Downlink scheduling across a cellular carrier aggregation
Various systems and methods for scheduling data transmissions from a base station to user equipment (UE) are presented. Channel quality indicator values that correspond to multiple UE may be determined for multiple carrier components of a cellular network's carrier aggregation. A scheduling matrix may be created that includes instantaneous data transfer rates for the UE. Elements within the scheduling matrix may be normalized by modifying instantaneous data transmission rates using average data transmission rates. Scheduling decisions for data transfers may be made for the UE based on the normalized scheduling matrix.
1. A method for scheduling cellular data transmissions, the method comprising:
determining a plurality of channel quality indicator (CQI) values that correspond to a plurality of user equipment (UE) communicating with a base station (BS);
creating a scheduling matrix comprising a plurality of elements storing a plurality of data transfer rates based on the determined plurality of CQI values, wherein:
a first dimension of the scheduling matrix corresponds to a plurality of physical resource blocks (PRBs); and
a second dimension of the scheduling matrix corresponds to the plurality of UE;
removing an entry from the scheduling matrix for a UE that corresponds to a carrier component of a plurality of carrier components that is ineligible for use by the UE due to insufficient signal strength of the carrier component for the UE;
after removing the entry from the scheduling matrix for the UE that correspond to the carrier component of the plurality of carrier components that is ineligible for use by the UE due to insufficient signal strength of the carrier component for the UE, normalizing elements of the plurality of elements of the scheduling matrix by modifying the plurality of data transfer rates based on a plurality of average data transfer rates; and
performing data transfers with the plurality of UE by the BS based on the normalized scheduling matrix that has the entry removed.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the BS uses 5G New Radio (NR) Radio Access Technology (RAT) for the data transfers with the plurality of UE.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing a second entry from the scheduling matrix for a second UE that correspond to a second carrier component of the plurality of carrier components that is outside of a bandwidth part (BWP) definition active for the second UE.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the entry from the scheduling matrix for the UE comprises setting the entry to zero in the scheduling matrix.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein for each UE of the plurality of UE, a CQI value of the plurality of CQI values is determined that corresponds to each carrier component that makes up a carrier aggregation.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying an element of the plurality of elements of the scheduling matrix that has a maximum value among the plurality of elements.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
assigning a PRB of the plurality of PRBs that corresponds to the element to the UE of the plurality of UE that corresponds to the element.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
determining that no additional PRB is needed for data transmission to the UE for which the PRB is assigned; and
removing all other entries for the UE within the scheduling matrix in response to determining that no additional PRB is needed for data transmission to the UE.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining that an additional PRB is needed for data transmission to the UE for which the PRB is assigned; and
updating the data transfer rates for other elements mapped to the UE within the scheduling matrix in response to determining that the additional PRB is needed for data transmission to the UE.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein updating the data transfer rate comprises other entries mapped to the UE in the scheduling matrix being decreased in magnitude.
11. A system for scheduling cellular data transmissions, the system comprising:
a cellular network comprising a base station (BS), wherein the cellular network is configured to:
determine a plurality of channel quality indicator (CQI) values that correspond to a plurality of user equipment (UE) communicating with the BS;
create a scheduling matrix comprising a plurality of elements storing a plurality of data transfer rates, wherein:
a first dimension of the scheduling matrix corresponds to a physical resource block (PRB) of a plurality of PRBs; and
a second dimension of the scheduling matrix corresponds to a UE of the plurality of UE;
remove an entry from the scheduling matrix for a UE that corresponds to a carrier component of a plurality of carrier components that is ineligible for use by the UE due to insufficient signal strength of the carrier component for the UE;
after removing the entry from the scheduling matrix for the UE that correspond to the carrier component of the plurality of carrier components that is ineligible for use by the UE due to insufficient signal strength of the carrier component for the UE, normalize elements of the plurality of elements of the scheduling matrix by modifying the plurality of data transfer rates based on a plurality of average data transfer rates; and
perform data transfers to the plurality of UE by the BS based on the normalized scheduling matrix that has the entry removed.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the cellular network further comprises the plurality of UE and the cellular network comprises a plurality of base stations.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the base station is a gNodeB and the cellular network is a 5G New Radio (NR) radio access technology (RAT) cellular network.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the cellular network is further configured to:
identify an element of the plurality of elements of the scheduling matrix that has a maximum value among the plurality of elements; and
assign the PRB of the plurality of PRBs that corresponds to the element to the UE of the plurality of UE that corresponds to the element.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the cellular network is further configured to:
determine that no additional PRB is needed for data transmission to the UE for which the PRB is assigned; and
remove all other entries for the UE within the scheduling matrix in response to determining that no additional PRB is needed for data transmission to the UE.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein removing all the other entries for the UE comprises setting all the other entries to zero for the UE within the scheduling matrix.
17. A non-transitory processor-readable medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:
determine a plurality of channel quality indicator (CQI) values that correspond to a plurality of user equipment (UE) communicating with a base station;
create a scheduling matrix comprising a plurality of elements storing a plurality of data transfer rates, wherein:
a first dimension of the scheduling matrix corresponds to a physical resource block (PRB) of a plurality of PRBs; and
a second dimension of the scheduling matrix corresponds to a UE of the plurality of UE;
remove an entry from the scheduling matrix for a UE that corresponds to a carrier component of a plurality of carrier components that is ineligible for use by the UE due to insufficient signal strength of the carrier component for the UE;
after removing the entry from the scheduling matrix for the UE that correspond to the carrier component of the plurality of carrier components that is ineligible for use by the UE due to insufficient signal strength of the carrier component for the UE, normalize elements of the plurality of elements of the scheduling matrix by modifying the plurality of data transfer rates based on a plurality of average data transfer rates; and
perform data transfers to the plurality of UE by the base station based on the normalized scheduling matrix that has the entry removed.
18. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:
remove a second entry from the scheduling matrix for a second UE that correspond to a second carrier component of the plurality of carrier components that is outside of a bandwidth part (BWP) definition active for the second UE.
19. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein communication between the base station and the plurality of UE uses 5G New Radio (NR) Radio Access Technology (RAT) for the data transfers.