Systems and methods for scheduling transmissions from an access node

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9525535-B1
Application number	US-201414454900-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 8, 2014
Priority date	Aug 8, 2014
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for scheduling transmission from an access node. Network conditions in a communication network comprising an access node may be monitored. A scheduling algorithm may be selected for the access node based on the monitored network conditions. Data transmissions may be scheduled from the access node based on the selected scheduling algorithm. And data may be transmitted from the access node to wireless devices based on the transmission schedule.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for scheduling transmissions from an access node, the method comprising:
monitoring network conditions in a communication network comprising an access node;
selecting, based on the network conditions, one of a fair scheduling algorithm, a data rate scheduling algorithm, and a hybrid scheduling algorithm;
scheduling data transmission from the access node based on the selected scheduling algorithm; and
transmitting data from the access node to wireless devices based on the transmission schedule.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fair scheduling algorithm comprises a round robin scheduling algorithm.

3. The method of claim 2 ,
wherein the network conditions comprise a mobility for the wireless devices in communication with the access node, and
wherein the round robin scheduling algorithm is selected when the monitored mobility meets a mobility criteria.

4. The method of claim 2 ,
wherein the network conditions comprise whether each wireless device in communication with the access node comprises a smartphone, and
wherein the round robin scheduling algorithm is selected when the number of wireless devices in communication with the access node that comprise smart phones meets a phone criteria.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data rate scheduling algorithm comprises an algorithm that schedules data transmissions based on which of the wireless devices in communication with the first access node comprises a greatest channel quality value.

6. The method of claim 5 ,
wherein the network conditions comprise a number of connections between the access node and the wireless devices in communication with the access node, and
wherein the data rate scheduling algorithm is selected when the monitored number of connections does not meet a connections criteria.

7. The method of claim 5 ,
wherein the network conditions comprise a data bearer type for connections between the access node and the wireless devices in communication with the access node, and
wherein the data rate scheduling algorithm is selected when the monitored data bearer types comprise a number guaranteed data bearers that meets a bearer type criteria.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid scheduling algorithm comprises an algorithm that schedules data transmissions based on a balance between the fair scheduling algorithm and the data rate scheduling algorithm.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the hybrid scheduling algorithm comprises an algorithm that schedules data transmissions based on a metric calculated for each wireless device, the metric being inversely proportional to an average data rate for the wireless device and directly proportional to the instantaneous data rate of the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the network conditions comprise a number of connections between the access node and the wireless devices in communication with the access node, and
wherein the hybrid scheduling algorithm is selected when the monitored number of connections meets a connections criteria.

11. The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the network conditions comprise a data bearer type for connections between the access node and the wireless devices in communication with the access node, and
wherein the hybrid scheduling algorithm is selected when the monitored data bearer types comprise a number nonguaranteed data bearers that meets a bearer type criteria.

12. A system for determining broadcast parameters for a transmission, the system comprising:
a processing node with a processor configured to:
monitor network conditions in a communication network comprising an access node;
select, based on the network conditions, one of a fair scheduling algorithm, a data rate scheduling algorithm, and a hybrid scheduling algorithm;
schedule data transmission from the access node based on the selected scheduling algorithm; and
transmit data from the access node to wireless devices based on the transmission schedule.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the fair scheduling algorithm comprises a round robin scheduling algorithm.

14. The system of claim 13 ,
wherein the network conditions comprise a mobility for the wireless devices in communication with the access node, and
wherein the round robin scheduling algorithm is selected when the monitored mobility meets a mobility criteria.

15. The system of claim 13 ,
wherein the network conditions comprise whether each wireless device in communication with the access node comprises a smartphone, and
wherein the round robin scheduling algorithm is selected when the number of wireless devices in communication with the access node that comprise smart phones meets a phone criteria.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the data rate scheduling algorithm comprises an algorithm that schedules data transmissions based on which of the wireless devices in communication with the first access node comprises a greatest channel quality value.

17. The system of claim 16 ,
wherein the network conditions comprise a number of connections between the access node and the wireless devices in communication with the access node, and
wherein the data rate scheduling algorithm is selected when the monitored number of connections does not meet a connections criteria.

18. The system of claim 16 ,
wherein the network conditions comprise a data bearer type for connections between the access node and the wireless devices in communication with the access node, and
wherein the data rate scheduling algorithm is selected when the monitored data bearer types comprise a number guaranteed data bearers that meets a bearer type criteria.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the hybrid scheduling algorithm comprises an algorithm that schedules data transmissions based on a balance between the fair scheduling algorithm and the data rate scheduling algorithm.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the hybrid scheduling algorithm comprises an algorithm that schedules data transmissions based on a metric calculated for each wireless device, the metric being inversely proportional to an average data rate for the wireless device and directly proportional to the instantaneous data rate of the wireless device.

Assignees

• Sprint Spectrum Lp
• Sprint Spectrum Lp

Inventors

• Sevindik Volkan

Classifications

• H04W72/54

  based on quality criteria · CPC title

• H04L5/0058 Primary

  Allocation criteria · CPC title

• H04W24/08 Primary

  Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic · CPC title

• H04L5/0005 Primary

  Time-frequency · CPC title

• H04L5/0064

  Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority · CPC title