Evaluation of throughput of aggregated connections

1. A method, comprising

evaluating, at a network node and per communication endpoint at individual ones of user equipments, performance of carrier aggregation for the user equipments, the evaluating using throughput of individual ones of a primary connection and at least one activated secondary connection per communication endpoint aggregating one primary connection and at least one secondary connection, the evaluating comprising

determining, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a transmission volume, the transmission volume being a total transmission volume of both the primary connection and at least one activated secondary connection,

determining, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a time with transmission data in a transmission buffer for each of the primary connection and the at least one activated secondary connection,

determining, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a number of connections between the primary connection and at least one activated secondary connection for the determined time, and

obtaining, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a transmission throughput for each of the primary connection and the at least one activated secondary connection, based on said transmission volume, the number of connections, and said time with transmission data in the transmission buffer for each of the primary connection and the at least one activated secondary connection.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

said transmission volume is determined per radio access bearer both for the primary connection and per each number of activated secondary connections within a range from one to a predefined maximum number,

said time is determined per radio access bearer both for the primary connection and per said each number of activated secondary connections, and

said transmission throughput is obtained per radio access bearer both for the primary connection and per said each number of activated secondary connections.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in relation to said obtaining, the method further comprises

dividing, per communication endpoint and per radio access bearer, said transmission volume by said time, both for the primary connection and per each number of activated secondary connections within a range from one to a predefined maximum number,

increasing respective volume counters based on a size of successfully transmitted medium access control serving data unit frames.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in relation to said determining said transmission volume, said method further comprises

increasing respective volume counters based on a size of successfully transmitted packet data configuration protocol serving data unit frames,

delivering an inter-layer message indicating, per communication endpoint, activation or deactivation of a secondary connection, and

deducing, per communication endpoint and per radio access bearer, an actual number of activated secondary connections based on said inter-layer message.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in relation to said determining said transmission volume, said method further comprises

modifying successfully transmitted medium access control service data unit frames by removing at least one of packet data configuration protocol headers, radio link control headers, medium access control headers, and hybrid automatic repeat request retransmissions, and

increasing respective volume counters based on a size of said modified frames, delivering an inter-layer message including at least information regarding current sizes of packet data configuration protocol headers and/or radio link control headers necessary for modification of medium access control service data unit frames.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

accumulating, for a predetermined evaluation period, each of said transmission volumes per communication endpoint and per radio access bearer both for the primary connection and per each number of activated secondary connections within a range from one to a predefined maximum number,

accumulating, for a predetermined evaluation period, each of said times per communication endpoint, and

calculating, from said accumulated transmission volumes and said accumulated times, average and/or peak transmission throughput per communication endpoint and per radio access bearer.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the method is operable at or by a base station or access node of a cellular system, and/or

the method is operable in at least one of a LTE and a LTE-A cellular system, and/or

a connection is a cell or established via a cell.

8. An apparatus, comprising

at least one memory comprising program code; and

at least one processor, the at least one memory and the program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

evaluate, at a network node and per communication endpoint at individual ones of user equipments, performance of carrier aggregation for the user equipments, the evaluating using throughput of individual ones of a primary connection and at least one activated secondary connection per communication endpoint aggregating one primary connection and at least one secondary connection, the evaluating comprising

determine, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a transmission volume, the transmission volume being a total transmission volume of both the primary connection and at least one activated secondary connection,

determine, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a time with transmission data in a transmission buffer for each of the primary connection and the at least one activated secondary connection,

determine, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a number of connections between the primary connection and at least one activated secondary connection for the determined time, and

obtain, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a transmission throughput for each of the primary connection and the at least one activated secondary connection, based on said transmission volume, the number of connections, and said time with transmission data in the transmission buffer for each of the primary connection and the at least one activated secondary connection.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

said transmission volume is determined per radio access bearer both for the primary connection and per each number of activated secondary connections within a range from one to a predefined maximum number,

said time is determined per radio access bearer both for the primary connection and per said each number of activated secondary connections, and

said transmission throughput is obtained per radio access bearer both for the primary connection and per said each number of activated secondary connections.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory and the program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

divide, per communication endpoint, endpoint and per radio access bearer, said transmission volume by said time both for the primary connection and per each number of activated secondary connections within a range from one to a predefined maximum number,

increase respective volume counters based on a size of successfully transmitted medium access control serving data unit frames.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory and the program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

increase respective volume counters based on a size of successfully transmitted packet data configuration protocol serving data unit frames.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory and the program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

deliver an inter-layer message indicating, per communication endpoint, activation or deactivation of a secondary connection, and

deduce, per communication endpoint, an actual number of activated secondary connections based on said inter-layer message.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said actual number is deduced per radio access bearer.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory and the program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

modify successfully transmitted medium access control service data unit frames by removing at least one of packet data configuration protocol headers, radio link control headers, medium access control headers, and hybrid automatic repeat request re-transmissions, and

increase respective volume counters based on a size of said modified frames.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , f wherein the at least one memory and the program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

deliver an inter-layer message including at least information regarding current sizes of packet data configuration protocol headers and/or radio link control headers necessary for modification of medium access control service data unit frames.

16. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory and the program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

increase respective volume counters based on a size of successfully transmitted medium access control serving data unit frames.

17. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory and the program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

accumulate, for a predetermined evaluation period, each of said transmission volumes per communication endpoint, endpoint and per radio access bearer both for the primary connection and per each number of activated secondary connections within a range from one to a predefined maximum number,

accumulate, for a predetermined evaluation period, each of said times per communication endpoint and per radio access bearer both for the primary connection and per said each number of activated secondary connections, and

calculate, from said accumulated transmission volumes and said accumulated times, average and/or peak transmission throughput per communication endpoint and per radio access bearer.

18. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the apparatus is operable as or at a base station or access node of a cellular system, and/or

the apparatus is operable in at least one of a LTE and a LTE-A cellular system, and/or

a connection is a cell or established via a cell.

19. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable computer program code which, when the program is run on a computer, is configured to cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

evaluating, at a network node and per communication endpoint at individual ones of user equipments, performance of carrier aggregation for the user equipments, the evaluating using throughput of individual ones of a primary connection and at least one activated secondary connection per communication endpoint aggregating one primary connection and at least one secondary connection, the evaluating comprising

determining, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a transmission volume, the transmission volume being a total transmission volume of both the primary connection and at least one activated secondary connection,

determining, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a time with transmission data in a transmission buffer and for each of the primary connection and the at least one activated secondary connection, and

obtaining, at the network node and per communication endpoint, a transmission throughput for each of the primary connection and the at least one activated secondary connection, based on said transmission volume, the number of connections, and said time with transmission data in the transmission buffer for each of the primary connection and the at least one activated secondary connection.