, Jorg Rook, Frank Westerkowsky.
Application Number | 20140369296 14/376282 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45656718 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140369296 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Breuer; Volker ; et
al. |
December 18, 2014 |
RADIO DEVICE AND APPLICATION SERVER ADAPTED FOR AUTOMATED M2M
ACCESS EVALUATION AND METHOD OF OPERATING A RADIO DEVICE
Abstract
The invention relates to a radio device, comprising: a
communication unit, which is configured to communicate with an
allocated access-cell node of an access cell of a cellular radio
access network; a transmission scheduling unit, which is configured
to initiate transmissions of application data between the radio
device and the access-cell node in accordance with a predetermined
application transmission schedule defining at least one allowed
transmission time span, in terms of a week, a day or a time of day
for the transmission of the application data, to select a point in
time for initiating the transmission of the application data within
the respective current allowed transmission time span in dependence
on a traffic condition to be fulfilled.
Inventors: |
Breuer; Volker; (Botzow,
DE) ; Antonov; Iavor; (Berlin, DE) ;
Westerkowsky; Frank; (Berlin, DE) ; Rook; Jorg;
(Berlin, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GEMALTO M2M GMBH |
Munchen |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
45656718 |
Appl. No.: |
14/376282 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
February 4, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/052148 |
371 Date: |
August 1, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08C 17/02 20130101;
H04W 72/12 20130101; H04W 4/50 20180201; G08C 2201/21 20130101;
H04W 4/08 20130101; H04W 74/04 20130101; H04W 8/245 20130101; H04W
4/70 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/329 |
International
Class: |
H04W 72/12 20060101
H04W072/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 3, 2012 |
EP |
12153940.7 |
Feb 24, 2012 |
EP |
12156974.3 |
Claims
1. A radio device, comprising: a communication unit, which is
configured to communicate with an allocated access-cell node of an
access cell of a cellular radio access network; a transmission
scheduling unit, which is configured to initiate transmissions of
application data between the radio device and the access-cell node
in accordance with a predetermined application transmission
schedule defining at least one allowed transmission time span, in
terms of a week, a day or a time of day for the transmission of the
application data, to select a point in time for initiating the
transmission of the application data within the respective current
allowed transmission time span in dependence on a traffic condition
to be fulfilled.
2. The radio device of claim 1, wherein the transmission scheduling
unit is configured to initiate transmissions of application data
between the radio device and the access-cell node after a maximum
time span in which the configured transmission criteria was not
fulfilled.
3. The radio device of claim 1, further comprising a measurement
unit, which is connected with the transmission scheduling unit and
which is configured to ascertain, as a measure of the traffic
condition in either upload or download direction, a current value
of a quantity indicative of a current transmission traffic amount
on a download channel, which is served by the access-cell node that
is to receive the transmission of the application data and wherein
a threshold value of the quantity indicative of a current
transmission traffic amount is forming the decision border whether
transmission is initiated and wherein said threshold value depends
on the amount and/or priority of the data to be transmitted from
the radio device.
4. The radio device of claim 1, wherein the transmission scheduling
unit has read access and write access to a device memory that
stores traffic condition data related to at least one prior allowed
transmission time span and said transmission scheduling unit is
configured to ascertain, from the stored traffic condition data, a
first traffic time span within a respective scheduled allowed
transmission time span, the first traffic time span exhibiting a
value of the measure of the upload traffic condition exceeding a
predetermined threshold value, and to select the point in time for
initiating the transmission of the application data from at least
one second time span within the respective scheduled allowed
transmission time span, the second time span having no overlap with
the first time span.
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. The radio device of claim 1, wherein the transmission scheduling
unit is configured to select the point in time for initiating the
transmission of the application data from a peak center region of
the allowed transmission time span in the case the threshold is
currently not exceeded, and is configured to select the point in
time for initiating the transmission of the application data from a
peak off-center region of the time span in the case the threshold
is currently exceeded.
9. The radio device of claim 1, wherein the measurement unit is
configured to ascertain, as the quantity indicative of a current
transmission traffic amount, a number of failed transmission
attempts of the application data between the radio device and the
access-cell node in association with the respective allowed time
span, in terms of time of the day, in which the failed attempts
were made.
10. The radio device of claim 1, wherein the transmission
scheduling unit is configured to select an exact point in time for
initiating the transmission of the application data at random
within the respective allowed transmission time span scheduled for
the transmission, if a predetermined threshold value for the
respective allowed transmission time span is fulfilled and whereas
the duration of the transmission time span depends on the amount of
collisions detected during earlier attempts.
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. The radio device of claim 12, wherein the transmission
scheduling unit is configured to select the exact point in time by
either delaying or bringing forward the transmission within the
respective allowed transmission time span in accordance with
application of a jitter to a predetermined point in time.
14. The radio device of claim 1, wherein a respective priority is
allocated to a respective transmission of application data, and
wherein the point in time for initiating the transmission of the
application data within an allowed transmission time span is
determined in additional dependence from the allocated priority in
that a smaller maximum delay is preset for a transmission of higher
priority and a larger maximum delay is preset for a transmission of
lower priority.
15. The radio device of claim 1, further comprising an application
unit, which comprises the transmission scheduling unit, and which
transmission scheduling unit is configured to initiate an upload or
download data communication between the radio device and an
application server via the cellular radio access network, wherein
the communication unit is configured to forward scheduling
information received from the application server to the
transmission scheduling unit, and wherein the transmission
scheduling unit is configured to initiate storage of the received
scheduling information in a device memory, and the application unit
is configured to provide an updated scheduling information.
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. The radio device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined
application transmission schedule is an individual application
transmission schedule assigned to a single and/or a group of
individual radio devices wherein individual transmission times are
determined for the individual radio devices on the basis of their
respective individualized application transmission schedule, and
wherein an individual transmission time is determined on the basis
of a parameter that is unique for an individual radio device, in
particular wherein the parameter is an IMEI-number of the
individual radio device.
20. (canceled)
21. The radio device of claim 1, wherein the application unit is
configured to ascertain a number of failed attempts of initiating a
scheduled transmission and the transmission scheduling unit
comprises a threshold adaptation unit, wherein the threshold
adaptation unit is configured to adapt the respective transmission
criteria, in particular a traffic condition threshold, in response
to a measured number of failed attempts of initiating a scheduled
transmission.
22. The radio device of claim 21 wherein the threshold adaptation
unit adapts transmission criteria, in particular a first threshold,
assigned to a first priority and/or wherein the threshold
adaptation unit is configured to adapt transmission criteria, in
particular a second threshold, assigned to a second priority, in
particular such that an order, distance ratio or the like relation
of first and second threshold before adaptation remains in a given
range.
23. An application server, comprising: a server
application-scheduling unit, which is configured to ascertain an
application transmission schedule for at least one allocated radio
devices, the application transmission schedule respectively
defining at least one allowed transmission time span, in terms of
time of the day, for the transmission of the application data
between the respective radio device and the application server in
upload or download, and to initiate a transmission of the
application transmission schedule to the respective radio
device.
24. Method for operating a radio device, in particular a radio
device of an application device and/or an application server as
claimed in one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:
providing a traffic condition to be fulfilled providing a
predetermined application transmission schedule defining at least
one allowed transmission time span, in terms of time for the
transmission of the application data select a point in time for
initiating the transmission of the application data within the
respective current allowed transmission time span in dependence on
a traffic condition to be fulfilled initiate in accordance with the
application transmission schedule transmission of application data
between the radio device and the access-cell node.
Description
[0001] The instant invention relates to a radio device, in
particular configured for an automated M2M access evaluation,
comprising a communication unit, which is configured to communicate
with an allocated access-cell node of an access cell of a cellular
radio access network; and comprising a transmission scheduling
unit. The invention also relates to an application server
comprising a server application scheduling unit. The invention also
relates to a Method for operating a radio device, in particular a
radio device of an application device and/or an application
server.
[0002] The invention is specifically advantageous in the field of
machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. M2M communication is
performed via communication networks of limited to capacity, such
as radio access networks. A first machine performs a specific
application function and transmits application exchange data
related to this application function to a second machine. This
second machine processes the received application exchange data in
order to perform other functions, which may for instance be control
or monitoring of the first machine. Without loss of generalization,
the present specification will refer to the specific application
function of the first machine, and thus to the first machine
itself; which hereinafter may also be denoted simply as an
application device or application. The data for exchange, i.e.
upload and/or download transmission, by the application will be
referred to as application data or application exchange data. The
second machine will hereinafter also be referred to as an
application server, without implying performance of other functions
than receiving and processing the application exchange data.
[0003] An example of an application is an electrical meter that
measures a consumption of energy in a consumer household. For
enabling M2M communication, such an electrical meter may comprise a
radio module for the transmission of the measured energy
consumption data to an application server of a central system of an
energy provider. In the art, this type of advanced metering
infrastructure is often referred to as a "smart meter". Smart
meters may not only provide one type of application exchange data
such as the mentioned example of energy consumption. Other types of
application exchange data of a smart meter may comprise information
on a status of the meter device, e.g. on a power outage, or other
state information regarding the monitored physical quantity.
Currently, the number of installed smart meters is low enough to be
accommodated by the capacity of existing radio access network
infrastructure. However, with an expected increase in the number of
M2M applications that use communication via radio access networks,
the transmission capacity provided by the radio access networks may
become increasingly used by M2M devices, thus increasing the
chances of insufficient capacity or decrease in quality of service
delivered for transmissions other than M2M, such as speech and
Internet traffic. For instance, mobile telephone users may not be
able to access a radio access network in moments of peak usage by
M2M applications. In summary, congestion is expected to become a
major problem as the number of smart metering devices using data
communication via radio access networks increases.
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a radio device that helps avoiding congestion in a radio
access network. It is another object of the present invention to
provide a transmission scheduling unit in the radio device, which
is further improved to help avoiding congestion in a radio access
network. In particular, the radio device, preferably the radio
device of an application device, is configured to relax a traffic
congestion situation in radio access networks. In particular,
relaxation shall be based on a particular easy but nevertheless
effective concept which can be handled on an application side
alone, without or at least with less requesting for radio access
network support. Further objects of the present invention relate to
a method for operating a radio device and an application server of
a mentioned type that helps avoiding traffic congestion in a radio
access network.
[0005] The object with regard to the device is achieved by the
invention by means of a radio device as claimed in claim 1. In
accordance with the invention it is proposed that the transmission
scheduling unit is configured: [0006] to initiate transmissions of
application data between the radio device and the access cell node
in accordance with a predetermined application transmission
schedule defining at least a one allowed transmission time span, in
terms of a week, a day or a time of day for the transmission of the
application data, and [0007] to select a point in time for
initiating the transmission of the application data within the
respective current allowed transmission time span in dependence on
a traffic condition to to be fulfilled.
[0008] The invention also leads to an application server as claimed
in instant claim 23. As regards the method the object is achieved
by the invention by means of a method for operating a radio device
as claimed in claim 24. The radio device is in particular a radio
device of an application device and/or an application server. For
operating a radio device the method comprises the steps of: [0009]
providing a traffic condition to be fulfilled [0010] providing a
predetermined application transmission schedule defining at least
one allowed transmission time span, in terms of time for the
transmission of the application data, [0011] selecting a point in
time for initiating the transmission of the application data within
the respective current allowed transmission time span in dependence
on the traffic condition to be fulfilled, [0012] initiate
transmissions of application data between the radio device and the
access-cell node in accordance with the application transmission
schedule.
[0013] The present invention is based on a first item of
recognition that M2M communication, in many application scenarios,
is less time critical and thus in principle may be distributed in
time. The application scheduling unit of the radio device is
configured to control the initiation of a transmission of
application exchange data on the basis of an application
transmission schedule determining one or more allowed transmission
times. An allowed transmission time, in accordance with the present
invention is a time span or a point in time. As a time span, the
allowed time is defined in terms of a week, a day or a time of day.
The term time of day is to be understood as defining either at
least one time span within a day or at least one point in time
during a day. Only during the allowed time a transmission of the
application exchange data is allowed by the application scheduling
unit.
[0014] The transmission of application exchange data may comprise
in particular an upload of data--thus output data of a radio
device--It is noted that the transmission of application exchange
data may comprise a download of data--thus input data of a radio
device--, available for instance for download to the radio device
from an application server, such as regular firmware update,
content updates like maps, for instance for an assisted global
position system (AGPS) etc. It is one of the advantages of the
present invention to avoid congestion due to all radio devices
accessing the application server at the same time to to download
such data.
[0015] The radio device of the present invention is distinguished
from known radio devices by the application scheduling unit and the
layout of the scheduling unit. The application scheduling unit
operates on basis of a predetermined application transmission
schedule, which is managed locally within the radio device. The
application transmission schedule applies to application exchange
data that, in operation of the radio device, are provided by an
application unit. However, for clarification it is noted that the
radio device in some embodiments can be provided without an
application unit, but with the application scheduling unit. For
instance, an application unit may be formed by a meter to be
connected with the radio device. The radio device may in this case
be delivered to a manufacturer of the meter, which combines the
meter and the radio device to form an application device.
[0016] In a second item of recognition the invention considers
that, as the population of M2M devices is continuously increasing,
the insisting networks need to handle in future the existing
population of mobiles and on the top the increasing population of
end-to-end devices. However, also the invention recognized that the
majority of the M2M devices is believed to generate little traffic
only, which might nevertheless be bursty by nature i. e. every
hour, half hour and fifty minutes increased activation can be
expected. The reason for this is that usually an automated exchange
of information in an M2M application is engineered on a periodic
basis wherein for periodicity a week, a day or a time of day is
used as starting points. M2M devices having a radio device
implemented will be controlled by the connected application and
hence very likely a situation occurs that during the same time a
same access or context establishment are tried, especially at
certain times staggered with a certain periodicity. Thus,
activation of numerous radio devices in parallel will lead to a
high signalling load in the network and cause even during setup the
network to be blocked; thus leading to unsuccessful call attempts.
While solutions based on a network control operator or service
control demand for centralized and possibly insufficient measures
the instant invention recognized that a radio device for
implementation in an application device is suited to relax a
congestion situation. A congestion relaxation according to the
concept of the invention is achieved by selecting a point in time
for initiating the transmission of the application data within the
respective current allowed transmission time span and in dependence
on a traffic condition to be fulfilled. Thus, the concept relies on
access control of a radio device based on the knowledge of a
traffic condition in the cellular network.
[0017] A knowledge based concept providing knowledge about a
traffic condition as a function of time is suited as a basis to
control interaction of a radio device with a radio network, namely
a network node or the like network station for wireless contacting
an application server. This basic concept may be further adapted as
a first aspect of the instant invention.
[0018] The basic concept may be also further developed within a
second aspect of the invention; namely providing statistical or
randomized functionalities for further distribution of network
access. Thus this further supports relaxation of a traffic
dependent transmission in an allowed time span.
[0019] According to a third further developed aspect of the instant
invention, the conditions for providing a traffic condition and/or
randomization can be further adjusted according to certain
conditions in a control mechanism. Proper conditions set such that
data transmission scheduling is closely adapted to the actual load
situation of a cell.
[0020] In summary, the instant concept of the invention has
recognized that there is a need to prevent a mobile radio device
from immediate or scheduled executing an access attempt to achieve
a congestion relaxation. Because for mobiles considered so far the
access driving instance is the person behind which cannot be
controlled, thus, a natural relaxation for automatic applications
has not been considered yet nor is available. Also concentrated
data bursting has not been the case in persona applications apart
from situations known from mammoth events or the like--therein a
bunch of persons is concentrated in a certain location and thus
leads to an overload access of radio devices in a network cell.
Access attempt in time is rather not controllable for sure. But
there are methods to prevent the network from damage in extreme
situations for instance DSAC (domains specific access control and
automatic calling repeat attempt restrictions) for such exceptional
situations. However, these mechanisms for extreme situations and
catastrophic scenarios are not considered to be suitable for normal
operation. Consequently, in view of an increasing population of M2M
devices, the instant aspects of the invention and preferred
developments do not prevent from accessing the network but schedule
allowed times and relax a congestion situation by means of
distribution of access in dependence on a traffic condition. This
leads to smoothing of access load versus time for non-critical
operations according to the first aspect, and according to a second
aspect a simulated randomization avoids bunching. According to a
third aspect adapting conditions is possible wherever to necessary
and developing the conditions according to the demands of a cell
and its traffic.
[0021] The concept of the invention recognized that for executing
these tasks a logical entity in a radio device can be used which
bears the capability to apply such behaviour even autonomously from
the network. Besides the radio devices autonomous activities being
described hereinafter in detail, signalling based methods shall not
be precluded; related basic ideas are also claimed where deemed
appropriate.
[0022] These aspects of the invention and further developments
thereof are further outlined in the dependent claims. Thereby the
mentioned advantages of the proposed concept are even more
improved.
[0023] Nevertheless the concept does not exclude, that a server
application-scheduling unit is configured to receive a request from
a radio device for provision of an updated application transmission
schedule; e.g. the request containing transmission failure data.
Then also a server application-scheduling unit can be configured to
re-determine the application transmission schedule for the
requesting allocated radio device using the previous application
transmission schedule and the received transmission failure data
and to initiate a response to the request via a transmission of the
re-determined application transmission schedule to the respective
radio device. E.g. the application unit can be configured to
ascertain a number of failed attempts of initiating a scheduled
transmission and to initiate a transmission of the number of failed
attempts to the application server, in particular to request the
updated application transmission schedule after the predetermined
time span has elapsed.
[0024] Consequently--most advantageously by autonomous scheduling
of the radio device--a risk of correlation peaks and congestion of
access attempts are spread, in particular equally spread over an
allowed transmission time span, in particular in the closest time
range around an allowed transmission time point and in particular
are developed adapted for future or dynamic demands of a traffic
load in the network.
[0025] The method and developed configurations thereof as outlined
above may be implemented by digital circuits of any preferred kind,
whereby the advantages associated with the digital circuits may be
obtained. In particular, one or more method steps and/or features
of the method can be implemented by one or more means for
functionally executing to the method step. A single processor or
other unit may fulfil the functions of several means recited in the
claims--this in particular holds for user equipment according to
the concept of the invention. In particular the application
scheduling unit may be provided as a hardware unit with dedicated
circuitry. In another embodiment, it is implemented by means of a
programmable microprocessor and a corresponding executable software
unit. The application scheduling unit may be for instance provided
as a functional unit of an operating system that is installed on
the radio device for control of its operation. In another
embodiment, the application scheduling unit is a software unit that
is separate from the operating system and installable on top of the
operating system as a part of an application layer functionality of
the radio device.
[0026] Preferably the transmission scheduling unit is configured to
initiate transmissions of application data between the radio device
and the access-cell node after a maximum time span in which the
configured transmission criteria were not fulfilled. Thereby a
data-loss or a no-transmission situation is avoided; after a
maximum time span transmission of data is enforced. In particular
the application unit is configured to ascertain a number of failed
attempts of initiating a scheduled transmission and the
transmission scheduling unit comprises a timer for measuring a
predetermined time span after a trigger event, and wherein the
transmission scheduling unit is configured to trigger the timer in
the event of detecting a first failed attempt of a scheduled
transmission of the application data. It is to be noted that a
failed attempt does not necessary mean that a transmission
literally failed but it was not initiated due to the given
transmission traffic criteria.
[0027] Preferably the radio device comprises a measurement unit,
which is connected with the transmission scheduling unit and which
is configured to ascertain a current value of a quantity indicative
of a current transmission traffic amount on a download channel,
which is served by the access-cell node that is to receive the
transmission of the application data. The development recognized
that the current value is a measure of the traffic condition in
either upload or download direction. Thus advantageously a
threshold value of the quantity indicative of a current
transmission traffic amount is forming the decision border whether
transmission is initiated. Preferably a stored threshold value
depends on the amount and/or priority of the data to be transmitted
from the radio device. The application unit is preferably
configured to provide updated scheduling information.
[0028] The transmission scheduling unit preferably has read access
and write access to a device memory that stores a threshold value
and/or traffic condition data related to at least one to prior
allowed transmission time span. Thus update and in situ adaptation
of the parameters stored can be accomplished. The device memory
generally can be provided in various kinds; in particular is
available as a device memory of the radio module and/or a
subscriber identification module and/or of the application
module.
[0029] In a particular preferred development a transmission
scheduling unit is configured to ascertain, from the stored traffic
condition data, a first traffic time span within a respective
scheduled allowed transmission time span, the first traffic time
span exhibiting a value of the measure of the upload traffic
condition exceeding a predetermined threshold value, and to select
the point in time for initiating the transmission of the
application data from at least one second time span within the
respective scheduled allowed transmission time span, the second
time span having no overlap with the first time span. Thus the
first and second time span can be used to separate in particular
the times of a 24 h-day in (green light) times for initiating the
transmission and in (red light) times for not initiating the
transmission.
[0030] Also a (yellow light) time of a time span can be provided
between the first traffic time span and the second traffic time
span, wherein data of raised urgency or priority can be sent though
a lower threshold is exceeded. In a preferred development a
respective priority is preferably allocated to a respective
transmission of application data, and wherein the point in time for
initiating the transmission of the application data within an
allowed transmission time span is determined in additional
dependence from the allocated priority in that a smaller maximum
delay is preset for a transmission of higher priority and a larger
maximum delay is preset for a transmission of lower priority.
[0031] Effectively relaxation of a transmission congestion is
achieved by a transmission scheduling unit, which is configured to
select the point in time for initiating the transmission of the
application data from a peak center region of the allowed
transmission time span in the case the threshold is currently not
exceeded. Further preferably the transmission scheduling unit is
configured to select the point in time for initiating the
transmission of the application data from a peak off-center region
of the time span in the case the threshold is currently
exceeded.
[0032] Also randomization around a peak center region can be used
to further improve relaxation. Preferably the transmission
scheduling unit is configured to select an exact point in to time
for initiating the transmission of the application data at random
within the respective allowed transmission time span scheduled for
the transmission, if a predetermined threshold value for the
respective allowed transmission time span is fulfilled. In a
preferred development a jitter range of time is defined around a
balance point of time for initiating the transmission of the
application data at random. E.g. the transmission scheduling unit
is configured to select the exact point in time by either delaying
or bringing forward the transmission within the respective allowed
transmission time span in accordance with application of a jitter
to a predetermined point in time.
[0033] Preferably the measurement unit is configured to ascertain,
as the quantity indicative of a current transmission traffic
amount, a number of failed transmission attempts of the application
data between the radio device and the access-cell node in
association with the respective allowed time span, in terms of time
of the day, in which the failed attempts were made. In particular
the transmission scheduling unit can be configured to select an
exact point in time for the initiating the transmission of the
application data at random within the respective allowed
transmission time span scheduled for the transmission, whereas the
duration of the transmission timespan depends on the amount of
collisions detected during earlier attempts.
[0034] Preferably the measurement unit is configured to ascertain,
the number of transmission attempts which are triggered after a
maximum time has expired irrespective of the traffic condition. In
a threshold adaptation unit within the radio device the measured
number of timer triggered transmission is compared to a
preconfigured value and should the number of timer triggered
transmissions exceed the preconfigured values, the threshold
adaptation unit notices that the transmission criteria are too
tight. In response to such detection threshold adaptation unit
adapts transmission criteria that way that the criteria are
loosened.
[0035] In case the transmission criteria is only valid for a
certain priority of data, the transmission criteria are adapted
that are assigned to this priority class in the first place.
However this has the advantage that it can happen that after said
adaptation data of lower priority have tighter transmission
criteria assigned than the current priority class. Therefore it is
preferred that in that case transmission criteria assigned to at
least one further priority class are adapted in response to the
adaptation of the transmission criteria assigned to the first
priority class.
[0036] Preferably--but not necessarily--the radio device further
comprises an application unit, which comprises the transmission
scheduling unit, and which transmission scheduling unit is
configured to initiate an upload or download data communication
between the radio device and an application server via the cellular
radio access network. The communication unit is configured to
forward scheduling information received from the application server
to the transmission scheduling unit, and wherein the transmission
scheduling unit is configured to initiate storage of the received
scheduling information in a device memory, in particular wherein
the device memory is a device memory of the radio module and/or a
subscriber identification module and/or of the application
module.
[0037] For a more complete understanding of the invention, the
invention will now be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings. The detailed description will illustrate and
describe what is considered as preferred embodiment of the
invention. It should be of course be understood that whereas
modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made
without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is therefore
intended that the invention may not be limited to the exact form
and detail shown and described herein nor to anything less than the
whole of the invention disclosed herein and as claimed hereinafter.
Further, the features described in the description, the drawing and
the claims disclosing the invention may be essential for the
invention considered alone or in combination. In particular, any
reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting
the scope of the invention. The wording "comprising" does not
exclude other elements or steps. The wording "a" or "an" does not
exclude a plurality. In the drawing:
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a preferred
embodiment of a radio device;
[0039] FIG. 2 shows schematically a flow chart of a method for
operating the radio device in an application device wherein
transmission of the application data within a respective current
allowed transmission time span is in dependence of a traffic
condition to be fulfilled wherein the traffic condition develops
according to a development of threshold values as exemplified in
FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C;
[0040] FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C illustrate embodiments of
application transmission schedules as a basis for traffic dependent
adaptation of a transmission;
[0041] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B visualizes by two schematic drawings a
primary effect of a relaxed congestion, wherein transmission
capacity of a cell of a radio access network as a function of time
over a full day is shown with and without scheduling;
[0042] FIG. 5 schematically shows a UMTS code staple wherein on the
left hand side--in view (A)--an empty cell, this means a cell
without data load, is shown and on the right hand side--in view
(B)--a busy cell is shown, thus a cell with data load--a scheme for
illustrating a measurable physical quantity is shown, which is
significant for evaluating a congestion situation by means of an
UMTS code staple of a measured power parameter, namely here a
CPICH_E.sub.c/I.sub.o parameter;
[0043] FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a measured download power
of a radio device in an application device of an M2M application in
a UMTS cell as a function of daytime and a corresponding power
threshold performing a decision border whether transmission is
initiated; thus establishing a two phase "traffic light" model for
access evaluation and control;
[0044] FIG. 6B illustrates a more elaborated "traffic light" model
for access evaluation and control on basis of the concept
illustrated in FIG. 6A wherein a priorization of application data
is combined with a lower power threshold and an upper power
threshold of variable distance; thus establishing a three phase
"traffic light" model for access evaluation and control;
[0045] FIG. 6C illustrates an exemplifying development of a two
phase "traffic light" model for access evaluation and control
wherein a threshold value is for adaptation to an actual data load
in a cell as a function of time;
[0046] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the service execution process
including a threshold check, timer based execution and threshold
update--the scheme particular applies for prioritized services for
schedules execution; due to a non-reached initial first threshold a
timer runs and elapses--as a consequence a new threshold is defined
and stored for further application upon execution of a service.
[0047] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a radio device 100 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The radio
device comprises a communication unit comprising transmission unit
102 and a receiver unit 104 for exchanging radio signals 140 with a
radio access network infrastructure 200 in accordance with a known
radio telecommunication standard. By way of example, the
transmission and receiver units 102 and 104 may operate in
accordance with a GSM, UMTS, and/or LTE standard, without excluding
compatibility with any other standard of radio telecommunication
used anywhere in the world. The transmission and receiver units 102
and 104 may for instance be implemented in the form of a radio
module, that is, a hardware unit that implements all baseband and
RF functionalities required for communicating with a radio access
network 200.
[0048] The radio device 100 further comprises an application
scheduling unit 106. The application scheduling unit 106 may be
integrated into a radio module comprising the transmission and
receiver units 102 and 104. In another embodiment the application
scheduling unit 106 is provided on a separate piece of hardware,
which comprises an application unit 108. The application scheduling
unit 106 may be any type of signal or data processing device that
generates application exchange data which are to be transmitted by
way of the radio signals 140 to an external application server in
the network 200 via the transmission unit 102.
[0049] The radio device 100 further comprises a device memory 110
that is connected via a first download line 131 with the receiver
unit 104 and via bidirectional line 133 with the application
scheduling unit 106. Further connections, like a first upload line
132 to the transmission unit 102, are of course possible in
accordance with the technical requirements of the radio device.
However, they are not shown in detail for reasons of simplicity of
the block diagram and of the present description.
[0050] As depicted in FIG. 1, the radio device 100 has a
transmission unit 102 connected via a second upload line 103 and an
upload measurement unit ULM to the application scheduling unit 106.
Further, the radio device 100 has a receiver unit 104 connected via
a second download line 105 and a download measurement unit DLM to
the scheduling unit 106. Thus, the radio device 100 of the instant
embodiment optionally has means for measuring an upload data
volume. The knowledge about an upload data volume indeed is of
limited significance for the purpose of determining a cell load.
However, an upload volume can be used to estimate and/or determine
a priority whether and when an upload can be adequate even though a
cell load is high.
[0051] In the instant embodiment, the radio device 100 has a
particular preferred way of evaluating a download data traffic, i.
e. a data volume received from receiver unit 104 via download line
105 and download measurement unit DLM. In principle, such
evaluation of download traffic is possible to be executed for any
kind of radio device by means of the exemplifying scheduling unit
106, i. e. the presently exemplified embodiment for an UMTS radio
device application will also hold in principle for a GSM based
radio device application or an LTE radio device application.
[0052] The embodiment starts from the consideration that a GSM or
UMTS or LTE system basically is a duplex system with separated
download lines 105, 131 and upload lines 103, 132. However,
nevertheless the concept of the embodiment recognizes that via
evaluation of a download traffic it will be possible to make a
statement about an upload traffic in sufficient quality. This is
because it can be assumed that a download traffic and an upload
traffic will be statistically symmetrical and therefore they can be
assumed to have the same mean value. This thesis is based on the
experience that each traffic load in an upload line 103 will more
or less naturally cause at least a signalling item or the like
download traffic in the download line 105. This consideration also
takes into account that not necessarily an exact statement is
requested for the need of access evaluation. In a simple approach
in terms of a more or less boolean statement it will be sufficient
to e.g. roughly distinguish between a situation wherein congestion
is very likely to occur and a situation where a relaxed traffic
load can be assumed.
[0053] Basically the concept of the instant embodiment can be
summarized in that a radio device is supplemented via an
application scheduling unit 106 adapted to provide an application
transmission schedule 120 which depicts a favourable point of time
for affording a transmission of data and the point of time or time
span can actively be selected by an application unit 108 or the
application device 100. In particular, in an M2M device or in an
apparatus connected to the M2M device an application is implemented
with a logic function which gathers information from the end-to-end
radio device by means of measurement of a cell load; namely due to
measuring a physical parameter of a traffic in a download channel.
Thus, triggering or periodical cycle can be implemented for data
transmission supported by the gathered information and a favourable
point of time can be selected for building up of a upload
transmission or other transmission to the cell without endangering
a congestion situation. In particular, also non favourable time
spans or point of times can be disregarded as forbidden time spans
for data transmission.
[0054] The application scheduling unit 106 may have one or more
application transmission schedules 120 and parameters stored; the
application transmission schedule 120 shown is merely exemplary and
may differ from other embodiments used for implementation in the
field. The application transmission schedule 120 may be stored in
different ways. In one example, the application transmission
schedule 120 is organized as a list 121 of allowed times. The
allowed times of the list 121 may define a calendar week, a
calendar day or at least one time of day, depending on the
requirements of the specific application implemented. Some
applications may require a transmission of application exchange
data at a rather low rate in terms of weeks only, while others may
require much more frequent transmissions of application exchange
data, for instance on an hourly basis.
[0055] A basic schedule of allowed times of a list 121 is
exemplified in FIG. 3A-FIG. 3C
[0056] Examples of application transmission schedules 120 with a
list 121 and further developments based on a dynamic adaptation
functions--which are depicted as T1, T2, TMAX, UPDATE, and JITTER
in FIG. 1--of the list 121 of allowed times will be given further
below with regard to FIG. 6A-FIG. 6C.
[0057] A first general operation of the radio device 100 will be
explained in the following with reference to FIG. 2. The method
starts with a step S200. In a subsequent step S202, the application
unit 108 generates application exchange data. The application
exchange data may be stored in the device memory 110 for retrieving
them later. In a step S204, the application scheduling unit 106
performs a scheduling operation that determines a time for
transmission of the generated application exchange data via the
transmission unit 102. The scheduling is performed using the
predetermined application transmission schedule 120 stored in the
device memory 110. In a subsequent step S206, a transmission of the
application exchange data generated by the application unit 108 is
initiated by the application scheduling unit 106 and the
transmission unit 102 transmits the application exchange data via
the associated radio access network. In the described process flow,
the scheduling and the initiation of the transmission of the
application exchange data is performed by the application
scheduling unit. The step S202 of generating application exchange
data is performed by the application unit 108 and is thus not a
mandatory step for the operation of a radio device in accordance
with the present invention. For a radio device in accordance with
the present invention, it is sufficient in some embodiments to
simply perform the scheduling and the initiation of the
transmission and, of course, the actual transmission of the
application exchange data.
[0058] After the transmission has been performed, the radio device
may either be shut down to stop the process flow in step S210, or
return to the generation of application exchange data in step S202.
It is noted that the generation of application exchange data may be
performed independently and in parallel to the scheduling and
transmission operations.
[0059] FIG. 3A-FIG. 3C show examples of application transmission
schedules 120, each with a varied list 121, in accordance with
different embodiments. The specific schedule 300, 310 and 316 shown
in FIG. 3A-FIG. 3C respectively are visualized as diagrams of a
list 121 of times showing allowed and forbidden times on a linear
time scale extending over one day. FIG. 3C shows a section of the
specific schedule 310 of FIG. 3B at an enlarged timescale as
specific schedule 320. Throughout FIG. 3A-FIG. 3C forbidden times
are indicated by hatching.
[0060] FIG. 3A is an example of an application transmission
schedule 120 that restricts the allowed times in the list 121 to a
consecutive span of time at hours between 0 and 6 o'clock, and at
hours between 18 to 24 o'clock. An application transmission
schedule 120 of this type or specific schedule 300 may be refined
by additional parameters that further individualize the application
transmission schedule 120; possibly down to the level of an
individual radio device. A specific schedule 300 of the type of
FIG. 3A is typically assigned to a group of radio devices. It may
be defined by a scheduling parameter that encodes the allowed time
spans in terms of their starting and end points in time.
[0061] A more refined application transmission schedule 120 is
shown in FIG. 3B as a specific schedule 310. This specific schedule
310 of FIG. 3B in the list 121 distinguishes between numerous
allowed time spans 312 and forbidden time spans throughout the days
of a full week. Radio devices operating on the basis of the
specific schedule 310 may transmit their application exchange data
to the application server only during the allowed time spans 312.
Certain times of the week are locked by defining forbidden time
spans, for instance in order to allow the application server to
perform tasks different from receiving and processing the
application exchange data.
[0062] FIG. 3C shows an allowed time on an enlarged time scale of a
specific schedule 320 for visualizing a possibility to further
distribute the transmission times based on parameters allocated to
the individual radio devices. The allowed time 316 has a number of
dashed marks 316.1 to 316.n which represent transmission times that
are determined for different to individual devices on the basis of
their respective application transmission schedule 120. The
specific schedule 320 of this example distinguishes the
transmission times on the basis of the individual radio device,
thus prescribing an access to the radio access network for a
transmission attempt at respective individual times. The specific
schedule 320 may be defined in a way that allows several attempts
per individual radio device during a single allowed time 316. For
the present example, the scheduled time for the transmission of
application exchange data by the radio device 100 of FIG. 1 is
indicated by a full vertical line 316.2 on the timescale of the
specific schedule 320 of FIG. 3C. An individual transmission time
of this kind may be determined on the basis of a parameter that is
unique for each radio device. A suitable parameter of this kind is
the IMEI of the radio device.
[0063] Generally any application transmission schedule 120 of this
or other kind can be stored as a calculation rule in the device
memory 110 of the radio device 100 and used for determining the
times of transmission by calculation, which can be performed by the
application scheduling unit 106. In this embodiment the device
memory 110 is implemented in the subscriber identity module 111
(SIM). A specific decision logic can be provided in the application
scheduling unit 106 or the SIM card and a control for instance can
be provided on basis of the SIM information. Thus, an update of
application modules or other devices is easily affordable just by
exchanging a SIM card without the necessity to amend a firmware.
Thus, update of an application is easily possible.
[0064] By a calculation rule of this type, the radio load of the
cell, to which the radio device 100 is attached, is distributed in
time. This way, peaks of cell usage by M2M communication can be
avoided and the capacity of the cell of the radio access network is
more evenly used, allowing to serve a larger number of radio
devices at a given point in time. FIG. 4 visualizes this effect by
two schematic drawings showing the usage of a transmission capacity
of a cell of a radio access network as a function of time over a
full day. In particular FIG. 4 shows in general the effect of
relaxing a congestion situation.
[0065] In FIG. 4A a quasi-periodical cycle of congestion situations
with bunching correlation peaks 401 is shown which apply to a
situation in the state of the art. In detail FIG. 4A shows a case
of cell usage based on prior-art techniques. In this example, a
peak 401 of the used capacity occurs at every full hour due to a
large group of radio devices performing scheduled transmissions of
application exchange data in accordance with a fixed prescribed
application transmission schedule 120 according to the prior art.
This kind of to peaks 401 therefore arise on top of a mean base
load 403 indicated by a line in FIG. 4A and thus may
disadvantageously lead to a congestion situation. FIG. 4B in
contradistinction depicts the basic effect of relaxing a congestion
situation--be that it may be by transmission in dependence on a
traffic condition due to a first aspect or by randomization due to
a second aspect or by priorisation and development of conditions
according to a third aspect of the concept of the invention--as
outlined in the general part of the instant application. In
contrast, the distribution 402 of the usage of the cell capacity is
more evenly in the example of FIG. 4B; although slightly above the
aforementioned mean base load 403. However, the peaks 401 are
smoothed out based on a shift of transmission times from busy hours
to less busy hours during the night times and more evenly
distributed by an individual assignment of the application
transmission schedule 120 based on a device parameter that is
unique for each radio device.
[0066] FIG. 5 shows schematically a UMTS code staple 501, 502
wherein on the left hand side in view (A) an empty cell--this means
UMTS code staple 501 reveals a cell without data load--is shown and
on the right hand side in view (B) a busy cell is shown--this means
UMTS code staple 502 reveals a cell with data load--. It will be
clear from the other description that the data load in a cell in
particular is indicative of the danger of congestion and thus can
be used for deciding about a traffic condition, in particular a
traffic threshold which can be used for forming a decision border
for whether a transmission of a user equipment--resp. radio device
resp. application device--to the cell is initiated or whether a
transmission is not initiated. Thus, a radio device 100 for an
application device according to the instant embodiment is adapted
to execute an autonomous access control based on an access
evaluation; this with the purpose to avoid data overload in a cell
and remedy the danger of congestion. One or more measurement units
ULM, DLM of the radio device 100 can be used for a measurement
which is affordable within existing logic and existing radio device
systems to evaluate an access for the radio device 100 by means of
the scheduling unit 106.
[0067] The essential assumption for this concept is that on the
download side each node B power can be judged basically on basis of
the code staple system shown in FIG. 5; i.e. the download traffic
is of interest for estimating the data load and other load of a
cell. One essential feature of an UMTS FDD code staple system is
that the basic load is caused by the CPICH control channel
independent of whether a further data load is present in the cell.
Also, the fraction of a CPICH power 510 and power 520 of common
channels compared to the total power 540, 540' of a user
equipment's receiver unit 104 is independent of any interference.
Measurement of a CPICH_Ec/Io value is basically known in a 3GPP
standard like for instance from S25.214 and can be used for
handover purposes or other purposes of mobility. Thus, in principle
a measurement of a download power parameter like the a CPICH_Ec/Io
value is in principle possible within the standard and significant
for the download traffic; thus it is a suitable indicator for a
load of a cell. In the instant concept of the embodiment a
CPICH_Ec/Io parameter is used to provide an evaluation of access
and access control as a function of time for a radio device
100.
[0068] Namely, as shown in view (B) of FIG. 5 the UMTS FDD code
staple is largely increased in addition to the staple power 510,
520 caused by the CPICH channel and common channels, namely due to
the power 530 of additional user channels UseCH1 and UseCH2--in
FIG. 5B UseCH1 and UseCH2 is a variable interfering part of the
total power spectrum 540, 540'. Thus, the free download capacity
500, 500' of a radio device in a certain cell as depicted in FIG.
5B of a busy cell is largely reduced as compared to an empty cell
in FIG. 5A. Consequently, the measurement of a power parameter by
means of a download measurement unit DLM at the receiver unit 104
can be used to evaluate a M2M access for a radio device 100 shown
in FIG. 1. The instant exemplifying description based on a
CPICH_Ec/Io power parameter of course can be transferred to any
other power parameter known in the UMTS or GSM or LTE system, which
is possible to indicate a power spectral density at a receiver unit
104. For instance, an RSSI value of a total received wide band
power also can be used in a GSM based system. Also, the load on
specific signalling channel can be used as a measure for a load, in
particular data load, in a cell. In particular also channels which
are responsible for a distribution of resources can be used as a
measure for a traffic load within a system.
[0069] As will be clear from FIG. 5A in comparison to FIG. 5B a
power threshold can be defined somewhere between the top level of
total power spectrum 540 of an empty cell (FIG. 5A) and a top level
of total power spectrum 540' of a busy cell (FIG. 5B). The power
threshold can be used to define a border whether a transmission can
be initiated or not. It should be noted that such concept for
access evaluation and access control can be used for an improved
and flexible and easy distribution of data load to a radio devices
own discretion for any time in terms of a week, a day or a time of
day. As advantageously described in the instant embodiment such
autonomous scheduling and access evaluation of the radio device 100
is within the list 121 of transmission schedules 120 as described
above; to namely as will be clear from the description of FIG. 6A
to FIG. 6C an autonomous handling of access evaluation and control
of the radio device can specifically be restricted to allowed time
spans 302, 306, in particular further also can be restricted to
allowed time spans 312, 316 of FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C. Nevertheless,
the instantly described embodiment can be realized independently of
a time list in an application transmission schedule 120 or another
specific list 121, namely by giving the radio device an own
accountability for load dependent access evaluation on its own
discretion. However, it is a preferred embodiment to combine the
concept of an allowed time list 121 with the instantly described
load dependent access evaluation of a radio device on its own
discretion.
[0070] FIG. 6 is meant to introduce and make the specific
advantages achieved understandable by means of the further
developments based on a dynamic adaptation function which are
depicted as T1, T2, TMax UPDATE and JITTER in FIG. 1. Dynamic
adaptation functionality T1 and T2 stand for load dependent access
evaluation based on one threshold TR1 or two thresholds TR1, TR2
respectively. Dynamic adaptation functionality TMax stands for a
maximum time span in which a configured transmission criteria was
not fulfilled; thus, to prevent a data loss, after maximum time
span data transmission can be affected anyway. Dynamic adaptation
functionality UPDATE stands for the possibility to update a
threshold value TR to a new threshold value TR' in the case the old
threshold is inadequate in use. Dynamic adaptation functionality
JITTER stands for randomization an actual time point of
transmission around a predetermined time point; thus simulating a
natural statistic of random transmission also for an M2M
application (which in another case is self-evident when a person is
using a radio module). Thereby a jitter range 610 of time can
defined around a balance point 611 of time for initiating the
transmission of the application data at random as shown in FIG. 6A
and FIG. 6B.
[0071] Examples of an independent dynamic adaptation function
application--which are depicted as icons T1, T2, TMAX, UPDATE, and
JITTER in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C where
appropriate--for a transmission schedule 120 or a transmission
schedule 120 with a list 121 and further development of the list
121 of allowed times based on a dynamic adaptation function, will
now be described in view of the examples given in FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B
and FIG. 6C.
[0072] For this purpose, FIG. 6A depicts a measured download
traffic 601 in a download line 105 as measured in the download
measurement unit DLM as a function of time over a day. The more
load is in a cell the larger is the value of the CPICH_Ec/Io power
parameter of to the measured download traffic 601 as a function of
time. Thus, the higher the fraction of user channel signal 530
interfering in a code staple power is--in comparison to the basis
of a CPICH_Ec/Io power 510 and/or common power 520 of the serving
cell--the more the danger of congestion is due to high load in the
serving cell. In FIG. 6A a first load threshold TR1 is applied to
form a decision border whether transmission is initiated ("green
light traffic light" below load threshold TR1) or whether
transmission is not initiated ("red light traffic light" above load
threshold TR1). The load threshold TR1 can be defined in dependence
of the actual basis load as will be clear from the further
description of FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C. In particular, the load
threshold TR1 is a basis for the T1 load threshold function
depicted in FIG. 1 as a part of the application transmission
schedule 120.
[0073] In the case the CPICH_Ec/Io power parameter exceeds the load
threshold TR1--namely between clock time 6:30 am to 19:45 pm--no
transmission is initiated. However, in the time between 19:45 pm
and 6:30 am the Ec/Io power parameter is below the TR1 load
threshold. Thus, the delayed transmissions and actual transmissions
within the latter time span can be executed without causing the
congestion problem. Of course, the T1 function can be restricted to
application data of only limited importance thus low priority. The
load threshold value TR1 of the T1 function in the transmission
schedule 120 can be provided by the application and can be stored
in device memory 110 which in this embodiment is part of a SIM 111.
In its simple embodiment the radio device 100 by means of the
download measurement unit DLM is adapted to measure a download
traffic load over a day and fixes the TR1 load threshold for
instance by means of an certain XdB value which is above a minimum
measured value; namely in the mean the basic power 540 as depicted
in FIG. 5A plus XdB minimum user channel power.
[0074] In a further preferred embodiment the download measurement
unit DLM is adapted to indicate an empty cell for instance by
indicating a minimum data load as shown in FIG. 5A. In this case a
signalling trigger can be given to the system such that ideally the
transmission or reception of big data packets is possible as the
surrounding conditions are rather advantageous. An empty cell
condition is particular advantageous upon reception or sending of
large data packets. In this specific case it is not the network
data access which is critical but the amount of data to be received
via the receiver unit 104. This can be considered as a concept for
controlling a best point of time for a FOTA update. In this case, a
application server can be signalized that a large amount of data
provided for to the application can be downloaded or uploaded.
Thus, a large amount of data can be transmitted non-critical in
time in a cell, which is practically empty. Thus, the evaluation of
ideal access to the network is not only used to define a time span
for transmission but also used to possibly find an ideal point of
time for requesting performance of the net. Performance herein
generally is considered to be any kind of service request.
[0075] The instant example of a T1 functionality of FIG. 6A--in
combination with FIG. 1 via the receiver unit 104, the download
105, the download measurement DLM and the transmission schedule 120
supplemented by the T1 functionality in the application scheduling
unit 106--is particular advantageous for immobile applications as
these usually will have roughly the same surrounding and time
dependent evolution of cell load over a day and day by day as
depicted in FIG. 6A. Thus, basically the variance of a load
threshold value TR1, the steadiness thereof and the selection
criteria for initiating a transmission or not will stay to be
rather static.
[0076] However, this may not be the case for a partially mobile
application based on at least partially mobile radio devices as the
surroundings in a cell are changing with moving location of the
radio device 100. Even at least partially mobile applications can
be handled within the instant concept of embodiment which however
will be even better achieved as exemplified within FIG. 6C
described below.
[0077] Here, as a first example, for instance a traveller may be in
the situation to receive actual newspaper information in the
morning at 7 o'clock on a handheld or tablet PC. Such information
is available usually at 22:00 pm of editorial office closing time
and thus in principle is available as a download between 22:00 pm
until 7:00 am. However, due to a unknown local area and cell, an
ideal point of time cannot be determined exactly in advance for
download. Nevertheless, for each system of mobile communication a
typical indication can be provided to distinguish between a very
busy cell and a rather empty cell. Thus, the access evaluation and
access control for the download can be regulated within the above
mentioned scheme of a T1 functionality. For instance the TR1 load
threshold, of course, may be statistically re-defined via AT or on
basis of other knowledge which can be provided in a SIM card 111
for instance. In a very simple case, for each cell in a radio
network a specific fixed localized cell has a specific load
threshold.
[0078] Thus, in summary for specific radio devices and at least non
critical data load a measurement of a download traffic can be used
to provide a T1 functionality as described above, i. e. the load
threshold TR1 to discriminate between a favourable and a
non-favourable point of time or time span for data transmission in
an M2M application. The load threshold can be defined respective to
a physical quantity which is measurable for a cell; here a
CPICH-Ec/Io parameter.
[0079] Basically, such functionality can also be provided in the
net, which however is not so advantageous as a functionality in a
radio device. A T1 functionality in the radio device is more
reliable and more specific to the actual localization of the radio
device. Also, a network based solution would possibly provide a
hysteresis mechanism for numerous M2M applications at the same time
which is inferior to the possibilities achievable with an
individual solution. Thus an individual solution of a radio device
as described above will participate from natural relaxation due to
hysteresis and differences between a receiver unit, subscribers
point of time and localization as well measurement time for a
specific radio device in a cell.
[0080] As a second example, FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B show calm hours
wherein the depicted a CPICH_Ec/Io received power is only half of
the total received power. The other half of power load is due to
interference and common channels or other user channels. In the
time span in which the CPICH_Ec/Io value is drastically lowered the
reason for this is that apart from the a CPICH_Ec/Io power also
further power is measured. For an individual M2M device such
disturbing power will be received from traffic in neighbouring
cells or the nearest surroundings. By implementing a simple
"traffic light" system favourable times for transmission of data
can be identified and peak power load can be identified to certain
times.
[0081] The power load depicted as a function of time of FIG. 6A and
FIG. 6B is only an example for a specific cell. The development
will be different in another cell. Thus, the evolution of power
will be individual for each cell. The position of a user equipment
will only shift, however, an individual curve for each cell in
parallel to another point. Assuming that no traffic is existing due
to the total power of all other channels the CPICH_Ec/Io of the
user equipment in the middle of a cell will have values of -3 db
and of user equipment at the border of a cell will have a value of
-4,8 db due to interference with neighbouring cells of similar
size. This means that for the main value for determining borders
for transmission the position of the user equipment is far less
relevant; in other words: the value for determining borders for
transmission is independent of the position of the radio device.
However, significant is the load of the cell which can be
different, however for each individual to cell. A cell, however
which has a small CPICH will not be able to receive large amounts
of further traffic in the upload direction.
[0082] As will be clear from the more elaborated "traffic light"
system of FIG. 6B the momentarily situation of a measured value 602
can be interpreted in different ways. For instance priorities of
messages to be send as well as scale and number for the messages of
information can be defined for providing a priority of data
transmission. FIG. 6B shows a first load threshold TR1 and a second
load threshold TR2 within a T2 functionality. For instance, this T2
load threshold functionality is affordable for handling data of
higher priority class; thus said data can be sent also above load
threshold TR1 but below load threshold TR2. Thus, in the case of
deferring important data the point of time for sending such data
will also be possible until 8:00 am in the morning and already
beginning from 18:00 pm in the evening as exemplified in FIG.
6B.
[0083] Also in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B the JITTER functionality of FIG.
1 is shown and will be explained hereinafter. M2M devices will be
controlled by the connected application and hence very likely the
situation occurs that during same time same access (RACH) or PDP
context establishment are tried, especially at certain times
staggered with a certain periodicity, as shown in FIG. 4A. Based on
the assumption that for a transmission of certain data the M2M
device has a certain time window available in which these data are
to be transmitted. Means in case of a detected RACH collision or
Access_Reject the M2M device applies a jitter (module individual
offset) based on a random choice within a certain window and
retries again its transmission attempt. Applying a jitter means
random delay value ensures that devices having made parallel
attempts start to decorrelate and spread across the available time.
Furthermore the window size or maximum jitter in time may also be a
function of the number of failed access attempts tried so far.
Hence this allows a radio device having had multiple failed
attempts so far retry the establishment within shorter period where
a certain minimum time is not undergone. As a consequence there
should not be the risk of correlation peaks and the access attempts
should be equally spread.
[0084] In a more advanced schematic besides the behaviour in case
of failed attempts also the future behaviour in case of "Pass" and
"Fail" attempts may influence the access behaviour. In the M2M
devices or in the connected application a statistic is maintained
collecting the information related to "Passed" and "Fail" attempts.
Based on that statistic the M2M device decides which would be a
good access time; which usually means in the next access the same
time as during previous access could be used. However, in case of
"Fail" next best occasion is used and if that fails or already
after first failing attempt the module returns to the previously
described jitter method. Above mentioned methods are based on
randomization and/or jittering the access to avoid peaks and
collecting knowledge based on attempts made with trial and error to
smoothen the access distribution. Acknowledging the fact that many
M2M devices do not have a need for instantaneous transmission but
rather communication set-up within a certain time period a method
for randomization and distribution is applied to the access
including a statistical component.
[0085] Further it turns out that coupling an execution of a task to
a certain boundary may be suitable for 95% or even 97% of the
cases, however, in other rare scenario on depending on the
circumstances such boundary may never be reached. Hence to prevent
from blocking the activity a circumvention mechanism is installed.
The task will be executed after a timer has elapsed, during task
execution information will be exchanged indicating a timer expiry
driven execution so that the threshold values for the task can be
adapted. Hosting of the thresholds in the SIM and also localization
of the algorithm there seems to be most promising. FIG. 6C
schematically shows the concept of an update functionality depicted
in the application transmission schedule 120 of FIG. 1 because an
initially given load threshold, for instance load threshold TR has
not been achieved by the measured values 603 thus the data
transmission will not be able to reach "green traffic light" phase
and thus data transmission is affected upon a timeout value of a
timer task which has been given a priority.
[0086] In an even more improved embodiment with one or a
predetermined amount of timeouts of the timer execution of a data
transmission from a radio device 100 to an application server will
be an indication for defining a new load threshold TR' which lies
above the old load threshold. Thus, for future data load or traffic
load the "green traffic light" phase can be achieved and thus a
later data transmission is possible, which is not necessarily
triggered by a timeout of a timer. Generally a timer can be
provided for measuring a predetermined time span after a trigger
event and wherein the transmission scheduling unit is configured to
trigger the timer in the event of detecting a first failed attempt
of scheduling transmission of application data. Generally therefore
the application unit is configured to ascertain a number of failed
attempts of initiating a scheduled transmission and the
transmission scheduling unit comprises a threshold adaptation unit,
wherein the threshold adaptation unit is configured to adapt a
traffic condition threshold in response to to a measured number of
failed attempts of initiating a scheduled transmission.
[0087] In the case, an application is not executed as the condition
of the load threshold is not achieved, a timer t starts to run. A
timer t can be coupled to a certain class of priority. However,
when the execution of a data transmission is affected due to a
timeout value of the timer t and not due to achieving the traffic
load condition for a certain priority class, then an update
mechanism can be effected in the case the scenario of a run out
timer and not achieving the condition of a priority class occurs
once or for a number of times. Thus, the update mechanism can be
bound to a certain consolidation of a repeated same situation.
While the communication with an application center is indicated
that an action timer and not a trigger has been effected, the
service center can prescribe new load threshold values TR'. These
new load threshold values TR' can be transmitted by the service
center directly to the SIM and can be stored in an update
functionality of the application transmission schedule 120. In
principle, priority load thresholds and priority control can be
accomplished over the SIM card. In particular the threshold
adaptation unit adapts a first threshold assigned to a first
priority and a second threshold assigned to a second priority such
that an order, distance, ratio or the like relation of first and
second threshold before adaptation remains. E.g. criteria hold
which adapt a first and second threshold such that a "yellow light
traffic light" phase still has sufficient space upon raising a
lower threshold--by also raising an upper threshold--or a "yellow
light traffic light" phase has a sufficiently limited upper extent
upon lowering a lower threshold--by also lowering an upper
threshold--. Also a lower threshold can be adapted upon amending of
an upper threshold in relation to the lower threshold. The detailed
method will be further described with regard to FIG. 7 which shows
a flow chart of a service execution process including load
threshold check and timer based execution and load threshold
update. Described in view of FIG. 6C in a first step S701 a module
is started with initial priority load thresholds. In step S702 the
load thresholds for certain services can be defined. Once in step
S703 the system waits for service requests for instance in step
S704 the service for a certain priority class X can be executed. At
the same condition in step S705 the timer for the priority X
service class can be started. This situation is depicted in FIG. 6C
respectively with step S702 for a load threshold TR and step S705
for timer t. In step S706 it is checked whether the timer has
elapsed. In the "yes" path the service is executed in step S707.
However, as long as timer has not elapsed in the "no" path in step
S708, it is checked whether the load threshold TR has been reached.
In the "no" path a wait step S709 is repeatedly executed while the
loop of steps S706, S708 and S709 is repeated. Thus, the loop S710
more or less depicts the situation of the record in FIG. 6C to
between approximately daytime 7:00 am to 24:00 pm. As the loop S710
is exit only by the "yes" path of S706 then--as a follow up step
S711--it is checked whether the execution has been load threshold
based or not. In the instant case the "no" path is to be followed
and a new load threshold is to be defined in step S712 which is
depicted at 24:00 am in FIG. 6C. The update functionality thus
allows to provide the outer loop S713 which connects to the
definition of a new load threshold in step S702 and a further wait
for service of step S703. With a consecutive follow up of steps
S704, S705, S706. At approximately 12:00 am of the next day in step
S708 indeed the load threshold TR' which is above the old load
threshold TR is reached and thus the "yes" path is to be followed
to step S707. The same holds for approximately 1:00 am at that day.
Thus, follow up of step S707 again the check whether a load
threshold based execution of service has evolved has to be answered
by following the "yes" path and step S703 with a further wait for
service request. Thus the second bracket in FIG. 6C more or less
depicts the inner loop S714 in FIG. 7.
[0088] In addition services or tasks related to receive or transmit
activities which have different priorities related to their
execution or the execution are bound to certain thresholds which
may be fulfilled in special times. One further approach is not to
load the network with additional communication to execute on proper
conditions. However, as there may be scenarios where the
pre-defined conditions may never be fulfilled and not relaxing the
defined boundaries so far that their definition works in all
scenarios under all circumstances it is advantageous that that for
a task of a certain priority a maximum delay time is specified; in
particular in further developing the above described procedure.
This means a task coupled to a certain threshold in a receive level
trying to indicate an empty cell may be executed after a certain
time has elapsed. This time can depend on the priority of the task.
Furthermore a mechanism exists for updating such values.
[0089] The saving of thresholds for execution of certain tasks is
beneficially done on the SIM card in a special field. The service
provider can negotiate with the network provider that for certain
tasks as updates which cause heavy load in the net he will only use
the low traffic hours of a cell by setting and/or agreeing on a
certain boundary for the execution. As in the field there are
certain areas where this condition is not reached it will be
executed after a certain time anyway.
[0090] Furthermore--when execution happens because of timer
expiry--this will be indicated by the radio device as described
above. And hence there are two possibilities for proceeding
depending on the desired logic. [0091] A) After the service was
done x-times because of timer t expiry the module may automatically
switch the threshold to the lowest measured value and keep that as
new threshold including hysteresis; [0092] B) or the module reports
to the service centre which was contacted because of the task, that
the task was conducted because of timer elapse and the service
centre provides a new threshold based on information provided or by
corresponding relaxation.
[0093] If the field is on the SIM card it has the special advantage
that the information on that card can be pre-configured and
automatically maintained by the service provider. In case the UE
supports the distinguishing of more than priority calls where the
execution is coupled to a threshold or specific values, these
different priorities may have the same or different timer value for
their execution.
[0094] In addition if one service is executed because of timer
expiry this may also imply a threshold change for the other service
priority classes. The priority class may be defined in terms of
threshold for their execution by X-dB difference from one class to
the next class. I.e. a priority X class task not executed within a
certain time may be executed because of timer expiry. In case of
the next task of that priority the threshold of the task being one
step higher in priority X+1 may be used as new threshold which
would be an automatic adaption of the execution threshold.
[0095] Besides nesting threshold on the SIM it may also host the
execution logic or even be the application itself. The module
itself may be used as storage for threshold values, in many
scenarios for various purposes hence also the functionality could
be nested but would need to be flexibly configurable hence makes it
less attractive for tariffing issues. In addition the application
would need to be informed that the execution may be done the latest
when timer expiry is reached. Also the application may be used
which causes the issue that the threshold would be need to be
hosted there, being potential subject for manipulation and the
application needs to get the information while the module has the
information available. Hence, also many locations are possible for
hosting of such information on the SIM and even having it SIM
controlled is most attractive.
* * * * *