Methods providing buffer estimation and related network nodes and wireless terminals

摘要

A method may be provided to operate a node of a radio access network communicating with a wireless terminal. The wireless terminal may be configured to provide a transmit buffer for data to be transmitted to the node during transmission time intervals, to transmit packets of the data from the transmit buffer to the node during respective transmission time intervals, and to provide buffer indicator bits with respective packets of the data during the respective transmission time intervals. The method may include: receiving a packet including data and a buffer indicator bit from the wireless terminal during a respective transmission time interval; and providing an estimate of a quantity of data in the transmit buffer at the wireless terminal responsive to a status of the buffer indicator bit. Related wireless terminals and network nodes are also discussed.

主权项

1. A method of operating a node of a radio access network communicating with a wireless terminal, the method comprising:
receiving a packet including data and a buffer indicator bit wherein the packet is received at the node of the radio access network from the wireless terminal during a transmission time interval; and providing at the node of the radio access network an estimate of a quantity of data in a transmit buffer of the wireless terminal responsive to a status of the buffer indicator bit received at the node of the radio access network, wherein providing the estimate comprises,
responsive to a first status of the buffer indicator bit, generating at the node of the radio access network a second estimate of the quantity of data in the transmit buffer as a first estimate of the quantity of data in the transmit buffer less a quantity of data allowed in a packet of a transmission time interval, andresponsive to a second status of the buffer indicator bit, generating at the node of the radio access network a second estimate of the quantity of data in the transmit buffer as the greater of a quantity of data defining a transmit buffer delay condition and a first estimate of the quantity of data in the transmit buffer less a quantity of data allowed in a packet of a transmission time interval.