Method and apparatus for allocating sounding resources in a wireless network

1. A computing apparatus for use in an access node, the computing apparatus comprising:

processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor and storing programming instructions which, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to:

determine a first device state based on a device state model and first device information, wherein the device state model comprises a finite number of states,

determine a first target sounding configuration for the first device information based on the first device state,

output the first target sounding configuration,

determine a second device state based on the device state model and a second device information,

determine a second target sounding configuration, wherein the second target sounding configuration comprises fewer sounding resources than a current sounding configuration of the second device information, and

when available sounding resources for a cell are insufficient to support the first target sounding configuration, output the second target sounding configuration to increase the available sounding resources in the cell.

2. The computing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

determine the first device state based on an amount of data in a transmit buffer.

3. The computing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

move the first device state to a higher buffer state when the amount of data in the transmit buffer exceeds a first predetermined threshold for a first predetermined period of time; and

move the first device state to a lower buffer state when the amount of data in the transmit buffer drops below a second predetermined threshold for a second predetermined period of time.

4. The computing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

determine the first device state based on an amount of data in the transmit buffer, an amount of data transmitted, and a traffic type.

5. The computing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

determine the first device state based on:

a current quantity of resource blocks in the first device information and a past quantity of resource blocks in the first device information, or

a current frequency of data transmissions in the first device information and a past frequency of data transmissions in the first device information.

6. The computing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

estimate a device information value for a next time period based on one or more past device information values to generate an estimated device information value; and

determine a resource block state based on the estimated device information value.

7. The computing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

determine a first priority for the first device information based on the first device state and the first device information;

determine a second priority for the second device information based on the second device state and the second device information;

assign the first device information to a promotion list when a current sounding configuration of the first device information comprises fewer sounding resources than the first target sounding configuration; and

assign the second device information to a demotion list when the current sounding configuration of the second device information comprises more sounding resources than the second target sounding configuration.

8. The computing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

determine the first priority for the first device based on at least one of a received signal strength, a power headroom, or a location of a mobile device.

9. The computing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

determine the first priority of the first device based on at least one of an amount of transmission resources, an uplink channel condition, or a quality of service of the mobile device.

10. The computing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

remove the first device information from the promotion list when the first priority comprises a highest priority of the promotion list;

output the first target sounding configuration; and

when there are insufficient sounding resources available in a cell to support the first target sounding configuration:

remove the second device information from the demotion list when the second priority comprises a lowest priority of the demotion list, and

output the second target sounding configuration.

11. The computing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

initiate the determination of the target sounding configuration based on a timer.

12. The computing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, further instruct the processor to:

initiate the determination of the target sounding configuration based on an event, wherein the event comprises a disconnection of a mobile device from a cell.

13. A method implemented by a computing apparatus for allocating sounding resources, the method comprising:

determining, by the computing apparatus, a first device state based on a device state model and first device information, wherein the first device state model comprises a finite number of states;

determining, by the computing apparatus, a first target sounding configuration for the first device information based on the first device state;

outputting, by the computing apparatus, the first target sounding configuration;

determining, by the computing apparatus, a second device state based on the device state model and a second device information;

determining, by the computing apparatus, a second target sounding configuration, wherein the second target sounding configuration comprises fewer sounding resources than a current sounding configuration of the second device information; and

when available sounding resources for a cell are insufficient to support the first target sounding configuration, outputting, by the computing apparatus, the second target sounding configuration to increase the available sounding resources in the cell.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining, by the computing apparatus, the first device state based on an amount of data in a transmit buffer.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining, by the computing apparatus, the first device state based on an amount of data in the transmit buffer, an amount of data transmitted, and a traffic type.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining, by the computing apparatus, the first device state based on at least one of:

a current quantity of resource blocks in the first device information and a past quantity of resource blocks in the first device information, or

a current frequency of data transmission in the first device information and a past frequency of data transmissions in the first device information.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

estimating, by the computing apparatus, a device information value for a next time period based on one or more past device information values; and

determining, by the computing apparatus, the resource block state based on the estimated device information value.