U.S. patent application number 17/519690 was filed with the patent office on 2022-02-24 for systems and methods for single uplink operation (suo) over dual connectivity networks.
This patent application is currently assigned to AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to David Ross Beppler, Slawomir Stawiarski, Daniel Vivanco.
Application Number | 20220060956 17/519690 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220060956 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vivanco; Daniel ; et
al. |
February 24, 2022 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SINGLE UPLINK OPERATION (SUO) OVER DUAL
CONNECTIVITY NETWORKS
Abstract
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example,
obtaining, for a plurality of dual connectivity mobile
communication devices that are in communication range of a first
access point that uses a first radio access technology and a second
access point that uses a second radio access technology, a
plurality of network communication parameters, the first radio
access technology being a different radio access technology than
the second radio access technology; obtaining a list of a plurality
of configurations, each configuration identifying one or more time
slots in which the first radio access technology is to be used and
one or more other time slots in which the second radio access
technology is to be used; selecting, from the list, a respective
configuration to apply to each of the plurality of dual
connectivity mobile communication devices, a first configuration
that is selected being selected based at least in part upon one or
more first network communication parameters, a second configuration
that is selected being selected based at least in part upon one or
more second network communication parameters; facilitating first
communications, via the first access point and the second access
point, with a first dual connectivity mobile communication device
according to the first configuration, which is changeable in
real-time during the first communications; and facilitating second
communications, via the first access point and the second access
point, with a second dual connectivity mobile communication device
according to the second configuration, which is changeable in
real-time during the second communications. Other embodiments are
disclosed.
Inventors: |
Vivanco; Daniel; (Ashburn,
VA) ; Beppler; David Ross; (Duluth, GA) ;
Stawiarski; Slawomir; (Carpentersville, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc. |
Atlanta
Vienna |
GA
VA |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
AT&T Intellectual Property I,
L.P.
Atlanta
GA
AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc.
Vienna
VA
|
Appl. No.: |
17/519690 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16988348 |
Aug 7, 2020 |
11197217 |
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17519690 |
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International
Class: |
H04W 36/14 20060101
H04W036/14; H04W 48/18 20060101 H04W048/18; H04W 88/06 20060101
H04W088/06; H04W 36/00 20060101 H04W036/00 |
Claims
1. A device comprising: a processing system including a processor;
and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when
executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of
operations, the operations comprising: selecting, from a list of
configurations, a first configuration identifying one or more time
slots in a frame for uplink transmissions using a first radio
access technology and one or more remaining time slots in the frame
for the uplink transmissions using a second radio access
technology, wherein the first configuration is selected based at
least in part upon network communication parameters; and
facilitating first communications via a first access point that
uses the first radio access technology and a second access point
that uses the second radio access technology, with a first dual
connectivity mobile communication device according to the first
configuration, which is changeable in real-time during the first
communications.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein: the first radio access
technology is of one generation; and the second radio access
technology is of another generation, the another generation being a
subsequent generation relative to the one generation.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein: the one generation is a 4th
generation (4G); and the another generation being is a 5th
generation (5G).
4. The device of claim 1, wherein: the first access point comprises
a first base station radio; and the second access point comprises a
second base station radio.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein: the first communications with
the first dual connectivity mobile communication device comprise
first single uplink operation communications; and second
communications with a second dual connectivity mobile communication
device comprise second single uplink operation communications.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the network communication
parameters are obtained from one or more databases, from the first
dual connectivity mobile communication device, from a second dual
connectivity mobile communication device, from one or more other
mobile communication devices that are within a communication range
of the first access point and the second access point, or from any
combination thereof.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the network communication
parameters comprise: one or more first volumes of network traffic
carried by the first access point; one or more first transmit power
values of the first access point; one or more first receive power
values of the first access point; one or more second volumes of
network traffic carried by the second access point; one or more
second transmit power values of the first access point; one or more
second receive power values of the first access point; or any
combination thereof.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein: the one or more first volumes of
network traffic carried by the first access point comprise one or
more first historic volumes of network traffic, one or more first
real-time volumes of network traffic, or any combination thereof;
the one or more first transmit power values of the first access
point comprises one or more first historic transmit power values,
one or more first real-time transmit power values, or any
combination thereof; the one or more first receive power values of
the first access point comprise one or more first historic receive
power values, one or more first real-time receive power values, or
any combination thereof; the one or more second volumes of network
traffic carried by the second access point comprise one or more
second historic volumes of network traffic, one or more second
real-time volumes of network traffic, or any combination thereof;
the one or more second transmit power values of the second access
point comprise one or more second historic transmit power values,
one or more second real-time transmit power values, or any
combination thereof; and the one or more second receive power
values of the second access point comprise one or more second
historic receive power values, one or more second real-time receive
power values, or any combination thereof.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the network communication
parameters comprise: one or more first volumes of traffic carried
by the first dual connectivity mobile communication device; one or
more first transmit power values of the first dual connectivity
mobile communication device; one or more first receive power values
of the first dual connectivity mobile communication device; one or
more first locations of the first dual connectivity mobile
communication device; one or more second volumes of traffic carried
by a second dual connectivity mobile communication device; one or
more second transmit power values of the second dual connectivity
mobile communication device; one or more second receive power
values of the second dual connectivity mobile communication device;
one or more second locations of the second dual connectivity mobile
communication device or any combination thereof.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein: the one or more first volumes
of traffic carried by the first dual connectivity mobile
communication device comprise one or more first historic volumes of
traffic, one or more first real-time volumes of traffic, or any
combination thereof; the one or more first transmit power values of
the first dual connectivity mobile communication device comprise
one or more first historic transmit power values, one or more first
real-time transmit power values, or any combination thereof; the
one or more first receive power values of the first dual
connectivity mobile communication device comprise one or more first
historic receive power values, one or more first real-time receive
power values, or any combination thereof; the one or more first
locations of the first dual connectivity mobile communication
device comprise one or more first historic locations of the first
dual connectivity mobile communication device, one or more first
real-time locations of the first dual connectivity mobile
communication device, or any combination thereof; the one or more
second volumes of traffic carried by the second dual connectivity
mobile communication device comprise a second historic volume of
traffic, one or more second real-time volumes of network traffic,
or any combination thereof; the one or more second transmit power
values of the second dual connectivity mobile communication device
comprise one or more second historic transmit power values, one or
more second real-time transmit power values, or any combination
thereof; the one or more second receive power values of the second
dual connectivity mobile communication device comprise one or more
second historic receive power values, one or more second real-time
receive power values, or any combination thereof; and the one or
more second locations of the second dual connectivity mobile
communication device comprise one or more second historic locations
of the second dual connectivity mobile communication device, one or
more second real-time locations of the second dual connectivity
mobile communication device, or any combination thereof.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the selecting each respective
configuration is performed in real-time, based at least in part
upon the network communication parameters that have been
updated.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein: the facilitating the first
communications, via the first access point and the second access
point, with the first dual connectivity mobile communication device
comprises engaging in the first communications, by the device, with
the first dual connectivity mobile communication device.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:
transmitting, to the first dual connectivity mobile communication
device, first data indicative of the first configuration; and
transmitting, to a second dual connectivity mobile communication
device, second data indicative of a second configuration.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein: the first dual connectivity
mobile communication device comprises a first smartphone, a first
laptop computer, a first tablet computer, or any combination
thereof.
15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising executable
instructions that, when executed by a processing system having a
processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations
comprising: making a first determination, based at least in part
upon one or more first network communication parameters, as to a
first configuration to assign to a first dual connectivity mobile
communication device for first communications with a first access
point and a second access point, resulting in a first assigned
configuration; making a second determination, based at least in
part upon one or more second network communication parameters, as
to a second configuration to assign to a second dual connectivity
mobile communication device for second communications with the
first access point and the second access point, resulting in a
second assigned configuration, the second assigned configuration
being a different configuration than the first assigned
configuration; transmitting first communication data identifying
the first assigned configuration to the first dual connectivity
mobile communication device, the transmitting the first
communication data identifying the first assigned configuration to
the first dual connectivity mobile communication device
facilitating a first real-time adjustment by the first dual
connectivity mobile communication device of a first wireless
communication session with a network; and transmitting second
communication data identifying the second assigned configuration to
the second dual connectivity mobile communication device, the
transmitting the second communication data identifying the second
assigned configuration to the second dual connectivity mobile
communication device facilitating a second real-time adjustment by
the second dual connectivity mobile communication device of a
second wireless communication session with the network.
16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein
the one or more first network communication parameters are a same
set of network communication parameters as the one or more second
network communication parameters.
17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15,
wherein: the first access point comprises a 4th generation (4G)
base station radio; and the second access point comprises a 5th
generation (5G) base station radio.
18. A method comprising: transmitting first information, by a first
dual connectivity mobile communication device, to a network, the
first information facilitating a first selection by the network of
a first configuration, the first configuration identifying one or
more first time slots in which a first radio access technology is
to be used by a first dual connectivity mobile communication device
for first communications with a first access point and one or more
second time slots in which a second radio access technology is to
be used by the first dual connectivity mobile communication device
for the first communications with a second access point, the first
information further facilitating a second selection by the network
of a second configuration, the second configuration identifying one
or more third time slots in which the first radio access technology
is to be used by a second dual connectivity mobile communication
device for second communications with the first access point and
one or more fourth time slots in which the second radio access
technology is to be used by the second dual connectivity mobile
communication device for the second communications with the second
access point, the second configuration being a different
configuration than the first configuration; receiving second
information, by the first dual connectivity mobile communication
device, from the network, the second information identifying the
first configuration; and adjusting, by the first dual connectivity
mobile communication device, wireless communications with the
network in accordance with the second information.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first information comprises
one or more volumes of traffic carried by the first dual
connectivity mobile communication device; one or more transmit
power values of the first dual connectivity mobile communication
device; one or more receive power values of the first dual
connectivity mobile communication device; one or more locations of
the first dual connectivity mobile communication device; or any
combination thereof.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more locations of
the first dual connectivity mobile communication device are
determined based upon a global positioning system (GPS) signal,
based upon a wireless triangulation, or any combination thereof,
and wherein the first radio access technology being a different
radio access technology than the second radio access technology.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 16/988,348, filed Aug. 7, 2020, the contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference into this application as if set
forth herein in full.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods for
Single Uplink Operation (SUO) over dual connectivity networks. In
one specific example, the Single Uplink Operation can be over a
fourth generation (4G)/fifth generation (5G) dual connectivity
network.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A conventional mobility management entity (MME) typically
exclusively communicates with an LTE eNB (see, e.g., eNB 204 of
system 200 in FIG. 2A). In an E-UTRAN New Radio-Dual Connectivity
architecture (EN-DC), both the eNB (see, e.g., eNB 204 in FIG. 2A)
and the gNB (see, e.g., gNB 206 in FIG. 2A) typically use the LTE
Core Network (see, e.g., Enhanced Packet Core (EPC) 208 in FIG.
2A). In this context, the LTE eNB is typically referred to as the
MeNB to indicate that it is the "Master" (M) base station
controlling the "Secondary" (S) 5G NR (New Radio) base station
(also known as the SgNB). Of note, the terms "5G" and "NR" can
sometimes be used herein interchangeably. Further, there are times
when gNB and eNB might change places for "first" and "second"
connection. The S1 and X2 interfaces (see, e.g., FIG. 2A) are
conventional mechanisms typically found in an LTE architecture.
Both the MeNB and the SgNB typically have an S1 -U (User) interface
for transferring data to a single user.
[0004] Transfer of data is typically split between LTE and 5G,
wherein control of dual connectivity is always in the hands of the
eNB. When the User Equipment (see, e.g., Dual Connectivity (DC) UE
202 in FIG. 2A) wants to exchange data with the network, the UE
establishes a connection with the LTE network. If the eNB has an
"integrated" gNB and if the UE indicates support for EN-DC on the
frequency band the gNB is operated on, the LTE eNB will instruct
the UE to make measurements on the 5G channel. If the UE finds a
candidate gNB, the eNB will then communicate to the gNB and give
the gNB all necessary parameters to establish a nearly simultaneous
connection to the UE as well. Once the gNB confirms the connection
setup, the eNB will then forward a part of the incoming user data
to the gNB for transmission to the UE. Optionally, the eNB can then
ask the core network S-GW (serving gateway) to directly exchange
user data with the gNB. In this case, the gNB will then forward a
part of the user data to the eNB.
[0005] A 5G EN-DC UE typically includes: an LTE unit (RX/TX
radio+protocol stack) and additional 5G unit (RX/TX radio+protocol
stack). Such UEs can receive data from LTE and 5G simultaneously,
which increases the data rate.
[0006] Reference will now be made to certain aspects of
conventional UE Power Sharing for LTE-NR Dual Connectivity. In this
regard, maximum allowed power values for LTE (P_LTE) and NR (P_NR)
are set separately. In general, P_LTE+P_NR=P_powerclass, where
"P_powerclass" is the configured maximum UE output power (e.g.,
P_powerclass=23 dbm). However, some UEs may support different
configurations based on their capabilities, such as:
P_LTE+P_NR>P_powerclass. For example, Power Class 2 allows for
output power levels of 26 dBm, while Power Class 3 allows for power
levels of 23 dbm.
[0007] Still referring to certain aspects of conventional UE Power
Sharing, it is noted that there are two different types of LTE-NR
DC UEs with respect to UL power sharing capabilities: Type-1(UE
with dynamic power sharing); and Type-2 (UE without dynamic power
sharing).
[0008] In Type-1 (UE with dynamic power sharing), the UE supports
simultaneous LTE and New radio (NR) transmission, regardless of the
sum of the configured P_LTE and P_NR, i.e. even when the sum is
higher, equal or less than P_powerclass. UEs of this class can
operate without performance compromises both in the cell center and
in cell edge or other coverage limited situations.
[0009] In Type-2 (UE without dynamic power sharing), the UE
supports simultaneous LTE and NR transmission only when the sum of
the configured P_LTE and P_NR is equal or less than P_powerclass.
If the sum of the configured P_LTE and P_NR is more than
P_powerclass, the UE can only operate with time division multiple
access (TDM) based single uplink (UL) transmission (i.e., single UL
operation). UEs of this class will either have worse UL coverage or
lower UL data rates/throughput or both. The network has two basic
operation possibilities for these UEs: (a) Limit the UL coverage by
setting P_LTE+P_NR <P_powerclass, meaning that the UE cannot
reach its maximum UE Tx power (e.g. 23 dBm) for single technology
like LTE (e.g., Pcell); (b) Operate UEs without dynamic power
sharing in single UL transmission mode to allow using maximum UE Tx
power (e.g. 23 dBm) for single technology like LTE.
[0010] Still referring to certain aspects of conventional UE Power
Sharing, it is likely that the first LTE-NR DC UEs will be Type-2
(i.e., not support UL power sharing). Therefore, in this context,
P_powerclass has to be split between LTE and NR technology.
However, this may create LTE UL coverage problems (see, e.g., FIG.
2B), since Uplink P_LTE will have to decrease when P_NR increases,
since P_LTE+P_NR=P_powerclass (such LTE Uplink coverage reduction
may result in a call drop and/or poor service experience at cell
edge).
[0011] Further, the network may decide to configure TDM UL single
transmission in difficult LTE-NR DC combinations, in which
transmission power of one technology may create interference on TX
or RX of the other technology.
[0012] To mitigate the self-interference issue, 3GPP has specified
which band combinations are allowed to stray from the stringent
requirement for simultaneous operation (certain band combinations
create non-linear intermodulation products, wherein a combination
of two or more transmit bands create an interfering signal in a
receive band of another radio). However, there are exceptions such
as Band 3 for LTE (1.8 Ghz)+Band n78 for 5G (3GHz), which may
result in inter-frequency/inter-band interference. In general, in
this context, it would be desirable to avoid TDM based single UL
transmission as much as possible due to its negative UL throughput
and system performance implications. For example, the network has
to synchronize the usage of the pattern, and the single uplink
operation for some UEs may also reduce scheduling efficiency for
other UEs, such as Type-1 UEs.
[0013] Reference will now be made to certain aspects of
conventional Single Uplink Operation (SUO) over an EN-DC Network.
When Single Uplink Operation is configured over an EN-DC Network,
LTE-uplink transmissions and NR-uplink transmissions are scheduled
over TDM mode. By doing such scheduling over TDM mode,
inter-technology interference is typically avoided.
[0014] Referring now to FIG. 2C, a TDM schedule showing a number of
conventional DL/UL configurations is shown. Subframes labeled with
"U" are reserved for Uplink transmission, while Subframes labeled
with "D" & "S" are reserved for Downlink transmission. When TDM
mode is used for (SUO) over EN-DC Network, "U" subframes are
reserved for LTE uplink transmission, and subframes with "D" and
"S" are reserved for NR uplink transmission. The eNB broadcasts the
supported TDM UL/DL configuration to its attached UEs. This
information comes in the SubframeAssignment field in the
rrc.tdd-Config element of the SIB1 message (see, e.g., FIG. 2D,
showing an example SIB1 message with TDD_Config_Element.
[0015] Still referring to certain aspects of conventional Single
Uplink Operation (SUO) over an EN-DC Network, UL BitRate per
Technology is impacted based on TDM Configuration. For example, in
TDM Config-5 (see, e.g., the sixth row down from the top in FIG.
2C) data will be scheduled to NR-UL Channel (subframe "D" and "S")
90% of the time, and data will be scheduled to LTE-UL channel
(subframe "U") 10% of the time.
[0016] Further, when switching from Downlink to Uplink, there is
typically need for a Special subframe and typically no Special
subframe is needed when switching from Uplink to Downlink. In TDM,
there are two periodicity frames: one with 5 ms periodicity and
another with 10 ms periodicity. A special subframe is introduced at
subframe #1 and subframe #6 and each half frame of 5 ms carries one
special subframe in case of 5 ms periodicity subframe. Of note, a
10 ms periodicity frame has only one Special subframe as subframe
#1. Of further note, if 2 S-Frames are presented in 10 ms frame,
then this TDM configuration has 5 ms DL to UL periodicity.
Similarly, if only 1 S-Frame is presented in 10 ms frame, this TDM
configuration has 10 ms DL to UL periodicity.
[0017] As noted, it is possible that LTE-NR DC Network operators
would need to configure TDM UL single transmission in some
circumstances to avoid inter-Freq/inter-Technology interference.
Under these circumstances, the operator may typically use a static
TDM DL/UL configuration. This will result in both LTE-uplink and NR
uplink transmissions always be throughput capped regardless of the
IRAT (Inter Radio Access Technology) demand. In addition, this may
result in situations in which resources are used inefficiently.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,
which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example,
non-limiting embodiment of a communication network in accordance
with various aspects described herein.
[0020] FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example
communication network utilized to show certain conventional
networking aspects (as seen, this system 200 includes dual
connectivity user equipment (DC UE) 202, eNB 204, gNB 206, and EPC
(Enhanced Packet Core) 208).
[0021] FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating an example
communication network utilized to show certain conventional
networking aspects (as seen, this system 210 includes, eNB 214, gNB
216, and EPC (Enhanced Packet Core) 218).
[0022] FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating an example list of certain
conventional TDM scheduling configurations.
[0023] FIG. 2D is a diagram illustrating an example conventional
SIB1 message with TDD_Config_Element and an example list of certain
conventional TDM scheduling configurations (with configuration no.
3 being selected in this example).
[0024] FIG. 2E is a block diagram illustrating an example,
non-limiting embodiment of a process flow (which can function
within the communication network of FIG. 1) in accordance with
various aspects described herein.
[0025] FIG. 2F is a diagram illustrating various example,
non-limiting embodiments in which certain TDM scheduling
configurations are shown as applied to various networking
scenarios.
[0026] FIG. 2G depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in
accordance with various aspects described herein.
[0027] FIG. 2H depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in
accordance with various aspects described herein.
[0028] FIG. 2I depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in
accordance with various aspects described herein.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example,
non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication network in
accordance with various aspects described herein.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting
embodiment of a computing environment in accordance with various
aspects described herein.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting
embodiment of a mobile network platform in accordance with various
aspects described herein.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting
embodiment of a communication device in accordance with various
aspects described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] The subject disclosure describes, among other things,
illustrative embodiments for Single Uplink Operation over dual
connectivity networks. Other embodiments are described in the
subject disclosure.
[0034] In one specific example, the Single Uplink Operation can be
over a fourth generation (4G)/fifth generation (5G) dual
connectivity network.
[0035] Other embodiments can apply to 4G, 5G and/or one or more
other generations of wireless communication systems. For example,
various embodiments can apply to one or more generations of
wireless communication systems subsequent to 5G (e.g., 6G, 7G
and/or any subsequent generation(s)). In another example, various
embodiments can apply to Wi-Fi.
[0036] In one specific example, various embodiments can be applied
in the context of E-UTRAN New Radio-DC (5G NSA-Option 3x).
[0037] One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a
methodology to adjust TDM DL/UL configuration when Single Uplink
Operation (SUO) is configured over EN-DC Network. In various
embodiments, the methodology is applied in a network which serves a
geographic area (e.g., a city) where an EN-DC Network is deployed,
and Uplink transmission of one technology (e.g., LTE) may create
interference (in the absence of use of one or more embodiments)
into one or more channels of another technology (e.g., 5G).
[0038] One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include an
algorithm that can be placed at a central node global control
located on the Core Network (e.g., Mobile Edge Compute (MEC), Self
Organized Network (SON) or RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC)). In
various embodiments the algorithm has knowledge of LTE/5G network
topology.
[0039] One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include an
algorithm that can perform the following actions: (a) Measure
aggregated TX power of each technology (e.g., LTE and 5G) and the
interference that these emissions create into the other technology
(e.g., UL or DL Channel). For example, aggregated TX power per
technology can be estimated by adding individual UE TX power of all
UEs connected to a given Base Station. The Base Station can use
Power Headroom Report (PHR) sent by the UE to estimate how much
transmission power is left for a UE to use, e.g., PHR=UE Max
Transmission Power-PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) Power.
PHR are sent periodically based on a timer. In another example, the
algorithm can query each technology/channel interference KPIs (Key
Performance Indicators), e.g., SNR (signal to noise ratio) and/or
RSRQ (reference signal received quality); (b) Collect information
of the traffic profile on each technology. The collected
information can include demand and QoS (Quality of Service).
Further, the algorithm can collect corresponding traffic profile,
and user behavior from other network elements (e.g., DPI (Deep
Packet Inspection)) for all UEs connected to these Base Station(s);
and/or (c) Collect UE capabilities information of all UEs connected
to these Base Station(s). These UEs may be, for example, (Type-1),
(Type-2), or LTE-Only UEs.
[0040] In one embodiment, based on the information collected, the
algorithm will decide whether or not to mandate both LTE and 5G
Base Stations in a given area to engage into SUO and/or the
algorithm will select the most suitable TDD DL/UL
configuration.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown
illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 100 in
accordance with various aspects described herein. For example,
system 100 can facilitate in whole or in part selection for a
particular dual connectivity mobile communication device of a
suitable time division multiple access communication configuration
(e.g., a time division multiple access communication configuration
that minimizes inter-band interference and/or that optimizes use of
network resources). In particular, a communications network 125 is
presented for providing broadband access 110 to a plurality of data
terminals 114 via access terminal 112, wireless access 120 to a
plurality of mobile devices 124 and vehicle 126 via base station or
access point 122, voice access 130 to a plurality of telephony
devices 134, via switching device 132 and/or media access 140 to a
plurality of audio/video display devices 144 via media terminal
142. In addition, communication network 125 is coupled to one or
more content sources 175 of audio, video, graphics, text and/or
other media. While broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice
access 130 and media access 140 are shown separately, one or more
of these forms of access can be combined to provide multiple access
services to a single client device (e.g., mobile devices 124 can
receive media content via media terminal 142, data terminal 114 can
be provided voice access via switching device 132, and so on).
[0042] The communications network 125 includes a plurality of
network elements (NE) 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. for facilitating the
broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130, media
access 140 and/or the distribution of content from content sources
175. The communications network 125 can include a circuit switched
or packet switched network, a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP)
network, Internet protocol (IP) network, a cable network, a passive
or active optical network, a 4G, 5G, or higher generation wireless
access network, WIMAX network, UltraWideband network, personal area
network or other wireless access network, a broadcast satellite
network and/or other communications network.
[0043] In various embodiments, the access terminal 112 can include
a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), cable modem
termination system (CMTS), optical line terminal (OLT) and/or other
access terminal. The data terminals 114 can include personal
computers, laptop computers, netbook computers, tablets or other
computing devices along with digital subscriber line (DSL) modems,
data over coax service interface specification (DOCSIS) modems or
other cable modems, a wireless modem such as a 4G, 5G, or higher
generation modem, an optical modem and/or other access devices.
[0044] In various embodiments, the base station or access point 122
can include a 4G, 5G, or higher generation base station, an access
point that operates via an 802.11 standard such as 802.11n,
802.11ac or other wireless access terminal. The mobile devices 124
can include mobile phones, e-readers, tablets, phablets, wireless
modems, and/or other mobile computing devices.
[0045] In various embodiments, the switching device 132 can include
a private branch exchange or central office switch, a media
services gateway, VoIP gateway or other gateway device and/or other
switching device. The telephony devices 134 can include traditional
telephones (with or without a terminal adapter), VoIP telephones
and/or other telephony devices.
[0046] In various embodiments, the media terminal 142 can include a
cable head-end or other TV head-end, a satellite receiver, gateway
or other media terminal 142. The display devices 144 can include
televisions with or without a set top box, personal computers
and/or other display devices.
[0047] In various embodiments, the content sources 175 include
broadcast television and radio sources, video on demand platforms
and streaming video and audio services platforms, one or more
content data networks, data servers, web servers and other content
servers, and/or other sources of media.
[0048] In various embodiments, the communications network 125 can
include wired, optical and/or wireless links and the network
elements 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. can include service switching
points, signal transfer points, service control points, network
gateways, media distribution hubs, servers, firewalls, routers,
edge devices, switches and other network nodes for routing and
controlling communications traffic over wired, optical and wireless
links as part of the Internet and other public networks as well as
one or more private networks, for managing subscriber access, for
billing and network management and for supporting other network
functions.
[0049] Referring now to FIG. 2E, this is a block diagram
illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a process flow
240 (which can function within the communication network of FIG. 1)
in accordance with various aspects described herein. The process
flow 240 can start at step 241, which comprises: measure
inter-technology interference, collect UE information, and collect
traffic demand information per technology (e.g. LTE and 5G). The
process flow can then continue to decision block 242, where a
determination is made as to whether aggregated inter-technology
interference is greater than a threshold (in other examples, the
decision can be greater than or equal, less than, less than or
equal, meeting a threshold, or not meeting a threshold). If the
decision at block 242 is "No", then the process returns to step 241
for iteration. If the decision at block 242 is "Yes", then the
process moves to step 243, which comprises estimate performance
implications of SUO for all UE's and technologies (e.g., LTE and
5G). From step 243, the process flow continues to decision block
244, where a determination is made as to whether SUO benefits are
greater than SUO negative implications (in other examples, the
decision can be greater than or equal, less than, less than or
equal, meeting a threshold, or not meeting a threshold). If the
decision at block 244 is "No", then the process returns to step 241
for iteration. If the decision at block 244 is "Yes", then the
process moves to decision block 245, where a determination is made
as to whether a large percentage of UL traffic is directed to NR-UL
(in one example, the percentage can be in the range of 60%-100%
(inclusive); in another example, the "large" percentage can be as
compared to demand for other UEs in the cell, as compared to demand
from the served UE, and/or with respect to UL resources constrained
by DL TDD demands within the cell). If the decision at block 245 is
"Yes", then the process moves to step 246, where one of Config5,
Config4, Config3 or Config2 (see, e.g., FIG. 2F) is chosen for use.
If the decision at block 245 is "No", then the process moves to
decision block 247, where a determination is made as to whether a
large percentage of UL traffic is directed to LTE-UL (in one
example, the percentage can be in the range of 60%-100%
(inclusive); in another example, the "large" percentage can be as
compared to demand for other UEs in the cell, as compared to demand
from the served UE, and/or with respect to UL resources constrained
by DL TDD demands within the cell). If the decision at block 247 is
"Yes", then the process moves to step 248, where Config0 (see,
e.g., FIG. 2F) is chosen for use. If the decision at block 247 is
"No", then the process moves to step 249, where one of Config1 or
Config6 (see, e.g., FIG. 2F) is chosen for use.
[0050] Referring now to FIG. 2G, various steps of a method 2100
according to an embodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2G, step
2102 comprises obtaining, for a plurality of dual connectivity
mobile communication devices that are in communication range of a
first access point that uses a first radio access technology and a
second access point that uses a second radio access technology, a
plurality of network communication parameters, the first radio
access technology being a different radio access technology than
the second radio access technology. Next, step 2104 comprises
obtaining a list of a plurality of configurations, each
configuration of the plurality of configurations identifying one or
more time slots in which the first radio access technology is to be
used and one or more other time slots in which the second radio
access technology is to be used. Next, step 2106 comprises
selecting, from the list, a respective configuration to apply to
each of the plurality of dual connectivity mobile communication
devices, a first configuration that is selected being selected
based at least in part upon one or more first network communication
parameters of the plurality of network communication parameters, a
second configuration that is selected being selected based at least
in part upon one or more second network communication parameters of
the plurality of network communication parameters; and the first
configuration that is selected being different from the second
configuration that is selected. Next, step 2108 comprises
facilitating first communications, via the first access point and
the second access point, with a first dual connectivity mobile
communication device of the plurality of dual connectivity mobile
communication devices according to the first configuration, which
is changeable in real-time during the first communications. Next,
step 2110 comprises facilitating second communications, via the
first access point and the second access point, with a second dual
connectivity mobile communication device of the plurality of dual
connectivity mobile communication devices according to the second
configuration, which is changeable in real-time during the second
communications. In one specific example, the first configuration
can be changed one time or a plurality of times during the first
communications. In another specific example, the second
configuration can be changed one time or a plurality of times
during the second communications.
[0051] While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the
respective processes are shown and described as a series of blocks
in FIG. 2G, it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed
subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some
blocks may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other
blocks from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not
all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methods
described herein.
[0052] Referring now to FIG. 2H, various steps of a method 2200
according to an embodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2H, step
2202 comprises obtaining, for a first dual connectivity mobile
communication device that is in communication range of a first
access point that uses a first radio access technology and a second
access point that uses a second radio access technology, one or
more first network communication parameters, the first radio access
technology being a different radio access technology than the
second radio access technology. Next, step 2204 comprises
obtaining, for a second dual connectivity mobile communication
device that is in communication range of the first access point and
the second access point, one or more second network communication
parameters. Next, step 2206 comprises obtaining configuration data
defining a plurality of configurations, each configuration of the
plurality of configurations identifying one or more time slots in
which the first radio access technology is to be used and one or
more other time slots in which the second radio access technology
is to be used. Next, step 2208 comprises making a first
determination, based at least in part upon the one or more first
network communication parameters, as to which of the plurality of
configurations to assign to the first dual connectivity mobile
communication device for first communications with the first access
point and the second access point, resulting in a first assigned
configuration. Next, step 2210 comprises making a second
determination, based at least in part upon the one or more second
network communication parameters, as to which of the plurality
configurations to assign to the second dual connectivity mobile
communication device for second communications with the first
access point and the second access point, resulting in a second
assigned configuration, the second assigned configuration being a
different configuration than the first assigned configuration.
Next, step 2212 comprises transmitting first communication data
identifying the first assigned configuration to the first dual
connectivity mobile communication device, the transmitting the
first communication data identifying the first assigned
configuration to the first dual connectivity mobile communication
device facilitating a first real-time adjustment by the first dual
connectivity mobile communication device of a first wireless
communication session with a network. Next, step 2214 comprises
transmitting second communication data identifying the second
assigned configuration to the second dual connectivity mobile
communication device, the transmitting the second communication
data identifying the second assigned configuration to the second
dual connectivity mobile communication device facilitating a second
real-time adjustment by the second dual connectivity mobile
communication device of a second wireless communication session
with the network. In one specific example, the first communication
data can be transmitted to the first dual connectivity mobile
communication device during the first wireless communication
session with the network. In another specific example, the second
communication data can be transmitted to the second dual
connectivity mobile communication device during the second wireless
communication session with the network.
[0053] While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the
respective processes are shown and described as a series of blocks
in FIG. 2H, it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed
subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some
blocks may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other
blocks from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not
all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methods
described herein.
[0054] Referring now to FIG. 2I, various steps of a method 2300
according to an embodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2I, step
2302 comprises engaging, by a first dual connectivity mobile
communication device including a processing system having a
processor, in wireless communications with a network, the network
comprising a first access point that uses a first radio access
technology and a second access point that uses a second radio
access technology, the first radio access technology being a
different radio access technology than the second radio access
technology, and the first dual connectivity mobile communication
device being in communication range of the first access point and
the second access point. Next, step 2304 comprises transmitting
first information, by the first dual connectivity mobile
communication device, to the network, the first information
facilitating a first selection by the network of a first
configuration, the first configuration identifying one or more
first time slots in which the first radio access technology is to
be used by the first dual connectivity mobile communication device
for first communications with the first access point and the second
access point and one or more second time slots in which the second
radio access technology is to be used by the first dual
connectivity mobile communication device for the first
communications with the first access point and the second access
point, the first information further facilitating a second
selection by the network of a second configuration, the second
configuration identifying one or more third time slots in which the
first radio access technology is to be used by a second dual
connectivity mobile communication device for second communications
with the first access point and the second access point and one or
more fourth time slots in which the second radio access technology
is to be used by the second dual connectivity mobile communication
device for the second communications with the first access point
and the second access point, the second configuration being a
different configuration than the first configuration. Next, step
2306 comprises receiving second information, by the first dual
connectivity mobile communication device, from the network, the
second information identifying the first configuration. Next, step
2308 comprises adjusting, by the first dual connectivity mobile
communication device, the wireless communications with the network
in accordance with the second information.
[0055] While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the
respective processes are shown and described as a series of blocks
in FIG. 2I, it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed
subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some
blocks may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other
blocks from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not
all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methods
described herein.
[0056] As described herein, various embodiments can operate in the
context of time division multiple access (TDM). In one specific
example, the TDM can be time division duplexing (TDD).
[0057] Reference will now be made to certain example scenario
implementations according to various embodiments. Example#1: In a
given geographic area (e.g., a city) a conventional LTE Uplink
transmission may create interference into NR-Uplink channel, and
vice-versa. In this scenario, the network operator decides to use
TDD Config-0. SIB1 messages include this TDD configuration and it
is broadcast to UEs attached to eNB in this area. This
configuration will schedule data to NR-UL channel 40% of the time,
and schedule data to LTE-UL channel 60% of the time. A large number
of UEs are engaged into heavy Upload, and a large amount of this
uplink traffic is directed to NR-UL channel. A consequence of a
conventional approach in this scenario is that TDD Config-0 favors
more LTE-UL channel which does not align with the Dual-Connectivity
Uplink demand. In contrast, under various embodiments (e.g.,
real-time changing of the chosen configuration), better alignment
with Dual-Connectivity Uplink demand can be obtained.
[0058] Still referring to certain example scenario implementations
according to various embodiments, discussion will be directed to
Example #2: In a given geographic area (e.g., city) conventional
LTE Uplink transmission may create interference into NR-Uplink
channel, and vice-versa. In this scenario, the network operator
decides to use TDD Config-5. SIB1 messages include this TDD
configuration and it is broadcast to UEs attached to eNB in this
area. This configuration will schedule data to NR-UL channel 90% of
the time, and schedule data to LTE-UL channel 10% of the time.
High-Priority voice and video service (e.g., VoLTE & ViLTE) are
scheduled over anchor MeNB and therefore are directed to LTE
technology. Large number of UEs are engaged into heavy VoLTE &
ViLTE services, and large amount of this uplink traffic is directed
to LTE-UL channel. A consequence of a conventional approach in this
scenario is that TDD Config-5 favors more NR-UL channel which does
not align with the Dual-Connectivity Uplink demand. In contrast,
under various embodiments (e.g., real-time changing of the chosen
configuration), better alignment with Dual-Connectivity Uplink
demand can be obtained.
[0059] Still referring to certain example scenario implementations
according to various embodiments, discussion will be directed to
Example#3: In a given geographic area (e.g., city) conventional LTE
Uplink transmission may create interference into NR-Uplink channel,
and vice-versa. In this scenario, the network operator decides to
use TDD Config-1. SIB1 messages include this TDD configuration and
it is broadcast to UEs attached to eNB in this area. This
configuration will schedule data to NR-UL channel 60% of the time,
and schedule data to LTE-UL channel 40% of the time. There are few
UEs connected to the network, therefore there is small/negligible
inter-Technology interference. A consequence of a conventional
approach in this scenario is that both NR-UL and LTE-UL throughput
are capped to 60% and 40% of their nominal throughput,
respectively, to prevent inter-Technology interference. Single
Uplink Operation is not needed under these circumstances, and UL
throughput is impacted on both technologies for no reason. In
contrast, under various embodiments (e.g., real-time changing of
the chosen configuration), better Inter-Technology RF resources
allocation can be achieved resulting in higher throughput.
[0060] Still referring to certain example scenario implementations
according to various embodiments, discussion will be directed to
Example #4: In a given geographic area (e.g., city) conventional
LTE Uplink transmission may create interference into NR-Uplink
channel, and vice-versa. In this scenario, the network operator
decides to use a given DL/UL TDD Config. SIB1 messages include this
TDD configuration and it is broadcast to UEs attached to eNB in
this area. During the day, UE demand changes per technology as
shown in example #1, #2, and #3. A consequence of a conventional
approach in this scenario is that DL/UL TDD config does not always
align with the Dual-Connectivity Uplink demand during the day. In
contrast, under various embodiments (e.g., real-time changing of
the chosen configuration), better alignment with Dual-Connectivity
Uplink demand can be obtained.
[0061] As described herein, various embodiments can provide systems
and methods for Single Uplink Operation (SUO) over 4G/5G Dual
Connectivity Networks. In various embodiments, systems and methods
can be provided for use in the context of one or more subsequent
generations of radio technologies.
[0062] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
methodology for adjusting a TDM LTE/5G configuration when Single
Uplink Operation (SUO) is configured over an EN-DC Network based on
IRAT demand and QoS (Quality of Service).
[0063] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
methodology that will dynamically adjust TDM LTE/5G configuration
when Single Uplink Operation (SUO) is configured over EN-DC
Network. The TDM LTE/5G configuration can be done based on IRAT
demand and/or QoS. As a result, in various embodiments,
inter-Freq/inter-Technology interference will be avoided and at the
same time IRAT Dual-Connectivity Uplink demand will be satisfied by
assigning suitable TDM configuration.
[0064] As described herein, various embodiments can be applied in
the context of a Dual Connectivity LTE/5G Network.
[0065] As described herein, various embodiments can be applied in
the context of a given mobile device (e.g., smartphone) that uses
Dual Connectivity LTE/5G. In one specific example, various
embodiments can be used to eliminate (or reduce) interference when
one or more 5G bands below 6 GHz might interfere with one or more
high LTE bands (near 6 Ghz).
[0066] As described herein, various embodiments can provide for
dynamically assigning (e.g., in real-time) a configuration (such as
a time division configuration in which LTE is assigned to one or
more time slots and 5G is assigned to one or more other time slots)
to align with changing circumstances (e.g., changing network
conditions and/or changing end user device locations).
[0067] As described herein, various embodiments can provide for an
eNB and/or a gNB to dynamically send (e.g., in real-tine) one or
more messages to user equipment (e.g., an end user device such as a
smartphone) as to which configuration (such as a time division
configuration in which LTE is assigned to one or more time slots
and 5G is assigned to one or more other time slots) to use at a
current time. The messages can be based, for example, upon changing
network conditions and/or changing end user device locations.
[0068] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that facilitates use of LTE and 5G at the same time by
one phone.
[0069] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that reduces (or eliminates) interference when 5G bands
below 6 GHz might interfere with high LTE bands (near 6 GHz).
[0070] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that facilitates use of multiple configurations in order
to align with changing circumstances.
[0071] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that facilitates the sending of one or more messages from
an eNB (and/or from a gNB) to a UE (wherein the message(s) indicate
which configuration to use at a given time (e.g., which
configuration is most suitable for current LTE and/or 5G use). In
various examples, the decision as to which configuration to use at
a given time can be based upon UE proximity to a base station
and/or to one or more other UEs.
[0072] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that facilitates matching demand (e.g., LTE vs 5G).
[0073] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that collects (e.g., from the network) the traffic demand
(e.g., a phone is currently uploading a big file). The traffic
demand can be collected from one or more UEs, one or more eNB s
and/or one or more gNBs.
[0074] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that facilitates selecting an appropriate configuration
(e.g., from a set number of possible configurations currently
defined by 3GPP). In other examples, an appropriate configuration
can be selected from x number of configurations).
[0075] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that facilitates selecting an appropriate configuration
in the form of a ratio of one technology vs. another
technology.
[0076] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that facilitates scheduling multiple UEs on the same
resource (wherein, for example, inter-technology interference is
reduced (or eliminated)).
[0077] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that facilitates providing one configuration for a first
UE that communicates with a given network element (e.g., an eNB (or
gNB)) and another (different configuration) to a second UE that
communicates with the given network element (this is in contrast,
for example, to certain conventional mechanisms in which an eNB (or
gNB) gives a single configuration to all UEs that it is
communicating with).
[0078] As described herein, various embodiments can provide a
mechanism that facilitates independence (as to real-time control of
UE configurations) between neighbor eNBs (and/or gNBs).
[0079] As described herein, various embodiments can provide
obtaining a list of a plurality of configurations, wherein the
obtaining the list of the plurality of configurations comprises
obtaining the list from one or more databases.
[0080] As described herein, various embodiments can provide for a
plurality of network communication parameters, wherein the
plurality of network communication parameters comprises a first set
of network communication parameters and a second set of network
communication parameters, wherein the first set of network
communication parameters are associated with a first the dual
connectivity mobile communication device, and wherein the second
set of network communication parameters are associated with a
second the dual connectivity mobile communication device. In one
specific example, the first set of network communication parameters
can be a same set of network communication parameters as the second
set of network communication parameters.
[0081] Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is shown
illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized
communication network in accordance with various aspects described
herein. In particular a virtualized communication network is
presented that can be used to implement some or all of the
subsystems and functions of system 100, the subsystems and
functions of system 240, and some or all of methods 2100, 2200
and/or 2300. For example, virtualized communication network 300 can
facilitate in whole or in part selection for a particular dual
connectivity mobile communication device of a suitable time
division multiple access communication configuration (e.g., a time
division multiple access communication configuration that minimizes
inter-band interference and/or that optimizes use of network
resources).
[0082] In particular, a cloud networking architecture is shown that
leverages cloud technologies and supports rapid innovation and
scalability via a transport layer 350, a virtualized network
function cloud 325 and/or one or more cloud computing environments
375. In various embodiments, this cloud networking architecture is
an open architecture that leverages application programming
interfaces (APIs); reduces complexity from services and operations;
supports more nimble business models; and rapidly and seamlessly
scales to meet evolving customer requirements including traffic
growth, diversity of traffic types, and diversity of performance
and reliability expectations.
[0083] In contrast to traditional network elements--which are
typically integrated to perform a single function, the virtualized
communication network employs virtual network elements (VNEs) 330,
332, 334, etc. that perform some or all of the functions of network
elements 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. For example, the network
architecture can provide a substrate of networking capability,
often called Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI)
or simply infrastructure that is capable of being directed with
software and Software Defined Networking (SDN) protocols to perform
a broad variety of network functions and services. This
infrastructure can include several types of substrates. The most
typical type of substrate being servers that support Network
Function Virtualization (NFV), followed by packet forwarding
capabilities based on generic computing resources, with specialized
network technologies brought to bear when general purpose
processors or general purpose integrated circuit devices offered by
merchants (referred to herein as merchant silicon) are not
appropriate. In this case, communication services can be
implemented as cloud-centric workloads.
[0084] As an example, a traditional network element 150 (shown in
FIG. 1), such as an edge router can be implemented via a VNE 330
composed of NFV software modules, merchant silicon, and associated
controllers. The software can be written so that increasing
workload consumes incremental resources from a common resource
pool, and moreover so that it's elastic: so, the resources are only
consumed when needed. In a similar fashion, other network elements
such as other routers, switches, edge caches, and middle boxes are
instantiated from the common resource pool. Such sharing of
infrastructure across a broad set of uses makes planning and
growing infrastructure easier to manage.
[0085] In an embodiment, the transport layer 350 includes fiber,
cable, wired and/or wireless transport elements, network elements
and interfaces to provide broadband access 110, wireless access
120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or access to content
sources 175 for distribution of content to any or all of the access
technologies. In particular, in some cases a network element needs
to be positioned at a specific place, and this allows for less
sharing of common infrastructure. Other times, the network elements
have specific physical layer adapters that cannot be abstracted or
virtualized and might require special DSP code and analog front
ends (AFEs) that do not lend themselves to implementation as VNEs
330, 332 or 334. These network elements can be included in
transport layer 350.
[0086] The virtualized network function cloud 325 interfaces with
the transport layer 350 to provide the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to
provide specific NFVs. In particular, the virtualized network
function cloud 325 leverages cloud operations, applications, and
architectures to support networking workloads. The virtualized
network elements 330, 332 and 334 can employ network function
software that provides either a one-for-one mapping of traditional
network element function or alternately some combination of network
functions designed for cloud computing. For example, VNEs 330, 332
and 334 can include route reflectors, domain name system (DNS)
servers, and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) servers,
system architecture evolution (SAE) and/or mobility management
entity (MME) gateways, broadband network gateways, IP edge routers
for IP-VPN, Ethernet and other services, load balancers,
distributers and other network elements. Because these elements
don't typically need to forward large amounts of traffic, their
workload can be distributed across a number of servers--each of
which adds a portion of the capability, and overall which creates
an elastic function with higher availability than its former
monolithic version. These virtual network elements 330, 332, 334,
etc. can be instantiated and managed using an orchestration
approach similar to those used in cloud compute services.
[0087] The cloud computing environments 375 can interface with the
virtualized network function cloud 325 via APIs that expose
functional capabilities of the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide
the flexible and expanded capabilities to the virtualized network
function cloud 325. In particular, network workloads may have
applications distributed across the virtualized network function
cloud 325 and cloud computing environment 375 and in the commercial
cloud or might simply orchestrate workloads supported entirely in
NFV infrastructure from these third-party locations.
[0088] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block diagram
of a computing environment in accordance with various aspects
described herein. In order to provide additional context for
various embodiments of the embodiments described herein, FIG. 4 and
the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general
description of a suitable computing environment 400 in which the
various embodiments of the subject disclosure can be implemented.
In particular, computing environment 400 can be used in the
implementation of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156, access
terminal 112, base station or access point 122, switching device
132, media terminal 142, and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. Each of
these devices can be implemented via computer-executable
instructions that can run on one or more computers, and/or in
combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of
hardware and software. For example, computing environment 400 can
facilitate in whole or in part selection for a particular dual
connectivity mobile communication device of a suitable time
division multiple access communication configuration (e.g., a time
division multiple access communication configuration that minimizes
inter-band interference and/or that optimizes use of network
resources).
[0089] Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs,
components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or
implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled
in the art will appreciate that the methods can be practiced with
other computer system configurations, comprising single-processor
or multiprocessor computer systems, minicomputers, mainframe
computers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing
devices, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,
and the like, each of which can be operatively coupled to one or
more associated devices.
[0090] As used herein, a processing circuit includes one or more
processors as well as other application specific circuits such as
an application specific integrated circuit, digital logic circuit,
state machine, programmable gate array or other circuit that
processes input signals or data and that produces output signals or
data in response thereto. It should be noted that while any
functions and features described herein in association with the
operation of a processor could likewise be performed by a
processing circuit.
[0091] The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be
also practiced in distributed computing environments where certain
tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked
through a communications network. In a distributed computing
environment, program modules can be located in both local and
remote memory storage devices.
[0092] Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media,
which can comprise computer-readable storage media and/or
communications media, which two terms are used herein differently
from one another as follows. Computer-readable storage media can be
any available storage media that can be accessed by the computer
and comprises both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and
non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation,
computer-readable storage media can be implemented in connection
with any method or technology for storage of information such as
computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured data or
unstructured data.
[0093] Computer-readable storage media can comprise, but are not
limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM),
electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM),flash
memory or other memory technology, compact disk read only memory
(CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk
storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage
or other magnetic storage devices or other tangible and/or
non-transitory media which can be used to store desired
information. In this regard, the terms "tangible" or
"non-transitory" herein as applied to storage, memory or
computer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude only
propagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not
relinquish rights to all standard storage, memory or
computer-readable media that are not only propagating transitory
signals per se.
[0094] Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or
more local or remote computing devices, e.g., via access requests,
queries or other data retrieval protocols, for a variety of
operations with respect to the information stored by the
medium.
[0095] Communications media typically embody computer-readable
instructions, data structures, program modules or other structured
or unstructured data in a data signal such as a modulated data
signal, e.g., a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and
comprises any information delivery or transport media. The term
"modulated data signal" or signals refers to a signal that has one
or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as
to encode information in one or more signals. By way of example,
and not limitation, communication media comprise wired media, such
as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media
such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.
[0096] With reference again to FIG. 4, the example environment can
comprise a computer 402, the computer 402 comprising a processing
unit 404, a system memory 406 and a system bus 408. The system bus
408 couples system components including, but not limited to, the
system memory 406 to the processing unit 404. The processing unit
404 can be any of various commercially available processors. Dual
microprocessors and other multiprocessor architectures can also be
employed as the processing unit 404.
[0097] The system bus 408 can be any of several types of bus
structure that can further interconnect to a memory bus (with or
without a memory controller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus
using any of a variety of commercially available bus architectures.
The system memory 406 comprises ROM 410 and RAM 412. A basic
input/output system (BIOS) can be stored in a non-volatile memory
such as ROM, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM),
EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines that help to
transfer information between elements within the computer 402, such
as during startup. The RAM 412 can also comprise a high-speed RAM
such as static RAM for caching data.
[0098] The computer 402 further comprises an internal hard disk
drive (HDD) 414 (e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal HDD 414 can also
be configured for external use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a
magnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 416, (e.g., to read from or write
to a removable diskette 418) and an optical disk drive 420, (e.g.,
reading a CD-ROM disk 422 or, to read from or write to other high
capacity optical media such as the DVD). The HDD 414, magnetic FDD
416 and optical disk drive 420 can be connected to the system bus
408 by a hard disk drive interface 424, a magnetic disk drive
interface 426 and an optical drive interface 428, respectively. The
hard disk drive interface 424 for external drive implementations
comprises at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394
interface technologies. Other external drive connection
technologies are within contemplation of the embodiments described
herein.
[0099] The drives and their associated computer-readable storage
media provide nonvolatile storage of data, data structures,
computer-executable instructions, and so forth. For the computer
402, the drives and storage media accommodate the storage of any
data in a suitable digital format. Although the description of
computer-readable storage media above refers to a hard disk drive
(HDD), a removable magnetic diskette, and a removable optical media
such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated by those skilled in
the art that other types of storage media which are readable by a
computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flash memory
cards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the example
operating environment, and further, that any such storage media can
contain computer-executable instructions for performing the methods
described herein.
[0100] A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and
RAM 412, comprising an operating system 430, one or more
application programs 432, other program modules 434 and program
data 436. All or portions of the operating system, applications,
modules, and/or data can also be cached in the RAM 412. The systems
and methods described herein can be implemented utilizing various
commercially available operating systems or combinations of
operating systems.
[0101] A user can enter commands and information into the computer
402 through one or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a
keyboard 438 and a pointing device, such as a mouse 440. Other
input devices (not shown) can comprise a microphone, an infrared
(IR) remote control, a joystick, a game pad, a stylus pen, touch
screen or the like. These and other input devices are often
connected to the processing unit 404 through an input device
interface 442 that can be coupled to the system bus 408, but can be
connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE
1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port,
an IR interface, etc.
[0102] A monitor 444 or other type of display device can be also
connected to the system bus 408 via an interface, such as a video
adapter 446. It will also be appreciated that in alternative
embodiments, a monitor 444 can also be any display device (e.g.,
another computer having a display, a smart phone, a tablet
computer, etc.) for receiving display information associated with
computer 402 via any communication means, including via the
Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to the monitor 444,
a computer typically comprises other peripheral output devices (not
shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.
[0103] The computer 402 can operate in a networked environment
using logical connections via wired and/or wireless communications
to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 448.
The remote computer(s) 448 can be a workstation, a server computer,
a router, a personal computer, portable computer,
microprocessor-based entertainment appliance, a peer device or
other common network node, and typically comprises many or all of
the elements described relative to the computer 402, although, for
purposes of brevity, only a remote memory/storage device 450 is
illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprise
wired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 452
and/or larger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 454. Such
LAN and WAN networking environments are commonplace in offices and
companies, and facilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such
as intranets, all of which can connect to a global communications
network, e.g., the Internet.
[0104] When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 402
can be connected to the LAN 452 through a wired and/or wireless
communication network interface or adapter 456. The adapter 456 can
facilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 452, which
can also comprise a wireless AP disposed thereon for communicating
with the adapter 456.
[0105] When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 402
can comprise a modem 458 or can be connected to a communications
server on the WAN 454 or has other means for establishing
communications over the WAN 454, such as by way of the Internet.
The modem 458, which can be internal or external and a wired or
wireless device, can be connected to the system bus 408 via the
input device interface 442. In a networked environment, program
modules depicted relative to the computer 402 or portions thereof,
can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 450. It will be
appreciated that the network connections shown are example and
other means of establishing a communications link between the
computers can be used.
[0106] The computer 402 can be operable to communicate with any
wireless devices or entities operatively disposed in wireless
communication, e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable
computer, portable data assistant, communications satellite, any
piece of equipment or location associated with a wirelessly
detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk, news stand, restroom), and
telephone. This can comprise Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) and
BLUETOOTH.RTM. wireless technologies. Thus, the communication can
be a predefined structure as with a conventional network or simply
an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.
[0107] Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at
home, a bed in a hotel room or a conference room at work, without
wires. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology similar to that used in a
cell phone that enables such devices, e.g., computers, to send and
receive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a base
station. Wi-Fi networks use radio technologies called IEEE 802.11
(a, b, g, n, ac, ag, etc.) to provide secure, reliable, fast
wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can be used to connect
computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wired networks
(which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operate in
the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands for example or with
products that contain both bands (dual band), so the networks can
provide real-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wired
Ethernet networks used in many offices.
[0108] Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment 500 of a mobile network
platform 510 is shown that is an example of network elements 150,
152, 154, 156, and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. For example,
platform 510 can facilitate in whole or in part selection for a
particular dual connectivity mobile communication device of a
suitable time division multiple access communication configuration
(e.g., a time division multiple access communication configuration
that minimizes inter-band interference and/or that optimizes use of
network resources). In one or more embodiments, the mobile network
platform 510 can generate and receive signals transmitted and
received by base stations or access points such as base station or
access point 122. Generally, mobile network platform 510 can
comprise components, e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, or
disparate platforms, that facilitate both packet-switched (PS)
(e.g., internet protocol (IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer
mode (ATM)) and circuit-switched (CS) traffic (e.g., voice and
data), as well as control generation for networked wireless
telecommunication. As a non-limiting example, mobile network
platform 510 can be included in telecommunications carrier networks
and can be considered carrier-side components as discussed
elsewhere herein. Mobile network platform 510 comprises CS gateway
node(s) 512 which can interface CS traffic received from legacy
networks like telephony network(s) 540 (e.g., public switched
telephone network (PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN)) or
a signaling system #7 (SS7) network 560. CS gateway node(s) 512 can
authorize and authenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from such
networks. Additionally, CS gateway node(s) 512 can access mobility,
or roaming, data generated through SS7 network 560; for instance,
mobility data stored in a visited location register (VLR), which
can reside in memory 530. Moreover, CS gateway node(s) 512
interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling and PS gateway node(s)
518. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, CS gateway node(s) 512
can be realized at least in part in gateway GPRS support node(s)
(GGSN). It should be appreciated that functionality and specific
operation of CS gateway node(s) 512, PS gateway node(s) 518, and
serving node(s) 516, is provided and dictated by radio
technology(ies) utilized by mobile network platform 510 for
telecommunication over a radio access network 520 with other
devices, such as a radiotelephone 575.
[0109] In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic
and signaling, PS gateway node(s) 518 can authorize and
authenticate PS-based data sessions with served mobile devices.
Data sessions can comprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with
networks external to the mobile network platform 510, like wide
area network(s) (WANs) 550, enterprise network(s) 570, and service
network(s) 580, which can be embodied in local area network(s)
(LANs), can also be interfaced with mobile network platform 510
through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to be noted that WANs 550 and
enterprise network(s) 570 can embody, at least in part, a service
network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Based on radio
technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) or radio
access network 520, PS gateway node(s) 518 can generate packet data
protocol contexts when a data session is established; other data
structures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can be
generated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 518 can
comprise a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG)
in 3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate
packetized communication with disparate wireless network(s), such
as Wi-Fi networks.
[0110] In embodiment 500, mobile network platform 510 also
comprises serving node(s) 516 that, based upon available radio
technology layer(s) within technology resource(s) in the radio
access network 520, convey the various packetized flows of data
streams received through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to be noted
that for technology resource(s) that rely primarily on CS
communication, server node(s) can deliver traffic without reliance
on PS gateway node(s) 518; for example, server node(s) can embody
at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, in a
3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s) 516 can be embodied in serving
GPRS support node(s) (SGSN).
[0111] For radio technologies that exploit packetized
communication, server(s) 514 in mobile network platform 510 can
execute numerous applications that can generate multiple disparate
packetized data streams or flows, and manage (e.g., schedule,
queue, format . . . ) such flows. Such application(s) can comprise
add-on features to standard services (for example, provisioning,
billing, customer support . . . ) provided by mobile network
platform 510. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that are part of a
voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gateway node(s)
518 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a data
session, and to serving node(s) 516 for communication thereafter.
In addition to application server, server(s) 514 can comprise
utility server(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning
server, an operations and maintenance server, a security server
that can implement at least in part a certificate authority and
firewalls as well as other security mechanisms, and the like. In an
aspect, security server(s) secure communication served through
mobile network platform 510 to ensure network's operation and data
integrity in addition to authorization and authentication
procedures that CS gateway node(s) 512 and PS gateway node(s) 518
can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s) can provision services
from external network(s) like networks operated by a disparate
service provider; for instance, WAN 550 or Global Positioning
System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s) can
also provision coverage through networks associated to mobile
network platform 510 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same
service provider), such as the distributed antennas networks shown
in FIG. 1(s) that enhance wireless service coverage by providing
more network coverage.
[0112] It is to be noted that server(s) 514 can comprise one or
more processors configured to confer at least in part the
functionality of mobile network platform 510. To that end, the one
or more processor can execute code instructions stored in memory
530, for example. It should be appreciated that server(s) 514 can
comprise a content manager, which operates in substantially the
same manner as described hereinbefore.
[0113] In example embodiment 500, memory 530 can store information
related to operation of mobile network platform 510. Other
operational information can comprise provisioning information of
mobile devices served through mobile network platform 510,
subscriber databases; application intelligence, pricing schemes,
e.g., promotional rates, flat-rate programs, couponing campaigns;
technical specification(s) consistent with telecommunication
protocols for operation of disparate radio, or wireless, technology
layers; and so forth. Memory 530 can also store information from at
least one of telephony network(s) 540, WAN 550, SS7 network 560, or
enterprise network(s) 570. In an aspect, memory 530 can be, for
example, accessed as part of a data store component or as a
remotely connected memory store.
[0114] In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the
disclosed subject matter, FIG. 5, and the following discussion, are
intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable
environment in which the various aspects of the disclosed subject
matter can be implemented. While the subject matter has been
described above in the general context of computer-executable
instructions of a computer program that runs on a computer and/or
computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination
with other program modules. Generally, program modules comprise
routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform
particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract data
types.
[0115] Turning now to FIG. 6, an illustrative embodiment of a
communication device 600 is shown. The communication device 600 can
serve as an illustrative embodiment of devices such as data
terminals 114, mobile devices 124, vehicle 126, display devices 144
or other client devices for communication via either communications
network 125. For example, computing device 600 can facilitate in
whole or in part selection for a particular dual connectivity
mobile communication device of a suitable time division multiple
access communication configuration (e.g., a time division multiple
access communication configuration that minimizes inter-band
interference and/or that optimizes use of network resources).
[0116] The communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or
wireless transceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface
(UI) 604, a power supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion
sensor 618, an orientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for
managing operations thereof. The transceiver 602 can support
short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as
Bluetooth.RTM., ZigBee.RTM., Wi-Fi, DECT, or cellular communication
technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth.RTM. and ZigBee.RTM.
are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth.RTM. Special Interest
Group and the ZigBee.RTM. Alliance, respectively). Cellular
technologies can include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA,
GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next
generation wireless communication technologies as they arise. The
transceiver 602 can also be adapted to support circuit-switched
wireline access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched
wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP, etc.), and
combinations thereof.
[0117] The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive
keypad 608 with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a
joystick, a mouse, or a navigation disk for manipulating operations
of the communication device 600. The keypad 608 can be an integral
part of a housing assembly of the communication device 600 or an
independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline
interface (such as a USB cable) or a wireless interface supporting
for example Bluetooth.RTM.. The keypad 608 can represent a numeric
keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTY keypad with
alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display 610
such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED
(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology
for conveying images to an end user of the communication device
600. In an embodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a
portion or all of the keypad 608 can be presented by way of the
display 610 with navigation features.
[0118] The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also
serve as a user interface for detecting user input. As a touch
screen display, the communication device 600 can be adapted to
present a user interface having graphical user interface (GUI)
elements that can be selected by a user with a touch of a finger.
The display 610 can be equipped with capacitive, resistive or other
forms of sensing technology to detect how much surface area of a
user's finger has been placed on a portion of the touch screen
display. This sensing information can be used to control the
manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of the user
interface. The display 610 can be an integral part of the housing
assembly of the communication device 600 or an independent device
communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface
(such as a cable) or a wireless interface.
[0119] The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that
utilizes audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as
audio heard in proximity of a human ear) and high-volume audio
(such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system
612 can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals
of an end user. The audio system 612 can also be used for voice
recognition applications. The UI 604 can further include an image
sensor 613 such as a charged coupled device (CCD) camera for
capturing still or moving images.
[0120] The power supply 614 can utilize common power management
technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply
regulation technologies, and/or charging system technologies for
supplying energy to the components of the communication device 600
to facilitate long-range or short-range portable communications.
Alternatively, or in combination, the charging system can utilize
external power sources such as DC power supplied over a physical
interface such as a USB port or other suitable tethering
technologies.
[0121] The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology
such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of
assisted GPS for identifying a location of the communication device
600 based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS
satellites, which can be used for facilitating location services
such as navigation. The motion sensor 618 can utilize motion
sensing technology such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or other
suitable motion sensing technology to detect motion of the
communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. The
orientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology
such as a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the
communication device 600 (north, south, west, and east, as well as
combined orientations in degrees, minutes, or other suitable
orientation metrics).
[0122] The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to
also determine a proximity to a cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.RTM., or
other wireless access points by sensing techniques such as
utilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal
time of arrival (TOA) or time of flight (TOF) measurements. The
controller 606 can utilize computing technologies such as a
microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), programmable gate
arrays, application specific integrated circuits, and/or a video
processor with associated storage memory such as Flash, ROM, RAM,
SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executing computer
instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by the
aforementioned components of the communication device 600.
[0123] Other components not shown in FIG. 6 can be used in one or
more embodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the
communication device 600 can include a slot for adding or removing
an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card
or Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can
be used for identifying subscriber services, executing programs,
storing subscriber data, and so on.
[0124] The terms "first," "second," "third," and so forth, as used
in the claims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity
only and doesn't otherwise indicate or imply any order in time. For
instance, "a first determination," "a second determination," and "a
third determination," does not indicate or imply that the first
determination is to be made before the second determination, or
vice versa, etc.
[0125] In the subject specification, terms such as "store,"
"storage," "data store," data storage," "database," and
substantially any other information storage component relevant to
operation and functionality of a component, refer to "memory
components," or entities embodied in a "memory" or components
comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory
components described herein can be either volatile memory or
nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile and nonvolatile
memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatile
memory, non-volatile memory, disk storage, and memory storage.
Further, nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory
(ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM
(EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory.
Volatile memory can comprise random access memory (RAM), which acts
as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not
limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM
(SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data
rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM
(SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the
disclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are
intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising, these
and any other suitable types of memory.
[0126] Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter
can be practiced with other computer system configurations,
comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems,
mini-computing devices, mainframe computers, as well as personal
computers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA, phone,
smartphone, watch, tablet computers, netbook computers, etc.),
microprocessor-based or programmable consumer or industrial
electronics, and the like. The illustrated aspects can also be
practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are
performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a
communications network; however, some if not all aspects of the
subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alone computers. In a
distributed computing environment, program modules can be located
in both local and remote memory storage devices.
[0127] In one or more embodiments, information regarding use of
services can be generated including services being accessed, media
consumption history, user preferences, and so forth. This
information can be obtained by various methods including user
input, detecting types of communications (e.g., video content vs.
audio content), analysis of content streams, sampling, and so
forth. The generating, obtaining and/or monitoring of this
information can be responsive to an authorization provided by the
user. In one or more embodiments, an analysis of data can be
subject to authorization from user(s) associated with the data,
such as an opt-in, an opt-out, acknowledgement requirements,
notifications, selective authorization based on types of data, and
so forth.
[0128] Some of the embodiments described herein can also employ
artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more
features described herein. The embodiments (e.g., in connection
with automatically selecting for a particular dual connectivity
mobile communication device a suitable time division multiple
access communication configuration (e.g., a time domain division
communication configuration that minimizes inter-band interference
and/or that optimizes use of network resources)) can employ various
AI-based schemes for carrying out various embodiments thereof.
Moreover, the classifier can be employed to determine a ranking or
priority of each of a plurality of time division multiple access
communication configurations and/or a ranking or priority of each
of a plurality of dual connectivity mobile communication devices. A
classifier is a function that maps an input attribute vector,
x=(x.sub.1, x.sub.2, x.sub.3, x.sub.4 . . . x.sub.n), to a
confidence that the input belongs to a class, that is,
f(x)=confidence (class). Such classification can employ a
probabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring
into the analysis utilities and costs) to determine or infer an
action that a user desires to be automatically performed. A support
vector machine (SVM) is an example of a classifier that can be
employed. The SVM operates by finding a hypersurface in the space
of possible inputs, which the hypersurface attempts to split the
triggering criteria from the non-triggering events. Intuitively,
this makes the classification correct for testing data that is
near, but not identical to training data. Other directed and
undirected model classification approaches comprise, e.g., naive
Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy
logic models, and probabilistic classification models providing
different patterns of independence can be employed. Classification
as used herein also is inclusive of statistical regression that is
utilized to develop models of priority.
[0129] As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the
embodiments can employ classifiers that are explicitly trained
(e.g., via a generic training data) as well as implicitly trained
(e.g., via observing UE behavior, operator preferences, historical
information, receiving extrinsic information). For example, SVMs
can be configured via a learning or training phase within a
classifier constructor and feature selection module. Thus, the
classifier(s) can be used to automatically learn and perform a
number of functions, including but not limited to determining
according to predetermined criteria which of a plurality of time
division multiple access communication configurations to select for
a particular one of a plurality of dual connectivity mobile
communication devices.
[0130] As used in some contexts in this application, in some
embodiments, the terms "component," "system" and the like are
intended to refer to, or comprise, a computer-related entity or an
entity related to an operational apparatus with one or more
specific functionalities, wherein the entity can be either
hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or
software in execution. As an example, a component may be, but is
not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a
processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution,
computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By
way of illustration and not limitation, both an application running
on a server and the server can be a component. One or more
components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution
and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed
between two or more computers. In addition, these components can
execute from various computer readable media having various data
structures stored thereon. The components may communicate via local
and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having
one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting
with another component in a local system, distributed system,
and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems via
the signal). As another example, a component can be an apparatus
with specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated
by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by a
software or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein
the processor can be internal or external to the apparatus and
executes at least a part of the software or firmware application.
As yet another example, a component can be an apparatus that
provides specific functionality through electronic components
without mechanical parts, the electronic components can comprise a
processor therein to execute software or firmware that confers at
least in part the functionality of the electronic components. While
various components have been illustrated as separate components, it
will be appreciated that multiple components can be implemented as
a single component, or a single component can be implemented as
multiple components, without departing from example
embodiments.
[0131] Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a
method, apparatus or article of manufacture using standard
programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software,
firmware, hardware or any combination thereof to control a computer
to implement the disclosed subject matter. The term "article of
manufacture" as used herein is intended to encompass a computer
program accessible from any computer-readable device or
computer-readable storage/communications media. For example,
computer readable storage media can include, but are not limited
to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk,
magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital
versatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g.,
card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art will
recognize many modifications can be made to this configuration
without departing from the scope or spirit of the various
embodiments.
[0132] In addition, the words "example" and "exemplary" are used
herein to mean serving as an instance or illustration. Any
embodiment or design described herein as "example" or "exemplary"
is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous
over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the word example
or exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion.
As used in this application, the term "or" is intended to mean an
inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or". That is, unless
specified otherwise or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is
intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That
is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then "X
employs A or B" is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances.
In addition, the articles "a" and "an" as used in this application
and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean "one
or more" unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be
directed to a singular form.
[0133] Moreover, terms such as "user equipment," "mobile station,"
"mobile," subscriber station," "access terminal," "terminal,"
"handset," "mobile device" (and/or terms representing similar
terminology) can refer to a wireless device utilized by a
subscriber or user of a wireless communication service to receive
or convey data, control, voice, video, sound, gaming or
substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. The foregoing
terms are utilized interchangeably herein and with reference to the
related drawings.
[0134] Furthermore, the terms "user," "subscriber," "customer,"
"consumer" and the like are employed interchangeably throughout,
unless context warrants particular distinctions among the terms. It
should be appreciated that such terms can refer to human entities
or automated components supported through artificial intelligence
(e.g., a capacity to make inference based, at least, on complex
mathematical formalisms), which can provide simulated vision, sound
recognition and so forth.
[0135] As employed herein, the term "processor" can refer to
substantially any computing processing unit or device comprising,
but not limited to comprising, single-core processors;
single-processors with software multithread execution capability;
multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software
multithread execution capability; multi-core processors with
hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; and parallel
platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, a processor
can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specific
integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a
field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic
controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a
discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components or
any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described
herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures such as,
but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors,
switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhance
performance of user equipment. A processor can also be implemented
as a combination of computing processing units.
[0136] As used herein, terms such as "data storage," data storage,"
"database," and substantially any other information storage
component relevant to operation and functionality of a component,
refer to "memory components," or entities embodied in a "memory" or
components comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the
memory components or computer-readable storage media, described
herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory or can
include both volatile and nonvolatile memory.
[0137] What has been described above includes mere examples of
various embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe
every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for
purposes of describing these examples, but one of ordinary skill in
the art can recognize that many further combinations and
permutations of the present embodiments are possible. Accordingly,
the embodiments disclosed and/or claimed herein are intended to
embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that
fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in
either the detailed description or the claims, such term is
intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term
"comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a
transitional word in a claim.
[0138] In addition, a flow diagram may include a "start" and/or
"continue" indication. The "start" and "continue" indications
reflect that the steps presented can optionally be incorporated in
or otherwise used in conjunction with other routines. In this
context, "start" indicates the beginning of the first step
presented and may be preceded by other activities not specifically
shown. Further, the "continue" indication reflects that the steps
presented may be performed multiple times and/or may be succeeded
by other activities not specifically shown. Further, while a flow
diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, other orderings
are likewise possible provided that the principles of causality are
maintained.
[0139] As may also be used herein, the term(s) "operably coupled
to", "coupled to", and/or "coupling" includes direct coupling
between items and/or indirect coupling between items via one or
more intervening items. Such items and intervening items include,
but are not limited to, junctions, communication paths, components,
circuit elements, circuits, functional blocks, and/or devices. As
an example of indirect coupling, a signal conveyed from a first
item to a second item may be modified by one or more intervening
items by modifying the form, nature or format of information in a
signal, while one or more elements of the information in the signal
are nevertheless conveyed in a manner than can be recognized by the
second item. In a further example of indirect coupling, an action
in a first item can cause a reaction on the second item, as a
result of actions and/or reactions in one or more intervening
items.
[0140] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement
which achieves the same or similar purpose may be substituted for
the embodiments described or shown by the subject disclosure. The
subject disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or
variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above
embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described
herein, can be used in the subject disclosure. For instance, one or
more features from one or more embodiments can be combined with one
or more features of one or more other embodiments. In one or more
embodiments, features that are positively recited can also be
negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or without
replacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The
steps or functions described with respect to the embodiments of the
subject disclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or
functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subject
disclosure can be performed alone or in combination with other
steps or functions of the subject disclosure, as well as from other
embodiments or from other steps that have not been described in the
subject disclosure. Further, more than or less than all of the
features described with respect to an embodiment can also be
utilized.
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