Methods, systems, and computer readable media for dynamically controlling a turbo decoding process in a long term evolution (LTE) multi-user equipment (UE) traffic simulator

1. A method for dynamically controlling a Turbo decoding process in a long term evolution (LTE) multi-user equipment (UE) traffic simulator, the method comprising:

in an LTE traffic simulator configured to simulate plural UE devices:

receiving, from an evolved NodeB under test, a plurality of transport blocks;

dynamically determining a maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks using an expected number of Turbo decoding iterations determined for each of the transport blocks, wherein dynamically determining a maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks includes maintaining a running count of available Turbo decoding iterations associated with the LTE traffic simulator during a Turbo decoding process and dynamically allocating the available Turbo decoding iterations to each of the transport blocks in proportion to the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks; and

Turbo decoding each of the transport blocks for no more than its determined maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein dynamically determining the maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks includes:

determining, for each of the transport blocks, the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations;

calculating a total expected resource utilization based on the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks;

determining whether the total expected resource utilization exceeds a specified maximum resource utilization for the multi-UE traffic simulator; and

in response to determining that the total expected resource utilization exceeds the specified maximum resource utilization for the multi-UE traffic simulator, assigning a maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations to each of the transport blocks in proportion to its expected number of Turbo decoding iterations.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations is determined based on at least one of a code rate associated with the transport block and a channel condition associated with the transport block.

4. A method for dynamically controlling a Turbo decoding process in a long term evolution (LTE) multi-user equipment (UE) traffic simulator, the method comprising:

in an LTE traffic simulator configured to simulate plural UE devices:

receiving, from an evolved NodeB under test, a plurality of transport blocks;

dynamically determining a maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks; and

Turbo decoding each of the transport blocks for no more than its determined maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations, wherein dynamically determining the maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks includes:

building a transport block descriptor for each of the transport blocks; and

while building each of the transport block descriptors:

assigning an expected number of Turbo decoding iterations to each transport block;

maintaining a current total of expected resource utilization based on the number of expected Turbo decoding iterations assigned;

determining whether the current total of expected resource utilization has reached a predetermined portion of a specified maximum resource utilization for the multi-UE traffic simulator; and

in response to determining that the current total of expected resource utilization has reached the predetermined portion of the specified maximum resource utilization for the multi-UE traffic simulator, assigning a reduced portion of an expected number of Turbo decoding iterations to each remaining transport block.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations is assigned based on at least one of a code rate associated with the transport block and a channel condition associated with the transport block.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein dynamically determining the maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks includes, while Turbo decoding each of the transport blocks, maintaining a total number of Turbo decoding iterations performed and allocating any unused Turbo decoding iterations to remaining transport blocks.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the transport blocks comprises a plurality of code blocks and wherein Turbo decoding each of the transport blocks for no more than its determined maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations includes dynamically allocating the determined maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each transport block among its plurality of code blocks.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least two of the transport blocks are associated with distinct UEs simulated by the LTE traffic simulator.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the transport blocks comprise LTE physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transport blocks.

10. A system for simulating plural user equipment (UE) devices and dynamically controlling a Turbo decoding process, the system comprising:

a long term evolution (LTE) multi-UE traffic simulator including:

a communication interface configured to receive, from an evolved NodeB under test, a plurality of transport blocks;

a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to dynamically determine a maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks using an expected number of Turbo decoding iterations determined for each of the transport blocks, wherein dynamically determining a maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks includes maintaining a running count of available Turbo decoding iterations associated with the LTE traffic simulator during a Turbo decoding process and dynamically allocating the available Turbo decoding iterations to each of the transport blocks in proportion to the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks; and

a Turbo decoder configured to decode each of the transport blocks for no more than its determined maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the DSP is configured to:

determine, for each of the transport blocks, the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations;

calculate a total expected resource utilization based on the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks;

determine whether the total expected resource utilization exceeds a specified maximum resource utilization for the multi-UE traffic simulator; and

in response to determining that the total expected resource utilization exceeds the specified maximum resource utilization for the multi-UE traffic simulator, assign a maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations to each of the transport blocks in proportion to its expected number of Turbo decoding iterations.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the DSP is configured to determine the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations based on at least one of a code rate associated with the transport block and a channel condition associated with the transport block.

13. A system for simulating plural user equipment (UE) devices and dynamically controlling a Turbo decoding process, the system comprising:

a long term evolution (LTE) multi-UE traffic simulator including:

a communication interface configured to receive, from an evolved NodeB under test, a plurality of transport blocks;

a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to dynamically determine a maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks; and

a Turbo decoder configured to decode each of the transport blocks for no more than its determined maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations,

wherein the DSP is configured to:

build a transport block descriptor for each of the transport blocks; and

while building each of the transport block descriptors:

assign an expected number of Turbo decoding iterations to each transport block;

maintain a current total of expected resource utilization based on the number of expected Turbo decoding iterations assigned;

determine whether the current total of expected resource utilization has reached a predetermined portion of a specified maximum resource utilization for the multi-UE traffic simulator; and

in response to determining that the current total of expected resource utilization has reached the predetermined portion of the specified maximum resource utilization for the multi-UE traffic simulator, assign a reduced portion of an expected number of Turbo decoding iterations to each remaining transport block.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the DSP is configured to assign the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations based on at least one of a code rate associated with the transport block and a channel condition associated with the transport block.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the Turbo decoder is configured to, while Turbo decoding each of the transport blocks, maintain a total number of Turbo decoding iterations performed and allocate any unused Turbo decoding iterations to remaining transport blocks.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein each of the transport blocks comprises a plurality of code blocks and wherein the Turbo decoder is configured to dynamically allocate the determined maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each transport block among its plurality of code blocks.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein at least two of the transport blocks are associated with distinct UEs simulated by the LTE traffic simulator.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the transport blocks comprise LTE physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transport blocks.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

in a long term evolution (LTE) traffic simulator configured to simulate plural UE devices:

receiving, from an evolved NodeB under test, a plurality of transport blocks;

dynamically determining a maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks using an expected number of Turbo decoding iterations determined for each of the transport blocks, wherein dynamically determining a maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks includes maintaining a running count of available Turbo decoding iterations associated with the LTE traffic simulator during a Turbo decoding process and dynamically allocating the available Turbo decoding iterations to each of the transport blocks in proportion to the expected number of Turbo decoding iterations for each of the transport blocks; and

Turbo decoding each of the transport blocks for no more than its determined maximum number of Turbo decoding iterations.