Intra-qci scheduler and method for intra-qci scheduling in a wireless access network

Abstract

Embodiments of an intra-QCI scheduler and method for assisted intra-QCI scheduling are generally described herein for operating within a wireless access network in which data flows are mapped to bearers using quality-of-service (QoS) class identifiers (QCIs). In some embodiments, the intra-QCI scheduler may classify packets of one or more data flows having a same QCI with a sub-QCI based on intra-QCI classification information received from user equipment (UE). The sub-QCI may indicate a scheduling priority for packets of data flows having the same QCI. The intra-QCI scheduler may schedule packets for downlink transmission over a radio bearer between the eNodeB and the UE based on the sub-QCI. The use of sub-QCIs allows the eNodeB to provide QoS support for data flows of applications that have been mapped to a default bearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An evolved Node B (eNodeB) to operate within a wireless access network in which data flows are mapped to bearers using quality-of-service (QoS) class identifiers (QCIs), the eNodeB comprising:
 an intra-QCI scheduler to classify packets of one or more data flows having a same QCI with a sub-QCI based on intra-QCI classification information received from user equipment (UE), the sub-QCI indicating a scheduling priority for packets of data flows having the same QCI,   wherein the intra-QCI scheduler is to schedule packets for downlink transmission over a radio bearer based on the sub-QCI.   
     
     
         2 . The eNodeB of  claim 1 , further comprising an inter-QCI scheduler,
 wherein the inter-QCI scheduler and the intra-QCI scheduler operate within a medium-access control (MAC) layer of the eNodeB, and   wherein the inter-QCI scheduler is to allocate bandwidth grants for scheduling packets for transmission over the radio bearer based on the QCI of a packet's data flow, and   wherein after the allocation by the inter-QCI scheduler, the intra-QCI scheduler is to schedule packets for which a grant was allocated for transmission over the radio bearer based on the sub-QCI.   
     
     
         3 . The eNodeB of  claim 2 , wherein the intra-QCI classification information provided by the UE includes the sub-QCIs associated with one or more of intra-flow classification information or inter-flow classification information,
 wherein the inter-flow classification information comprises internet-protocol (IP) header field information including one or more of source addresses, destination addresses, source ports, destination ports, or protocol types, and   wherein the intra-flow classification information comprises one or more of packet size or payload information.   
     
     
         4 . The eNodeB of  claim 2 , wherein the intra-QCI scheduler is further configured to classify packets of different data flows having the same QCI using the intra-QCI classification information, and
 wherein packets of a first data flow are classified with a first sub-QCI and packets of a second data flow are classified with a second sub-QCI, the first sub-QCI having a lower scheduling priority than the second sub-QCI.   
     
     
         5 . The eNodeB of  claim 2 , wherein the QCIs include a predetermined QCI for use with a default bearer,
 wherein for data flows of the default bearer having the predetermined QCI, the intra-QCI scheduler is further configured to:   classify packets of data flows having the predetermined QCI and associated with at least some non-real-time applications with the first sub-QCI; and   classify packets of data flows having the predetermined QCI and associated with at least some real-time applications with the second sub-QCI,   wherein the intra-QCI scheduler is to give scheduling priority to packets classified with the second sub-QCI over packets classified with the first sub-QCI.   
     
     
         6 . The eNodeB of  claim 5 , wherein packets of the data flows having the predetermined QCI are delivered over-the-top (OTT) using a default bearer,
 wherein the intra-QCI classification information provided by the UE indicates to the intra-QCI scheduler how to classify different data flows of the default bearer with the sub-QCI.   
     
     
         7 . The eNodeB of  claim 6 , wherein the wireless access network is a 3GPP Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Long-Term-Evolution (LTE) network (E-UTRAN), and the QCI of the default bearer is nine, in accordance with 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 23.203. 
     
     
         8 . The eNodeB of  claim 1 , wherein the QCIs include a predetermined QCI for use with a default bearer,
 wherein for a same data flow of the default bearer having the predetermined QCI, the intra-QCI scheduler is further configured to classify packets associated with a predetermined destination port based at least in part on packet size.   
     
     
         9 . The eNodeB of  claim 1 , wherein the intra-QCI scheduler is to schedule packets based on the sub-QCIs under predetermined network conditions and is to refrain from using the sub-QCIs when the predetermined network conditions do not exist. 
     
     
         10 . The eNodeB of  claim 1 , wherein the eNodeB is further configured to:
 send a message to the UE to indicate support of UE-assisted intra-QCI scheduling, the message indicating the sub-QCIs supported for at least one or more QCIs;   receive a message from the UE indicating that the UE has activated intra-QCI scheduling, the received message including the intra-QCI classification information; and   perform intra-QCI scheduling for downlink packets based on the intra-QCI classification information provided by the UE.   
     
     
         11 . A method for scheduling packets for transmission over a radio bearer within a wireless access network in which data flows are mapped to bearers using quality-of-service (QoS) class identifiers (QCIs), the method comprising:
 receiving intra-QCI classification information provided from user equipment (UE);   classifying packets of data flows having a same QCI with a sub-QCI based on the intra-QCI classification information, the sub-QCI indicating a scheduling priority for packets of data flows having the same QCI; and   scheduling the packets for downlink transmission over the radio bearer based on the sub-QCI wherein bandwidth grants are allocated based on the QCI of a packet's data flow.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method is performed by an intra-QCI scheduler of an enhanced Node B (eNodeB) for UE-assisted intra-QCI scheduling, and
 wherein the method further comprises:   sending a message to the UE to indicate support of UE-assisted intra-QCI scheduling, the message indicating sub-classes supported for at least one or more QCIs;   receiving a message from the UE indicating that the UE has activated intra-QCI scheduling, the received message indicating the intra-QCI classification information; and   performing intra-QCI scheduling of packets based on the intra-QCI classification information provided by the UE,   wherein intra-QCI scheduling includes the classifying and the scheduling.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the intra-QCI classification information provided by the UE includes the sub-QCIs associated with one or more of intra-flow classification information or inter-flow classification information,
 wherein the inter-flow classification information comprises internet-protocol (IP) header field information including one or more of source addresses, destination addresses, source ports, destination ports or protocol types, and   wherein the intra-flow classification information comprises one or more of packet size or payload information.   
     
     
         14 . User equipment (UE) to operate within a wireless access network in which data flows are mapped to bearers using quality-of-service (QoS) class identifiers (QCIs), the UE comprising:
 an intra-QCI scheduler arranged to classify packets of data flows having a same QCI with a sub-QCI based intra-QCI classification information, the sub-QCI indicating a scheduling priority for packets having a same QCI,   wherein the intra-QCI scheduler is to schedule packets for uplink transmission over a radio bearer based on the sub-QCI, and   wherein the intra-QCI scheduler is to determine the intra-QCI classification information for classifying packets with sub-QCIs based on one or more data flow parameters or one or more packet characteristics.   
     
     
         15 . The UE of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 physical layer circuitry to receive a message from an enhanced Node B (eNodeB) indicating support of UE-assisted intra-QCI scheduling, the message indicating the sub-QCIs supported for at least one or more QCIs, the physical layer circuitry to transmit a message to the eNodeB indicating that the UE has activated intra-QCI scheduling, the transmitted message including the intra-QCI classification information for use by the eNodeB in performing intra-QCI scheduling for downlink packets.   
     
     
         16 . The UE of  claim 14 , wherein the intra-QCI classification information generated by the UE includes the sub-QCIs associated with one or more of intra-flow classification information or inter-flow classification information,
 wherein the inter-flow classification information comprises internet-protocol (IP) header field information including one or more of source addresses, destination addresses, source ports, destination ports or protocol types; and   wherein the intra-flow classification information comprises one or more of packet size or payload information.   
     
     
         17 . A medium-access control (MAC) layer scheduler to operate within a wireless access network in which data flows are mapped to bearers using quality-of-service (QoS) class identifiers (QCIs), the MAC layer scheduler comprising:
 an intra-QCI scheduler to classify packets of one or more data flows having a same QCI with a sub-QCI based on intra-QCI classification information received from user equipment (UE), the sub-QCI indicating a scheduling priority for packets of data flows having the same QCI; and   an inter-QCI scheduler to allocate bandwidth grants for scheduling packets for transmission over a radio bearer based on the QCI of the packet's data flow,   wherein the intra-QCI scheduler is to schedule packets for downlink transmission for which a grant was allocated over the radio bearer based on the sub-QCI.   
     
     
         18 . The MAC layer scheduler of  claim 17 , wherein the intra-QCI scheduler is to classify packets of two or more data flows mapped to a default bearer based on the sub-QCIs. 
     
     
         19 . The MAC layer scheduler of  claim 18 , wherein the intra-QCI classification information provided by the UE includes the sub-QCIs associated with one or more of intra-flow classification information and inter-flow classification information,
 wherein the inter-flow classification information comprises header field information including one or more of source addresses, destination addresses, source ports, destination ports of protocol types, and   wherein the intra-flow classification information comprises one or more of packet size or payload information.   
     
     
         20 . The MAC layer scheduler of  claim 18 , wherein the QCIs include a predetermined QCI for use with a default bearer,
 wherein for data flows of the default bearer having the predetermined QCI, the intra-QCI scheduler is further configured to:   classify packets of data flows having the predetermined QCI and associated with at least some non-real-time applications with the first sub-QCI; and   classify packets of data flows having the predetermined QCI and associated with at least some real-time applications with the second sub-QCI,   wherein the intra-QCI scheduler is to give scheduling priority to packets classified with the second sub-QCI over packets classified with the first sub-QCI.   
     
     
         21 . The MAC layer scheduler of  claim 20 , wherein packets of the data flows having the predetermined QCI are delivered over-the-top (OTT) using a default bearer,
 wherein the intra-QCI classification information provided by the UE indicates to the intra-QCI scheduler how to classify different data flows of the default bearer with the sub-QCI.