Method and Apparatus for Channel Traffic Congestion Avoidance in a Mobile Communication System

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus, a method and a computer readable product for avoiding traffic congestion in a mobile communication system. In an exemplary embodiment there is provided an apparatus, including at least one controller and a memory storing a computer program which are arranged to receive and read a series of blocks on a first channel, to determine whether there is congestion on the basis of said series of blocks, and, in the event that the determination is that there is no congestion, to transmit a channel request on a second channel.

1 . An apparatus for use in controlling congestion in a cell of a communications network, the apparatus comprising at least one controller and a memory storing a computer program which are arranged to:
 receive and read a series of blocks on a first channel;   determine whether there is congestion on the basis of said series of blocks; and,   in the event that the determination is that there is no congestion, initiate an access procedure by transmitting a channel request on a second channel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , the controller with the memory and the computer program being further arranged to: count a number of fill frames and determine if the number of fill frames is greater than zero and if so determine that there is no congestion. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , the controller with the memory and the computer program being further arranged to: count a number of assignment messages and determine a ratio between the number of fill frames and the assignment messages and determine if the ratio is greater than a threshold value and if so determine that there is no congestion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , the controller with the memory and the computer program being further arranged to decode an assignment message, wherein said assignment message comprises a congestion flag, wherein the controller is arranged to determine that there is congestion if the congestion flag is set. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the series of blocks has a predetermined length (N). 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , the controller with the memory and the computer program being further arranged to wait for a waiting time before performing another attempt to determine whether there is congestion or not. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the waiting time includes a random element. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the waiting time is proportionate to the number of attempts to determine whether there is congestion or not. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , the controller with the memory and the computer program being further arranged to receive the waiting time from a network node, such as a base station. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the waiting time is based on at least one implementation specific criterion. 
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling congestion in a cell of a communications network, the method comprising:
 reading a series of blocks on a first channel;   determining, on the basis of said series of blocks, whether there is congestion;   if the determination is that there is congestion, waiting; and   if the determination is that there is no congestion, initiating an access procedure by transmitting a channel request on a second channel.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises counting a number of fill frames and determining if the number of fill frames is greater than zero, and if so, determining that there is no congestion. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the method comprises counting a number of assignment messages and determining a ratio between the number of fill frames and the assignment messages, and determining if the ratio is greater than a threshold value, and if so, determining that there is no congestion. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises decoding an assignment message, wherein said assignment message comprises a congestion flag, and determining that there is congestion if the congestion flag is set. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises waiting for a waiting time before performing another attempt to determine whether there is congestion or not. 
     
     
         16 . A memory storing a computer program comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by a data-processing system, causes the data processing system to:
 read a series of blocks on a first channel;   determine whether there is congestion on the basis of the series of blocks; and   in the event that the determination is that there is no congestion, to initiate an access procedure by transmitting a channel request on a second channel.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , the controller with the memory and the computer program being further arranged to determine whether there is congestion based on whether said series of blocks comprises a flag indicating that there is congestion. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the flag indicating there is congestion is in at least one of an IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT message or an IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT message. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first channel is an access grant channel and the second channel is a random access channel. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein determining whether there is congestion comprises checking said series of blocks for a flag indicating that there is congestion. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the flag indicating there is congestion is in at least one of an IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT message or an IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT message. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the first channel is an access grant channel and the second channel is a random access channel. 
     
     
         24 . The memory according to  claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions, when executed, causes the data processing system to determine whether there is congestion based on whether said series of blocks comprises a flag indicating that there is congestion. 
     
     
         25 . The memory according to  claim 24 , wherein the flag indicating there is congestion is in at least one of an IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT message or an IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT message. 
     
     
         26 . The memory according to  claim 16 , wherein the first channel is an access granted channel and the second channel is a random access channel.