US20220279376A1 - Communication apparatus, base station, radio resource allocation method, and computer readable medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure aims to provide a communication apparatus capable of efficiently performing scheduling of radio resources in such a way that a radio terminal is able to complete transmission of data within an allowable time. A communication apparatus (10) according to the present disclosure includes: an allocation controller (11) configured to determine to preferentially allocate the radio resources to a control target flow over other flows in an emergency period, which is from a predetermined timing to a transmission deadline of the control target flow, of a transmission period of the control target flow in the radio terminal; and a calculation unit (12) configured to calculate an amount of data that the radio terminal should transmit in a normal period, which is from an occurrence of the control target flow to the predetermined timing, in such a way that transmission of data of an entire control target flow is completed in the emergency period.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/496,691 filed on Sep. 23, 2019, which is a National Stage Entry of international application PCT/JP2017/012444 filed on Mar. 27, 2017, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present disclosure relates to a communication apparatus, a base station, a radio resource allocation method, and a program.
BACKGROUND ART
• It is currently being examined how to provide ultra low latency services via a mobile network. The ultra low latency services may include, for example, an automatic driving service that transmits in-vehicle sensor information, traffic camera information, map information and the like via a mobile network.
• Mobile carriers (mobile telecommunications carriers) need to guarantee Service Level Agreement (SLA) in order to provide ultra low latency services for users. Delay time that is guaranteed in the ultra low latency services may be, for example, defined in the SLA.
• For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses efficiently allocating radio resources to User Equipment (UE) in order to maintain a high service quality. Specifically, Patent Literature 1 discloses optimizing allocation of radio resources in view of information on a delay constraint or the like of an application. In other words, Patent Literature 1 discloses that a base station optimizes allocation of the radio resources so that a delay time does not exceed an allowable delay time when an application service is provided, thereby maintaining a high service quality.
CITATION LISTPatent Literature
• [Patent Literature 1] Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication for Patent Application, No. 2014-522145
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONTechnical Problem
• One technique for preventing the delay time from exceeding the allowable delay time when the base station provides the application service is to allocate radio resources as follows. If, for example, the delay time in a radio terminal that is receiving the application service is likely to exceed the allowable delay time, the base station may preferentially allocate radio resources to this radio terminal. However, there is a case in which so much data is accumulated in a transmission buffer of a radio terminal that all the pieces of data cannot be transmitted even when the radio resources are preferentially allocated to the radio terminal shortly before the end of the allowable delay time. In this case, a problem that the SLA cannot be guaranteed by just preferentially allocating the radio resources to the radio terminal shortly before the end of the allowable delay time occurs.
• An object of the present disclosure is to provide a communication apparatus, a base station, a radio resource allocation method, and a program capable of efficiently performing scheduling of the radio resources in such a way that a radio terminal is able to complete transmission of data within an allowable time.
Solution to Problem
• A communication apparatus according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a calculation unit configured to calculate an amount of data that a radio terminal should transmit in a second period, which is from an occurrence of a flow to a predetermined timing, in such a way that transmission of data of an entire flow can be completed in a first period, which is from the predetermined timing to a transmission deadline of the flow, of a transmission period of the flow in the radio terminal.
• A base station according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes: a communication unit configured to receive, from a communication apparatus, information regarding an amount of data a radio terminal should transmit in a second period, which is from an occurrence of a flow to a predetermined timing in such a way that transmission of data of an entire flow can be completed in a first period, which is from the predetermined timing to a transmission deadline of the flow, of a transmission period of the flow in the radio terminal; and an allocation unit configured to determine radio resources to be allocated to the flow in the second period based on the amount of data that the radio terminal should transmit in the second period.
• A radio resource allocation method according to a third aspect of the present disclosure includes calculating an amount of data that a radio terminal should transmit in a second period, which is from an occurrence of a flow to a predetermined timing, in such a way that transmission of data of an entire flow can be completed in a first period, which is from the predetermined timing to a transmission deadline of the flow, of a transmission period of the flow in the radio terminal.
• A program according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to calculate an amount of data that a radio terminal should transmit in a second period, which is from an occurrence of a flow to a predetermined timing, in such a way that transmission of data of an entire flow can be completed in a first period, which is from the predetermined timing to a transmission deadline of the flow, of a transmission period of the flow in the radio terminal.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
• According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a communication apparatus, a base station, a radio resource allocation method, and a program capable of efficiently performing scheduling of the radio resources in such a way that the radio terminal is able to complete transmission of data within an allowable time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication apparatus according to a first example embodiment;
• FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a communication system according to a second example embodiment;
• FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an MEC server according to the second example embodiment;
• FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an emergency period that overlaps an emergency period of a control target flow according to the second example embodiment;
• FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an eNB according to the second example embodiment;
• FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining data transmission processing in a normal period of the control target flow according to the second example embodiment;
• FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining data transmission processing in the normal period of the control target flow according to the second example embodiment;
• FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of processing of calculating an amount of data to be transmitted in the normal period of the control target flow in the MEC server according to the second example embodiment;
• FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining processing of calculating an amount of data to be transmitted in a normal period of a control target flow in an MEC server according to a third example embodiment;
• FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an eNB according to each of the example embodiments; and
• FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a communication apparatus and an MEC server according to each of the example embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTSFirst Example Embodiment
• Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, example embodiments according to the present disclosure will be explained. With reference toFIG. 1, a configuration example of acommunication apparatus10 according to a first example embodiment will be explained. Thecommunication apparatus10 may be a computer apparatus that is operated by a processor executing a program stored in a memory.
• Thecommunication apparatus10 may be, for example, a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) entity (hereinafter it will be referred to as an SCEF) defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The SCEF executes, for example, authentication processing or the like regarding an application server managed by a mobile telecommunications carrier, an application service provider or the like. Further, the SCEF communicates with an evolved NodeB (eNB), which is a base station, via reference points defined by the 3GPP. The SCEF entity transmits, for example, control data in a core network. The control data is used, for example, to perform configuration or the like of a communication path that transmits user data regarding a radio terminal. The SCEF entity may be referred to as, for example, a C-Plane Function (CPF) entity, which is a node apparatus that transmits the control data.
• Further, thecommunication apparatus10 may be a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) server. The MEC server may be arranged in a position that enables the MEC server to directly communicate with the base station. The position that enables the MEC server to directly communicate with the base station is a position that enables the MEC server to communicate with the base station without passing through a core network managed by a mobile telecommunications carrier. For example, the MEC server may be physically integrated with the base station. Alternatively, the MEC server may be installed in the same building as the base station and may be connected to a Local Area Network (LAN) in the building so that it can communicate with the base station. The MEC server is arranged in the vicinity of the base station, whereby it becomes possible to reduce the transmission delay between the MEC server and the radio terminal. The MEC server is used, for example, to provide an ultra low latency application service.
• Further, thecommunication apparatus10 may be arranged in an IoT platform that includes servers that provide IoT services for the radio terminal. Alternatively, thecommunication apparatus10 may be a server apparatus capable of communicating with the base station directly or via a network. Thecommunication apparatus10 may have any one of a Control Plane function and a User Plane function regardless of whether thecommunication apparatus10 is the apparatus illustrated above or it is another apparatus. Thecommunication apparatus10 may further be a base station.
• Next, a configuration example of thecommunication apparatus10 will be explained. Thecommunication apparatus10 includes acalculation unit12. Thecalculation unit12 may be software or a module whose processing is executed by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. Further, thecalculation unit12 may be hardware such as a chip or a circuit.
• Thecalculation unit12 calculates an amount of data that the radio terminal should transmit in a second period, which is from an occurrence of a flow to a predetermined timing, in such a way that transmission of data of an entire flow can be completed in a first period, which is from the predetermined timing to a transmission deadline of the flow, of a transmission period of the flow in the radio terminal. The length of the first period and the predetermined timing may be different or the same for each flow. The first period may be determined, for example, based on an application service. Alternatively, the first period may be determined based on a congestion degree (e.g., a traffic amount) of the network. The first period may become longer as the congestion degree of the network is larger. Further, the first period may be determined based on the number of radio terminals connected to the base station. The first period may become longer as the number of radio terminals connected to the base station becomes larger.
• The flow regarding the radio terminal includes, for example, one or a plurality of pieces of data transmitted in the application service provided for the radio terminal. Further, data included in the flow may be referred to as a data packet. The flow regarding the radio terminal may be a flow transmitted from the radio terminal to the base station or a flow transmitted from the base station to the radio terminal. Alternatively, the flow regarding the radio terminal may include the flow transmitted from the radio terminal to the base station and the flow transmitted from the base station to the radio terminal. The data included in the flow transmitted from the radio terminal to the base station is referred to as Uplink (UL) data. Further, the data included in the flow transmitted from the base station to the radio terminal is referred to as Downlink (DL) data. The data transmitted in the application service (e.g., application data) may be, for example, image data, video data or the like. Further, the application data may include, for example, a request message for requesting transmission of the image data or the like or a response message in response to the request message.
• The transmission deadline means a deadline to complete transmission of a plurality of data packets included in one flow. The transmission deadline is requested by an application. The transmission deadline can also be referred to as a transmission time limit. Alternatively, the transmission deadline can also be referred to as a maximum transmission delay allowed by the application. The transmission deadline can be defined in various ways. The transmission deadline may indicate, for example, a completion deadline of the transmission by a sender of an application layer. Alternatively, the transmission deadline may indicate a completion deadline of the transmission by a sender of a radio layer. Alternatively, the transmission deadline may indicate a completion deadline of reception by a receiver of the application layer. Alternatively, the transmission deadline may indicate a completion deadline of reception by a receiver of the radio layer. Alternatively, more specifically, the transmission deadline may indicate a deadline for the receiver of the application layer to complete reception of the last data packet regarding one flow after the sender of the application layer has started transmission of the first data packet regarding one flow. Alternatively, the transmission deadline may indicate a deadline for the receiver of the radio layer to complete reception of the last data packet regarding one flow after the sender of the radio layer has started transmission of the first data packet regarding one flow.
• The information regarding the transmission deadline may be received by thecommunication apparatus10 from the application server. Thecommunication apparatus10 may determine, regarding data delivered to the user plane of thecommunication apparatus10, the service to be applied to this data, and may determine the transmission deadline based on this service. Thecommunication apparatus10 may further receive information regarding the service to be applied to the data from the application server and determine the transmission deadline based on this service. Thecommunication apparatus10 may receive information on the buffer of the eNB from the eNB, and preferentially allocate resource blocks to flows accumulated in the buffer.
• As described above, thecommunication apparatus10 is able to calculate the amount of data that the radio terminal should transmit in the second period. That is, the radio terminal transmits the predetermined amount of data in the second period, whereby it is possible to prevent a situation in which the radio terminal cannot complete transmission of all the pieces of data in the first period.
• Further, thecommunication apparatus10 may transmit information regarding the amount of data that the radio terminal should transmit in the second period to the base station. The base station executes scheduling for allocating the radio resources to the flow regarding the radio terminal. The scheduling executed in the base station may be referred to as Medium Access Control (MAC) scheduling, packet scheduling or the like. The base station is able to determine the radio resources to be allocated to the control target flow by receiving the information regarding the amount of data that the radio terminal should transmit in the second period from thecommunication apparatus10. Alternatively, thecommunication apparatus10 may determine, in place of the base station, the radio resources to be allocated to the control target flow based on the amount of data that the radio terminal should transmit in the second period.
Second Example Embodiment
• With reference next toFIG. 2, a configuration example of a communication system according to a second example embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained. The communication system shown inFIG. 2 shows a communication system defined in the 3GPP. The communication system shown inFIG. 2 includes aneNB60, anapplication server70, acore network100, and a plurality ofUEs80. TheUE80 is a general term for the communication terminal defined by the 3GPP. Thecore network100 is a network managed by a mobile telecommunications carrier. Thecore network100 includes anMEC server40 and agateway50. TheMEC server40 corresponds to thecommunication apparatus10 shown inFIG. 1.
• Thegateway50 may be, for example, a Serving Gateway (SGW) or a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) that transmits user data regarding theUE80 in thecore network100. Alternatively, thegateway50 may be a U-Plane Function (UPF) entity, which is a node apparatus that transmits user data regarding theUE80. The user data may be, for example, image data, video data or the like.
• TheMEC server40 is arranged in the vicinity of theeNB60 and provides the application service for theUEs80 via theeNB60. Further, theMEC server40 provides the application service for theUEs80 in collaboration with theapplication server70.
• Theapplication server70 is a server that provides the application service for theUEs80. Theapplication server70 transmits, for example, the user data to thegateway50. Further, theapplication server70 transmits the data size of the user data to be transmitted in one flow, and further information regarding the transmission deadline in one flow to theMEC server40.
• Thegateway50 transmits user data transmitted from theapplication server70 to theeNB60. Thegateway50 further transmits the user data transmitted from theeNB60 to theapplication server70.
• TheMEC server40 calculates the amount of data that can be transmitted in an emergency period of the flow regarding theUE80 and the amount of data that should be transmitted in the normal period using the information transmitted from theapplication server70. TheMEC server40 may perform scheduling of the radio resources based on the results of the calculation or transmit the results of the calculation to theeNB60. When theMEC server40 has performed scheduling of the radio resources, theMEC server40 transmits the results of the scheduling to theeNB60.
• The emergency period, which corresponds to the first period in the first example embodiment, is a period from the predetermined timing to the transmission deadline of the control target flow of the transmission period of the control target flow. In the emergency period of the control target flow, radio resources are preferentially allocated to the control flow over the other flows. Further, in a period before the emergency period (this corresponds to the second period in the first example embodiment), that is, in a period from an occurrence of the control target flow to the predetermined timing (hereinafter this period will be referred to as a normal period), a large number of radio resources are allocated to a flow regarding the radio terminal whose radio quality is high. Therefore, a larger number of radio resources are preferentially allocated to the flow regarding the radio terminal whose radio quality is high compared to the flow regarding the radio terminal whose radio quality is not high.
• When theeNB60 has received, from theMEC server40, the information regarding the amount of data that should be transmitted in the normal period, theeNB60 performs scheduling based on the received information and allocates the radio resources to the flow of theUE80. Further, when theeNB60 has received the results of the scheduling from theMEC server40, theeNB60 allocates the radio resources to the flow of theUE80 in accordance with the results of the scheduling that have been received.
• With reference next toFIG. 3, a configuration example of theMEC server40 according to the second example embodiment will be explained. TheMEC server40 includes aresource allocation controller41, a dataamount calculation unit42, and aneNB communication unit43. The components of theMEC server40 such as theresource allocation controller41, the data amountcalculation unit42, and theeNB communication unit43 may each be software or a module whose processing is executed by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. Further, the components of theMEC server40 may each be hardware such as a circuit or a chip.
• Theresource allocation controller41 sets the normal period and the emergency period for each of the plurality of flows occurred in theeNB60. TheMEC server40 acquires information regarding a plurality of flows that occur in theeNB60 from theapplication server70. TheMEC server40 acquires, for example, information regarding the transmission deadline of each flow and the data size (the amount of data).
• Theresource allocation controller41 may define, for example, a certain percentage of period of the transmission period from the occurrence of the flow to the transmission deadline, which is the period whose end corresponds to the transmission deadline to be the emergency period. Specifically, the emergency period may be defined to be a period of 10% of the transmission period.
• Further, theresource allocation controller41 counts the number of flows that have the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow.
• With reference toFIG. 4, the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow will be explained. The horizontal axis inFIG. 4 indicates time. The straight arrows shown inFIG. 4 indicate the transmission period from the time each flow has occurred to the transmission deadline. The period shown by dotted lines indicates the emergency period of the control target flow. InFIG. 4, a flow A and a flow B indicate that the control target flow and the emergency period overlap each other. Further, a flow C and a flow D indicate that the control target flow and the emergency period do not overlap each other.
• In the case of the flow shown inFIG. 4, theresource allocation controller41 counts that the number of flows that have the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow is three, including the control target flow.
• Next, theresource allocation controller41 estimates the amount of data that theUE80 can transmit by the control target flow in the emergency period of the control target flow. When the amount of data that the control target flow can transmit is denoted by Estimation[bit], Estimation can be calculated using the following Expression 1.
• 
  Estimation[bit]=allocation period per flow×the number of RBs allocated per flow×transmission capability  (Expression 1)
• The allocation period per flow is defined to be emergency period [TTI]/count value. The emergency period is indicated by units of Transmission Time Interval (TTI). The count value is the number of flows that have the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow.
• The number of Resource Blocks (RBs) to be allocated per flow is defined to be the number of RBs per TTI [RB/TTI]/concurrently processible scheduling number. The concurrently processible scheduling number indicates the number of UEs and the number of flows that can be concurrently processed per TTI. The number of UEs and the number of flows that can be concurrently processed may be, for example, the upper limit values of the number of UEs and the number of flows that can be concurrently scheduled.
• The transmission capability is the number of bits that can be transmitted per RB. It is assumed, for example, that the transmission capability is defined for each Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS). The transmission capability used in Expression 1 may be determined, for example, based on MCS at the time each flow has occurred. Alternatively, the transmission capability used in Expression 1 may be determined in view of fluctuation of the previous MCS. The transmission capability used in Expression 1 may be determined, for example, based on the average value of the previous MCS. Alternatively, the MCS may be analyzed from its fluctuation whether the MCS tends to increase or decrease, and the transmission capability used in Expression 1 may be determined based on the MCS estimated in the emergency period of each flow.
• Theresource allocation controller41 may count the number of flows that have the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow at the first timing in the normal period. Theresource allocation controller41 may re-calculate the amount of data that theUE80 can transmit in the emergency period of the control target flow using the number of flows. The first timing indicates an arbitrary timing in the normal period.
• The information regarding the MCS at the time the flow has occurred or the previous MCS may be received from theeNB60 via theeNB communication unit43.
• Next, the data amountcalculation unit42 calculates the amount of data that the control target flow should transmit in the normal period. When the amount of data that the control target flow should transmit in the normal period is denoted by Data and the amount of data of the control target flow is denoted by FlowSize, this data amount is calculated using the following Expression 2.
• 
  Data=FlowSize−Estimation  (Expression 2)
• TheeNB communication unit43 transmits the information regarding the amount of data that the control target flow should transmit in the normal period, the amount of data having been calculated in the data amountcalculation unit42, to theeNB60.
• With reference next toFIG. 5, a configuration example of theeNB60 will be explained. TheeNB60 includes a core networknode communication unit61, a radioenvironment acquisition unit62, aresource allocation unit63, and aradio unit64. The components of theeNB60 such as the core networknode communication unit61, the radioenvironment acquisition unit62, theresource allocation unit63, and theradio unit64 may be software or a module whose processing is executed by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. Alternatively, the components of theeNB60 may be hardware such as a circuit or a chip.
• The radioenvironment acquisition unit62 measures the communication quality of the radio resources for transmitting UL data using the UL data received from theUE80 via theradio unit64. Further, the radioenvironment acquisition unit62 receives the communication quality of the radio resources that transmit DL data measured using the DL data in theUE80 from theUE80. The radioenvironment acquisition unit62 receives information regarding the communication quality of the radio resources that transmit the DL data from theUE80 via theradio unit64.
• The radioenvironment acquisition unit62 transmits the communication quality of the radio resources that transmit the UL and DL data to theMEC server40 via the core networknode communication unit61.
• Theresource allocation unit63 receives information regarding the amount of data that the control target flow should transmit in the normal period via the core networknode communication unit61, the information being transmitted from theMEC server40. Theresource allocation unit63 determines the radio resources to be allocated to the control target flow in the normal period based on the received information.
• For example, theresource allocation unit63 may allocate radio resources to the control target flow in such a way that the amount of data that should be transmitted can be transmitted in the normal period of the control target flow even when the radio quality of theUE80 regarding the control target flow is worse than radio qualities ofother UEs80. Theresource allocation unit63 may allocate, for example, radio resources to the control target flow in preference to the other flows in an arbitrary period in the normal period of the control target flow.
• Theradio unit64 transmits the DL data to theUE80 using the radio resources determined in theresource allocation unit63. Further, theradio unit64 transmits information regarding the radio resources that are used to transmit the UL data to theUE80.
• Here, when theresource allocation unit63 has received, from theMEC server40, allocation information of the radio resources in which the radio resources to be allocated are specified, via the core networknode communication unit61, theresource allocation unit63 may determine the radio resources to be allocated to the control target flow in accordance with the received information.
• With reference now toFIG. 6, one example of the data transmission processing in the normal period of the control target flow in theresource allocation unit63 will be explained. A description will be given taking an example in which the vertical axis shown inFIG. 6 represents the data size and the horizontal axis represents elapsed time.FIG. 6 shows a transition of the amount of remaining data during the time from the occurrence of the control target flow to the transmission deadline. The solid rectangles indicate the amount of data of the control target flow. In other words, the solid rectangles indicate the amount of remaining data of the control target flow that should be transmitted by the transmission deadline. Further, the dotted rectangles indicate the amount of data that has already been transmitted.
• The arrows inFIG. 6 indicate request throughput. The request throughput is a value obtained by dividing the amount of remaining data that should be transmitted in the normal period using the remaining time in the normal period. The amount of remaining data that should be transmitted in the normal period is a difference between the amount of data to be transmitted in the normal period and the amount of data that has been transmitted during the period from the occurrence of the control target flow to the second timing in the normal period. Further, the remaining time in the normal period is a time period from the above second timing in the normal period to a predetermined timing, which is the end of the normal period. The second timing indicates an arbitrary timing in the normal period. The upward-sloping arrows shown inFIG. 6 indicate that the request throughput increases with time. Further, inFIG. 6, when the request throughput has reached a request throughput threshold, the radio resources are preferentially allocated to the control target flow and the amount of remaining data of the control target flow is reduced. Since a part of the data of the control target flow is transmitted and the amount of remaining data is reduced, the request throughput is also reduced. After that, in the period in which the data of the control target flow is not transmitted, the request throughput is increased.
• The request throughput threshold is a value that is used to preferentially transmit the data in the normal period of the control target flow even when the radio quality of the control target flow is low and the radio resources cannot be allocated to the control target flow. Further, when the radio quality of the control target flow is high, that is, when the radio quality is high, data is transmitted before the request throughput reaches the request throughput threshold.
• WhileFIG. 6 shows that the request throughput threshold has a fixed value, the request throughput threshold may be updated to a new value every time the amount of remaining data is reduced.
• The data transmission processing in the normal period of the control target flow inFIG. 6 may be executed in the data amountcalculation unit42 of theMEC server40 or may be executed in theeNB60 that will be described later.
• The timing of the transmission of the data using the request throughput threshold inFIG. 6 may be calculated in theMEC server40 and theresource allocation unit63 may allocate the radio resources to the control target flow in accordance with the timing calculated in theMEC server40.
• With reference next toFIG. 7, one example of the data transmission processing different from that shown inFIG. 6 will be explained. A description will be given taking an example in which the vertical axis shown inFIG. 7 represents the data size and the horizontal axis represents the elapsed time. The vertical axis inFIG. 7 indicates Data calculated in Expression 2 and FlowSize of the control target flow. The diagonal solid line shown inFIG. 7 indicates the amount of data that should be transmitted at each timing. Specifically, the diagonal solid line shown inFIG. 7 shows that the amount of data that should be transmitted in the normal period and the emergency period is increased with time. In other words, when radio resources are not allocated to the control target flow in the normal period and the emergency period, this state indicates that the amount of data that should be transmitted is increased with time.
• Theresource allocation unit63 plots the amount of data transmitted in the normal period in the graph shown inFIG. 7. The amount of data transmitted in the normal period may be, above all, the amount of data that has been transmitted from the occurrence of the control target flow to an arbitrary timing in the normal period. In this case, theresource allocation unit63 may preferentially allocate the radio resources to the control target flow when the plotted position is lower than the diagonal solid line. Further, theresource allocation unit63 may not preferentially allocate the radio resources to the control target flow when the plotted position exceeds the diagonal solid line and may allocate the radio resources to the control target flow when the radio quality is high.
• With reference next toFIG. 8, a flow of processing of calculating the amount of data to be transmitted in the normal period of the control target flow in theMEC server40 will be explained. First, theMEC server40 detects that the transmission flow has occurred in the UE80 (S11). TheMEC server40 may receive, for example, a notification indicating that the transmission flow has occurred in theUE80 from theapplication server70. In the following description, the occurred transmission flow will be described as the control target flow.
• Next, theresource allocation controller41 sets the normal period and the emergency period for a plurality of flows to which the radio resources are to be allocated in theeNB60, the plurality of flows including the control target flow (S12).
• Next, theresource allocation controller41 counts the number of flows that have the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow (S13). Next, theresource allocation controller41 estimates the amount of data that the control target flow can transmit in the emergency period of the control target flow (S14). Theresource allocation controller41 may use MCS indicating the radio quality between theUE80 and theeNB60 at the timing the control target flow has occurred when it estimates the amount of data that the control target flow can transmit, or may estimate MCS in the emergency period of the control target flow and use the estimated MCS.
• Next, the data amountcalculation unit42 calculates the amount of data that the control target flow should transmit in the normal period (S15). The data amountcalculation unit42 calculates the amount of data that should be transmitted in the normal period by subtracting the amount of data estimated in Step S14 from the amount of data of the entire control target flow.
• Next, theeNB communication unit43 transmits information regarding the amount of data calculated in Step S15 to theeNB60.
• As described above, theMEC server40 according to the second example embodiment is able to estimate the amount of data that can be transmitted in the emergency period of the control target flow. Further, theMEC server40 is able to calculate the amount of data that should be transmitted in the normal period in such a way that the transmission of the control target flow can be completed in the emergency period.
• Further, theeNB60 is able to allocate radio resources to the control target flow in the normal period of the control target flow in accordance with the amount of data that should be transmitted in the normal period calculated in theMEC server40. As a result, theUE80 is able to transmit the amount of data calculated in theMEC server40 in the normal period. Accordingly, theUE80 is able to complete transmission of all the pieces of data of the control target flow in the emergency period. As a result, theUE80 is able to complete transmission of all the pieces of data of the control target flow by the transmission deadline.
Third Example Embodiment
• With reference next toFIG. 9, processing of calculating the amount of data that should be transmitted in the normal period of the control target flow in theMEC server40 according to the third example embodiment will be explained.
• In the second example embodiment, the operation in which theresource allocation controller41 counts the number of flows that have the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow at time T1 at which the control target flow has occurred has been described. In the third example embodiment, further, at time T2, which is the timing after a predetermined period from time T1, theresource allocation controller41 counts again the number of flows that have the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow.
• The number of flows counted at time T1 may be different from the number of flows counted at time T2. Regarding the flow A inFIG. 9, for example, a large number of radio resources may be allocated between time T1 and time T2, which may cause a situation in which the timing the transmission of all the pieces of data of the flow A is completed becomes earlier. When, for example, the transmission of the flow A has been completed before the emergency period of the control target flow is started, the emergency period of the control target flow and the emergency period of the flow A do not overlap each other. As a result, while theresource allocation controller41 counts the flow A at time T1, the flow A is not counted at time T2.
• Further, at time T1, even when the flow D has not occurred, the flow D may occur between time T1 and time T2. When the emergency period of the flow D and the emergency period of the control target flow overlap each other as shown inFIG. 9, theresource allocation controller41 counts the flow D at time T2.
• When the time has passed as described above, the number of flows that have the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow may vary. Theresource allocation controller41 estimates again the amount of data that can be transmitted in the emergency period of the control target flow when the number of flows that have the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow has been counted at time T2.
• When, for example, the number of flows at time T2 is smaller than the number of flows at time T1, the allocation period in which the radio resources are allocated to the control target flow increases. Therefore, the amount of data that can be transmitted in the emergency period of the control target flow increases, which results in a situation in which the amount of data that should be transmitted in the normal period of the control target flow is reduced.
• Further, it is assumed that the transmission capability is determined in accordance with the radio quality information at time T1 when the amount of data that can be transmitted in the emergency period of the control target flow is estimated. In this case, the transmission capability may be determined in accordance with the radio quality information at time T2.
• As described above, by executing processing of calculating the amount of data to be transmitted in the normal period of the control target flow in theMEC server40 according to the third example embodiment, the amount of data that should be transmitted in the normal period can be calculated more accurately.
Fourth Example Embodiment
• Next, processing of counting the number of flows according to a fourth example embodiment will be explained. In the second and third example embodiments, theresource allocation controller41 counts the number of flows that have the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow. On the other hand, in the fourth example embodiment, theresource allocation controller41 counts the number of flows in which the transmission deadline exists in the emergency period of the control target flow.
• The flow B is to be counted when, for example, the number of flows having the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow is counted inFIG. 9. On the other hand, the transmission deadline of the flow B does not exist in the emergency period of the control target flow. The transmission deadline of each flow shown inFIG. 9 is the timing of the tip of the arrow. Therefore, when the number of flows in which the transmission deadline exists in the emergency period of the control target flow is counted, the flow B is not counted. Theresource allocation controller41 may count the number of flows in which the transmission deadline exists in the emergency period of the control target flow at the first timing in the normal period. Theresource allocation controller41 may re-calculate the amount of data that theUE80 can transmit in the emergency period of the control target flow using the number of flows.
• As described above, according to the fourth example embodiment, even when a flow has the emergency period that overlaps the emergency period of the control target flow, this flow is not counted as long as the transmission deadline does not exist in the emergency period of the control target flow. Accordingly, when the counting processing according to the fourth example embodiment is performed, the number of counts can be reduced more than that in the second and third example embodiments. As a result, a period in which the radio resources are allocated to the control target flow in the emergency period increases.
• Since the period in which the radio resources are allocated to the control target flow increases in the emergency period, the amount of data that should be transmitted in the normal period of the control target flow can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce the radio resources that theeNB60 will allocate to the control target flow in the normal period, whereby it is possible to allocate more radio resources to the flow regarding theUE80 having a higher radio quality in the normal period.
• The following provides configuration examples of thecommunication apparatus10, theMEC server40, and theeNB60 according to the above embodiments.FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of theeNB60. Referring toFIG. 10, theeNB60 includes anRF transceiver1001, anetwork interface1003, aprocessor1004, and amemory1005. TheRF transceiver1001 performs analog RF signal processing to communicate with UEs. TheRF transceiver1001 may include a plurality of transceivers. TheRF transceiver1001 is coupled to anantenna1002 and theprocessor1004. TheRF transceiver1001 receives modulated symbol data (or OFDM symbol data) from theprocessor1004, generates a transmission RF signal, and supplies the transmission RF signal to theantenna1002. Further, theRF transceiver1001 generates a baseband reception signal based on a reception RF signal received by theantenna1002, and supplies the baseband reception signal to theprocessor1004.
• Thenetwork interface1003 is used to communicate with network nodes (e.g., the gateway50). Thenetwork interface1003 may include, for example, a network interface card (NIC) conforming to the IEEE 802.3 series.
• Theprocessor1004 performs data-plane processing and control-plane processing including digital baseband signal processing for radio communication. In the case of LTE and LTE-Advanced, for example, the digital baseband signal processing performed by theprocessor1004 may include signal processing of a MAC layer and a PHY layer.
• Theprocessor1004 may include a plurality of processors. Theprocessor1004 may include, for example, a modem processor (e.g., DSP) that performs the digital baseband signal processing and a protocol stack processor (e.g., a CPU or an MPU) that performs the control-plane processing.
• Thememory1005 is composed of a combination of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. Thememory1005 may include a plurality of memory devices that are physically independent from each other. The volatile memory is, for example, a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a Dynamic RAM (DRAM), or a combination thereof. The non-volatile memory is a mask Read Only Memory (MROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), a flash memory, a hard disc drive, or any combination thereof. Thememory1005 may include a storage located apart from theprocessor1004. In this case, theprocessor1004 may access thememory1005 via thenetwork interface1003 or an I/O interface (not shown).
• Thememory1005 may store a software module (a computer program) including instructions and data to perform the processing by theeNB60 described in the above embodiments. In some implementations, theprocessor1004 may be configured to load the software module from thememory1005 and execute the loaded software module, thereby performing the processing of theeNB60 described in the above embodiments.
• FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of thecommunication apparatus10 and theMEC server40. Referring toFIG. 11, thecommunication apparatus10 and theMEC server40 include anetwork interface1201, aprocessor1202, and amemory1203. Thenetwork interface1201 is used to communicate with network nodes (e.g., the base station20). Thenetwork interface1201 may include, for example, a network interface card (NIC) conforming to the IEEE 802.3 series.
• Theprocessor1202 loads the software (computer program) from thememory1203 and executes the loaded software, thereby performing processing of thecommunication apparatus10 and theMEC server40 described with reference to the sequence diagrams and the flowcharts in the above embodiments. Theprocessor1202 may be, for example, a microprocessor, an MPU, or a CPU. Theprocessor1202 may include a plurality of processors.
• Theprocessor1202 performs control-plane processing with data-plane processing including digital baseband signal processing for radio communication. In the case of LTE and LTE-Advanced, for example, the digital baseband signal processing performed by theprocessor1004 may include signal processing of a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, and a MAC layer. Further, the signal processing performed by theprocessor1202 may include signal processing of a GTP-UUDP/IP layer in an X2-U interface and an S1-U interface. Further, the control-plane processing performed by theprocessor1004 may include processing of an X2AP protocol, an S1-MME protocol, and an RRC protocol.
• Theprocessor1202 may include a plurality of processors. Theprocessor1004 may include, for example, a modem processor (e.g., a DSP) that performs digital baseband signal processing, a processor (a DSP) that performs signal processing in GTP-UUDP/IP layer in an X2-U interface and an S1-U interface, and a protocol stack processor (e.g., a CPU or an MPU) that performs the control-plane processing.
• Thememory1203 is composed of a combination of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. Thememory1203 may include a storage located apart from theprocessor1202. In this case, theprocessor1202 may access thememory1203 via an I/O interface (not shown).
• In the example shown inFIG. 11, thememory1203 is used to store software modules. Theprocessor1202 may load these software modules from thememory1203 and execute the loaded software modules, thereby performing processing of thecommunication apparatus10 and theMEC server40 described in the above embodiments.
• As described above with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11, each of the processors included in thecommunication apparatus10, theMEC server40, and theeNB60 according to the above embodiments executes one or more programs including instructions to cause a computer to perform an algorithm described with reference to the drawings.
• In the above examples, the program(s) can be stored and provided to a computer using any type of non-transitory computer readable media. Non-transitory computer readable media include any type of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic storage media (such as flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives, etc.), optical magnetic storage media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), CD-R, CD-R/W, and semiconductor memories (such as mask ROM, Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable PROM (EPROM), flash ROM, Random Access Memory (RAM), etc.). The program(s) may be provided to a computer using any type of transitory computer readable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media include electric signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Transitory computer readable media can provide the program to a computer via a wired communication line (e.g., electric wires, and optical fibers) or a wireless communication line.
• Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above example embodiments and may be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Further, the present disclosure may be executed by combining each of the example embodiments as appropriate.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
• 10 COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
• 11 ALLOCATION CONTROLLER
• 12 CALCULATION UNIT
• 40 MEC SERVER
• 41 RESOURCE ALLOCATION CONTROLLER
• 42 DATA AMOUNT CALCULATION UNIT
• 43 eNB COMMUNICATION UNIT
• 50 GATEWAY
• 60 eNB
• 61 CORE NETWORK NODE COMMUNICATION UNIT
• 62 RADIO ENVIRONMENT ACQUISITION UNIT
• 63 RESOURCE ALLOCATION UNIT
• 64 RADIO UNIT
• 70 APPLICATION SERVER
• 80 UE

Claims (21)

1. A communication apparatus comprising calculation means for calculating an amount of data that a radio terminal should transmit in a second period, which is from an occurrence of a flow to a predetermined timing, in such a way that transmission of data of an entire flow can be completed in a first period, which is from the predetermined timing to a transmission deadline of the flow, of a transmission period of the flow in the radio terminal.

2. The communication apparatus according toclaim 1, comprising allocation control means for determining to preferentially allocate radio resources to a control target flow in the radio terminal over other flows in the first period.

3. The communication apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein

the allocation control means calculates the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in the first period, and

the calculation means subtracts the amount of data that can be transmitted in the first period from the amount of data of the entire flow to calculate the amount of data that should be transmitted in the second period.

4. The communication apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the allocation control means calculates the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in the first period of the control target flow using the number of flows that have a first period in which a period that overlaps the first period of the control target flow exists.

5. The communication apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein the allocation control means calculates the number of flows that have a first period in which a period that overlaps the first period of the control target flow exists in a first timing in the second period, and re-calculates the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in the first period of the control target flow using the number of flows that has been calculated.

6. The communication apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the allocation control means calculates the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in the first period of the control target flow using the number of flows in which a transmission deadline exists in the first period of the control target flow.

7. The communication apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the allocation control means calculates the number of flows in which a transmission deadline exists in the first period of the control target flow at a first timing in the second period, and re-calculates the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in the first period of the control target flow using the number of flows that has been calculated.

8. The communication apparatus according toclaim 5 or7, wherein the calculation means re-calculates the amount of data that should be transmitted in the second period based on the amount of data that can be transmitted in the first period and re-calculated using the number of flows calculated at a first timing in the second period.

9. The communication apparatus according to any one ofclaims 1 to8, wherein

the calculation means calculates the difference between the amount of data that should be transmitted in the second period and the amount of data transmitted from the occurrence of the flow to a second timing in the second period, and

the communication apparatus comprises allocation control means for determining, when a value obtained by dividing the difference by the time from the second timing to the predetermined timing is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold, to preferentially allocate radio resources to a control target flow in the radio terminal over other flows.

10. The communication apparatus according to any one ofclaims 1 to8, comprising allocation control means for determining, when the amount of data transmitted from the occurrence of the flow to a second timing in the second period is smaller than the amount of data that should transmitted in the second period, to preferentially allocate radio resources to a control target flow in the radio terminal over other flow.

11. The communication apparatus according to any one ofclaims 1 to10, wherein the amount of data that should be transmitted in the second period changes with time.

12. The communication apparatus according to any one ofclaims 3 to10, wherein the allocation control means further calculates the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in the first period of the control target flow using radio quality information of radio resources to be allocated to the radio terminal.

13. The communication apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein the allocation control means calculates the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in the first period of the control target flow using radio quality information on the radio resource at the time the control target flow has occurred or radio quality information estimated as being radio quality information of the first period.

14. The communication apparatus according to any one ofclaims 1 to13, comprising transmitting information regarding the amount of data that the radio terminal should transmit in the second period to a base station.

15. A base station comprising:

communication means for receiving, from a communication apparatus, information regarding an amount of data a radio terminal should transmit in a second period, which is from an occurrence of a flow to a predetermined timing in such a way that transmission of data of an entire flow can be completed in a first period, which is from the predetermined timing to a transmission deadline of the flow, of a transmission period of the flow in the radio terminal; and

allocation means for determining radio resources to be allocated to the flow in the second period based on the amount of data that the radio terminal should transmit in the second period.

16. A radio resource allocation method, comprising calculating an amount of data that a radio terminal should transmit in a second period, which is from an occurrence of a flow to a predetermined timing, in such a way that transmission of data of an entire flow can be completed in a first period, which is from the predetermined timing to a transmission deadline of the flow, of a transmission period of the flow in the radio terminal.

17. The radio resource allocation method according toclaim 16, comprising determining to preferentially allocate radio resources to a control target flow in the radio terminal over other flows in the first period.

18. The radio resource allocation method according toclaim 16 or17, comprising calculating the amount of data that the radio terminal transmits in the first period, subtracting the amount of data that can be transmitted in the first period from the amount of data of the entire flow, and calculating the amount of data that should be transmitted in the second period.

19. The radio resource allocation method according toclaim 18, comprising calculating, when the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in the first period is calculated, the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in a first period of the control target flow using the number of flows that have a first period in which a period that overlaps the first period of the control target flow exists.

20. The radio resource allocation method according toclaim 18, comprising calculating, when the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in the first period is calculated, the amount of data that the radio terminal can transmit in a first period of the control target flow using the number of flows in which a transmission deadline exists in the first period of the control target flow.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to calculate an amount of data that a radio terminal should transmit in a second period, which is from an occurrence of a flow to a predetermined timing, in such a way that transmission of data of an entire flow can be completed in a first period, which is from the predetermined timing to a transmission deadline of the flow, of a transmission period of the flow in the radio terminal.

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