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Packet Scheduler Optimisation

Activation and Monitoring of PS features

CHANGE HISTORY
Version
0.9
0.91

Date
10.7.2007
27.8.2007

Edited by
Kirsi Teravainen
Kirsi Teravainen

Editor:
Date:
Version:
Approved by:

Comments
First version for review
Ready for SIG review

Kirsi Tervinen
July 2007

Table of Contents
1 Introduction of Packet Scheduler.................................................................
1.1

Packet Scheduler parameters..................................................................................................

2 Setting Initial and Minimum Bitrates............................................................


2.1

Parameters.............................................................................................................................

3 Dynamic Link Optimization for NRT traffic Coverage.................................


3.1
3.2
3.3

Feature Activation and Parameters.........................................................................................


Impact to the other PS features..............................................................................................
Monitoring and Counters........................................................................................................

4 Enhanced Priority Based Scheduling and NRT Overload Control.............


4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4

Feature Activation and Parameters.........................................................................................


Impact to the other PS features..............................................................................................
Monitoring and Counters........................................................................................................
KPI survey for Enhanced PBS and Overload Control.............................................................

5 Flexible Upgrade........................................................................................
5.1
5.2
5.3

Feature Activation and Parameters.........................................................................................


Impact to the other PS features..............................................................................................
Monitoring and Counters........................................................................................................

6 Throughput Based Optimization................................................................


6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4

Feature Activation and Parameters.........................................................................................


Impact to the other PS features..............................................................................................
Monitoring and Counters........................................................................................................
KPI survey for throughput based optimisation and flexible upgrade.......................................

References.....................................................................................................

1 Introduction of Packet Scheduler


Packet Scheduler consists of multiple different functions which can be categorized based on the
scope of the function. UE specific part of the Packet Scheduler is monitoring and measuring
utilization of one NRT DCH RAB while cell specific part contains functions working based on
cell level measurements and conditions. Table below presents Nokia packet scheduler main
features per release.
RAN
release
RAN1.5

Feature
Admission control

RT over NRT preemption

RAN1.5

Packet scheduler

Tunable inactivity timer

Radio interface overload


triggered downgrade
Dynamic link
optimisation

X
X

(RAS05)
X

Packet scheduler retry


with lower bit rate in
congestion (ED2 CD05)

(RAS05)
(RAN 04
CD2)
X

New user triggered RB


downgrade
Radio interface overload
triggered downgrade

RT over NRT preemption


Throughput based RB
release
Throughput based RB
downgrade

Light weight flexible


upgrade
Flexible upgrade

RAS05

RAS05
RAS05.1
RAS04CD
RAS05.1

Enhanced priority
based scheduling
and overload
control for NRT
traffic
Throughput based
optimisation of the
PS algorithm
Flexible upgrade
of NRT DCH Data
Rate

Function
Radio
X

Affected resources
BTS
AAL2
X
X

Table 1 Nokia Packet Scheduler main features

NOTE!! PSIT Packet Scheduler Interruption timer is a removal item of RAS06, and is not
considered in this document

The NRT DCH RAB can be downgraded or released due the multiple causes.

1. Dynamic Link optimization for NRT traffic coverage (DyLO) the existing NRT DCH
can be downgraded in the downlink transmission power exceed a predefined threshold
2. Enhanced Overload Control (RAS05 Optional feature) -In an overload situation PS
start modification or reconfiguration of existing NRT DCHs radio bearers to be able to
decrease loading.
3. Priority Based Scheduling (RAS05 Optional feature) - Existing NRT allocations can
be downgraded or released if there are other users requesting initial capacity in the
congested situation
4. Throughput Based Optimization (RAS51 Optional feature) - Throughput based
optimization of the PS algorithm adapts the DCH resource reservation to meet the actual
utilization (or used bit rate) of the DCH.
5. Maximum bit rate limitation Another RAB is setup for the same UE
RAS05.1 supports the following multi-services:
Maximum 3 NRT (interactive/Background) PS RABs,
AMR + maximum 3 NRT (interactive/background) PS RABs,
CS-T + maximum 3 NRT (interactive/background) PS RABs,
1 RT PS (streaming) RAB + maximum 3 NRT (interactive/background) PS RABs.
6. Inactivity of the radio bearer
The DCH downgrade procedure is performed in CELL_DCH state and it can be performed by
Reconfiguration of radio bearer (also transmission, WBTS and RNC resources)
Limitation of the maximum transport format combinations (temporary)
The NRT DCH RAB can be upgraded due to
1. High amount of data in buffer Capacity Request/Bit Rate upgrade
2. High Utilization/throughput (RAS51 Optional feature) Flexible upgrade of the NRT
DCH data rate
The dedicated channel upgrade procedure is performed in CELL_DCH state and it requires the
reconfiguration of radio link, transmission and RNC internal resources
UE specific part of the packet scheduler is monitoring utilization of one NRT DCH RAB.
Example below shows packet scheduler actions during PS call when cell is unloaded, and
throughput based optimisation and flexible upgrade is activated.
AC - AC makes admission decision and allocates a 0 bit rate to the NRT radio bearer
PS1 - Bit rate allocation, after receiving a capacity request PS allocates initial bit rate
PS2 - Flexible upgrade, after receiving a capacity request PS allocates maximum (high) bit
rate
PS3 - Throughput-based optimisation, PS performs radio bearer reconfiguration to lower bit
rate
PS4 - Flexible upgrade, PS performs radio bearer reconfiguration to higher bit rate
PS5 - RRC state transition, PS initiates state transition to CELL_FACH due to inactivity

Figure 1 Packet Scheduler actions during call Unloaded cell

Load control provides periodical load information on cell basis to the cell-specific packet
scheduler. This information includes BTS measurements and estimates made by load control.
Example below shows packet scheduler actions during SP call when cell is loaded. Enhanced
Priority Based scheduling and overload control is activated.
AC - AC makes admission decision and allocates a 0 bit rate to the NRT radio bearer
PS1 - Priority based scheduling, after receiving a capacity request PS allocates initial bit rate
after downgrading an existing bearer (load margin)
PS2 - Flexible upgrade, after receiving a capacity request PS allocates higher bit rate (normal
load)
PS3 - Enhanced Overload control, PS performs RB reconfiguration to until min. bit rate
(overload)
PS4 - Flexible upgrade, PS performs radio bearer reconfiguration to higher bit rate (normal
load)
PS5 - RRC state transition, PS initiates state transition to CELL_FACH due to inactivity

Figure 2 Packet Scheduler actions during call- Loaded Cell

HSDPA UL NRT DCH return channel can be also downgraded or released.

Enhanced Overload control and Priority based scheduling threat HSDPA UL return
channel as a normal DCH and can cause downgrade or release of it, if activated.
If Flexible upgrade and Throughput based optimization features are activated in the
Network It is possible to activate them to HSDPA Associated UL Channel also by
Enabling Parameter DynUsageHSDPAReturnChannel (Dynamic usage of UL NRT DCH
HSDPA return Channel)
This parameter is used to switch "On" and "Off" the Flexible Upgrade of NRT
Data Rate and Throughput Based Optimisation of the PS Algorithm feature used
for UL NRT DCH HSDPA return channel.
If Throughput based optimisation is activated to UL return channel, it can be
downgraded due the low utilization until minimum bit rate

1.1 Packet Scheduler parameters


Packet Scheduler contains 168 parameters (RAS51). Some parameters are related to optional
PS features and are not in use if the feature is not activated (e.g. Throughput based
optimisation contains 42 parameters, which are not in use when feature is inactive). For most of
the parameters, default value is used, but for some parameters other than default value is
recommended or used. Activation of feature can also replace parameter with other, e.g.
Activation of Flexible upgrade replace traffic volume measurements parameters
TrafVolThresholdULHigh and TrafVolThresholdDLHigh with the parameters
TrafVolThresholdULHighBitRate and TrafVolThresholdDLHighBitRate.
In Table 2, results from customer network survey are listed and parameters that typically can
have other than default value are presented. Survey results are from RAN04 & RAN05
networks.

Object

Parameter

Default

% at
default

WBTS

PSAveragingWindowSize

3%

WBTS

LoadControlPeriodPS

1200 ms

7%

Deployed
values Range
400, 500,
1000, 1200
ms

Comment
Only one operator is using the default.
97% of operators are using 5.
Most operators are using 400 ms
(86%).
Recommendation is 700ms. No clear
differentiation according to SRB
bitrate. 52% of networks are using
700ms.
Most operators are using 64kbps.
Default value has been changed to
8kbps in RAS05.1*
Most operators are using 64kbps.
Default value has been changed to
8kbps in RAS05.1*

RNC

ActivationTimeOffset

300ms

300, 400, 500,


10% 600, 700, 800
ms

WCEL

MinAllowedBitRateDL

32 kbps

14%

32 - 128

WCEL

MinAllowedBitRateUL

32 kbps

14%

32, 64 kbps

RNC
RNC
RNC
RNC
RNC
RNC

InactivityTimerDLDCH64
InactivityTimerDLDCH128
InactivityTimerULDCH64
InactivityTimerDLDCH384
InactivityTimerULDCH128
InactivityTimerULDCH384

3s
2s
3s
2s
2s
2s
60 (not
active)

24%
31%
34%
38%
41%
45%

3 - 10 s
2 - 20 s
1 - 20 s
1 - 10 s
1 - 20 s
1 - 20 s

47%

0, 10, 15, 60s

Enhanced Overload Control is not


active in almost half of the networks

1024 bytes

69%

1024, 3072,
4096 bytes

Most operators are using 1024bytes

WCEL OCdlNrtDCHgrantedMinAllocT
RNC

TrafVolThresholdDLHigh

Table 2 PS Parameters survey results

* Prior to RAS51, Initial and minimum allowed bit rate is set with the parameter
MinAllowedBitRateUL/DL. From RAS51 onwards there is own parameters for minimum and
initial bit rate.
These customer parameters sets were collected by the 3G SIG during 2007 and can be further
studied in Error: Reference source not found. It can be useful to propose a PS parameter
optimization based on these results as the survey shows that some settings have been done for
historical rather than technical reasons (ie MinAllowedBitRateDL/ MinAllowedBitRateUL).

2 Setting Initial and Minimum Bitrates


In RAS05 Initial and minimum allowed bit rate is set with WCEL parameters
MinAllowedBitRateUL and MinAllowedBitRateDL. From RAS51 onwards, there are own
parameters for Initial and Minimum bit rates. Initial bit rate is set with WCEL parameters
InitialBitRateUL and InitialBitRateDL. Minimum bit rate is set with parameters
MinAllowedBitRateUL and MinAllowedBitRateDL. Minimum Allowed bit rate parameter defines
the minimum allowed bit rate that PS can downgrade a NRT DCH bearer bit rate in congestion
situations.
Setting high bit rates already from the initial Radio Bearer allocation gives not only higher peak
bit rate but also lower RTT and faster TCP slow start. However, setting a high initial bit rate can
be problematic from the service accessibility point of view since if there is not enough Air
interface, BTS HW (CE) or Iub capacity, the RAN will reject the capacity allocation.
This may be avoided with the use of Enhanced Priority Based Scheduling feature which allow
the downgrade or release of existing NRT allocation if there is another user requesting initial
capacity in the congested situation. Priority Based Scheduling introduces service differentiation
based on traffic class and handling priority. Benefits can be achieved only with correct
parameter settings (PBSPolicy any), otherwise it would be possible that capacity request is
rejected due the priority settings.
RN2.2 supports the following UL NRT DCH bit rates: 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 2

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