IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,445,888
Granted Patent B2
US 12,445,888 · App. 18/014,183 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

QoE measurement handling at overload in RAN

Inventors: Luca Lunardi (Genoa, IT); Johan Rune (Lidingö, SE); Ali Parichehrehteroujeni (Linköping, SE); Filip Barac (Huddinge, SE); Cecilia Eklöf (Täby, SE); Angelo Centonza (Torrenueva Costa, ES)
Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
H04W24/10H04W28/0284H04W28/0289
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,445,888
App. No.
18/014,183
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for Quality of Experience (QoE) measurements handling at overload in a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a cellular communications system. In one embodiment, a method performed by a first RAN node for handling QoE measurement configuration and/or reporting during RAN overload comprises performing one or more actions related to one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration, QoE measurement reporting, or both QoE measurement configuration and QoE measurement reporting that mitigate an RAN overload condition. In one embodiment, performing the one or more actions comprises performing one or more actions related to transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration from the first RAN node to a second RAN node, transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement reporting from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or both.

Claims (69)

1. A method performed by a first Radio Access Network, RAN, node for handling Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configuration and/or reporting during RAN overload, the method comprising:

performing one or more actions related to one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration, QoE measurement reporting, or both QoE measurement configuration and QoE measurement reporting that mitigate an RAN overload condition;

wherein performing the one or more actions comprises performing one or more actions related to transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration from the first RAN node to a second RAN node, transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement reporting from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or both;

wherein performing one or more actions related to transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration from the first RAN node to a second RAN node, transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement reporting from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or both comprises:

performing one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node,

performing one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration update(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or

performing both one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node and one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration update(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second RAN nodes are of the same Radio Access Technology, RAT.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second RAN nodes are of different Radio Access Technologies, RATs.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein performing one or more actions related to transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration from the first RAN node to a second RAN node, transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement reporting from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or both comprises:

performing one or more actions to transfer responsibility of receiving QoE measurement report(s) from one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second RAN node is selected as part of a mobility procedure.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein, for a UE served by an Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, node, performing one or more actions related to transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration from the first RAN node to a second RAN node, transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement reporting from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or both comprises:

changing a backhaul path used for delivery of QoE measurement configuration(s) for the UE;

changing a backhaul path used for delivery of QoE measurement reports for the UE; or

changing a backhaul path used for delivery of QoE measurement configuration(s) and QoE measurement reports for the UE.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the one or more actions comprises performing one or more actions either responsive to determining that a RAN overload condition exists or prior to a RAN overload condition.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the RAN overload condition is an entire RAN overload condition or a partial RAN overload condition.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending, to a UE, an indication of how the UE is to operate with respect to QoE measurement and/or QoE reporting in the event of a RAN overload condition.

10. A method performed by a first Radio Access Network, RAN, node for handling Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configuration and/or reporting during RAN overload, the method comprising:

performing one or more actions related to one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration, QoE measurement reporting, or both QoE measurement configuration and QoE measurement reporting that mitigate an RAN overload condition;

wherein performing the one or more actions comprises:

modifying QoE measurement configurations;

modifying QoE reporting attributes; or

modifying both QoE measurement configurations and QoE reporting attributes;

wherein performing one or more actions related to transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration from the first RAN node to a second RAN node, transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement reporting from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or both comprises:

performing one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node,

performing one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration update(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or

performing both one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node and one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration update(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein performing the one or more actions comprises:

stopping, delaying, or pausing pending QoE measurement configurations for one or more services;

stopping, delaying, or pausing pending QoE measurement configurations for one or more UEs; or

stopping, delaying, or pausing pending QoE measurement configurations for one or more services and stopping, delaying, or pausing pending QoE measurement configurations for one or more UEs.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein performing the one or more actions comprises changing the configuration of one or more or all UEs configured for QoE measurement in a respective cell from autonomous QoE measurement reporting to request-based QoE measurement reporting.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein performing the one or more actions comprises instructing one or more UEs to store QoE measurements up to a certain limit, the certain limit defined in terms of size, time, or number of reports.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein performing the one or more actions comprises sending an overload indication to another network entity.

15. A method performed by a first Radio Access Network, RAN, node for handling Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configuration and/or reporting during RAN overload, the method comprising:

performing one or more actions related to one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration, QoE measurement reporting, or both QoE measurement configuration and QoE measurement reporting that mitigate an RAN overload condition;

wherein the first RAN node is an Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, donor node, and performing the one or more actions comprises performing the one or more actions responsive to RAN overload on one or more intermediate IAB nodes between the IAB donor node and one or more User Equipments, UEs;

wherein performing one or more actions related to transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration from the first RAN node to a second RAN node, transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement reporting from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or both comprises:

performing one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node,

performing one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration update(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or

performing both one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node and one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration update(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein performing the one or more actions comprises changing a route on which QoE measurement configurations are carried, a route on which QoE measurement reports are carried, or a route on which both QoE measurement configurations and QoE measurement reports are carried.

17. A method performed by a first Radio Access Network, RAN, node for handling Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configuration and/or reporting during RAN overload, the method comprising:

performing one or more actions related to one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration, QoE measurement reporting, or both QoE measurement configuration and QoE measurement reporting that mitigate an RAN overload condition;

wherein performing the one or more actions comprises performing one or more actions related to transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration from a first resource of the first RAN node to a second resource of the first RAN node, transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement reporting from a first resource of the first RAN node to a second resource of the first RAN node, or both;

wherein performing one or more actions related to transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration from the first RAN node to a second RAN node, transfer of one or more aspects of QoE measurement reporting from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or both comprises:

performing one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node,

performing one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration update(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node, or

performing both one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node and one or more actions to transfer responsibility of sending QoE measurement configuration update(s) for one or more UEs from the first RAN node to the second RAN node.

18. A method performed by a first Radio Access Network, RAN, node for handling Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configuration and/or reporting during RAN overload, the method comprising:

receiving, from a User Equipment, UE, an indication that buffered data at the UE for uplink transmission comprises a QoE measurement report; and

performing one or more actions related to one or more aspects of QoE measurement configuration, QoE measurement reporting, or both QoE measurement configuration and QoE measurement reporting that mitigate an RAN overload condition;

wherein performing the one or more actions comprises, responsive to receiving the indication that the buffered data at the UE for uplink transmission comprises a QoE measurement report, performing a deviation action, the deviation action being an action that deviates from a normal action taken by the first RAN node when buffered data at the UE for uplink transmission does not comprise a QoE measurement report;

wherein the deviation action comprises:

ignoring an associated scheduling request;

transmitting a downlink control information to the UE that informs the UE that no uplink transmission resources will be allocated for transmission of the QoE measurement report;

transmitting a downlink control information to the UE that instructs the UE to refrain from requesting uplink transmission resources for the purpose of transmitting QoE measurement reports for a certain time period or until further notice;

transmitting a downlink control information to the UE that instructs the UE to stop, delay, or pause QoE measurement reporting;

transmitting a downlink control information to the UE that instructs the UE to store QoE reports;

transmitting a downlink control information to the UE that instructs the UE to enter a mode of operation in which the UE sends QoE measurement reports upon request;

transmitting a Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE, to the UE that instructs the UE to stop, delay, or pause QoE measurement reporting;

transmitting a MAC CE to the UE that instructs the UE to store QoE measurement reports;

transmitting a MAC CE to the UE that instructs the UE to enter a mode of operation in which the UE sends QoE measurement reports upon request;

transmitting a Radio Resource Control, RRC, message to the UE that instructs the UE to stop, delay, or pause QoE measurement reporting;

transmitting a RRC message to the UE that instructs the UE to store QoE measurement reports;

transmitting a RRC message to the UE that instructs the UE to enter a mode of operation in which the UE sends QoE measurement reports upon request; or

transmitting a downlink control channel to the UE that contains an uplink grant and an indication to the UE that the UE is not allowed to utilize the uplink grant for transmission of the QoE measurement report.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2023
From: LUNARDI, LUCA; RUNE, JOHAN; PARICHEHREHTEROUJENI, ALI; BARAC, FILIP; EKLÖF, CECILIA; CENTONZA, ANGELO
To: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
Reel/Frame 062255/0161 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63047988 · Jul 3, 2020
Related Publication 20230319616A1 · Oct 5, 2023
References Cited (35)
US 10455459B2 · Hahn · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20130064120A1 · Bodog · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20200092762A1 · Shi · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200162949A1 · He · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210075864A1 · Sun · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20230080089A1 · Hu · 2023 [cited by examiner]
WO 2019096292A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020128657A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2022005379A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; System architecture for the 5G System (5GS); Stage 2 (Release 16),” Technical Specification 23.501, Version 16.4.0, Mar. 2020, 3GPP Organizatio… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Radio Resource Control (RRC); Protocol specification (Release 16),” Technical Specification 25.331, Version 16.0.0, Mar. 2020, 3GPP Organizational Par… [cited by applicant]
Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Telecommunication management; Quality of Experience (QoE) measurement collection; Control and configuration (Release 16), Technical Specification 28.405, Versio… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Telecommunication management; Quality of Experience (QoE) measurement collection; Control and configuration (Release 16),” Technical Specificat… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; 3G security; Network Domain Security (NDS); IP network layer security (Release 16),” Technical Specification 33.210, Version 16.3.0, Mar. 2020,… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Security architecture and procedures for 5G system (Release 16),” Technical Specification 33.501, Version 16.2.0, Mar. 2020, 3GPP Organizationa… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN); Overall description; Stage 2 (Re… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Radio Resource Control (RRC); Protocol specification (Release 16),” Technical Specification 36.33… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-Utran); X2 application protocol (X2AP) (Release 16),” Technical Specification 36.423, Version 16… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; NR and NG-RAN Overall Description; Stage 2 (Release 16),” Technical Specification 38.300, Version 16.1.0, Mar. 2020, 3GPP Organizational Partners,… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification (Release 16),” Technical Specification 38.331, Version 16.0.0, Mar. 2020, 3GPP Organizational … [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Backhaul Adaptation Protocol (BAP) specification (Release 16),” Technical Specification 38.340, Version 16.0.0, Mar. 2020, 3GPP Organizational Par… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; Architecture description (Release 16),” Technical Specification 38.401, Version 16.1.0, Mar. 2020, 3GPP Organizational Partners, 50 pages. [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; Xn application protocol (XnAP) (Release 16),” Technical Specification 38.423, Version 16.1.0, Mar. 2020, 3GPP Organizational Partners, 334 pag… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; E1 Application Protocol (E1AP) (Release 16),” Technical Specification 38.463, Version 16.0.0, Dec. 2019, 3GPP Organizational Partners, 190 pag… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; E1 Application Protocol (E1AP) (Release 16), ” Technical Specification 38.463, Version 16.1.1, Apr. 2020, 3GPP Organizational Partners, 191 pa… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; F1 application protocol (F1AP) (Release 16),” Technical Specification 38.473, Version 16.0.0, Dec. 2019, 3GPP Organizational Partners, 239 pag… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; F1 application protocol (F1AP) (Release 16),” Technical Specification 38.473, Version 16.1.0, Mar. 2020, 3GPP Organizational Partners, 240 pag… [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Study on Integrated Access and Backhaul; (Release 16),” Technical Report 38.874, Version 16.0.0, Dec. 2018, 3GPP Organizational Partners, 111 page… [cited by applicant]
Qualcomm, “RP-182882: New WID: Integrated Access and Backhaul for NR,” 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #82, Dec. 10-13, 2018, Sorrento, Italy, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Ericsson, “R2-1912638: Discussion on incoming LS for QoE measurement collection in LTE,” 3GPP TSG RAN WG2 #107bis, Oct. 14-18, 2019, Chongqing, China, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Ericsson, “R2-2004624: QoE measurement collection additions,” 3GPP TSG RAN2 Meeting #110, Jun. 1-12, 2020. Electronic Meeting, 80 pages. [cited by applicant]
Samsung, “R2-1901067: Security framework for the NR integrated access backhaul,” 3GPP TSG-RAN WG2 Meeting #105, Feb. 25-Mar. 1, 2019, Athens, Greece, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
SA4, “S4-200962: LS Reply on QoE Measurement Collection,” 3GPP TSG-SA4 Meeting #109-e, May 20-Jun. 3, 2019, Electronic Meeting, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Patent Application No. PCT/SE2021/050641, mailed Sep. 29, 2021, 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
Author Unknown, “Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Telecommunication management; Quality of Experience (QoE) measurement collection; Control and configuration (Release 16),” Technical Specificat… [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 12,628,025