Adjusting packet drop-timer based on a served UE being a relay-UE

A base station (BS) comprising:

• an antenna structure configured to provide an air interface through which the BS serves one or more user equipment devices (UEs);
• a data storage that defines a buffer;
• and
• a controller configured (i) to buffer in the data storage data packets destined to individual UEs of the one or more UEs and (ii) to apply a buffer timeout process according to which the controller drops at least one data packet from the buffer in response to the at least one data packet being in the buffer for a timeout period, wherein the controller is further configured to:
• make a determination that a served UE is a relay-UE that provides wireless backhaul connectivity for a relay base station (relay-BS);
• determine that a type of traffic being transmitted from the BS to the relay-UE is control signaling traffic;
• and
• increase a duration of the timeout period based on the determination and on the determined type of traffic, whereby, when the controller then applies the buffer timeout process, the controller is configured to drop at least one data packet from the buffer in response to the at least one data packet being in the buffer for the increased timeout period.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor to cause a base station (BS) to perform operations, the BS having a data storage that defines a buffer and the BS being configured (i) to provide an air interface through which the BS serves one or more user equipment devices (UEs), (ii) to buffer in the data storage data packets destined to individual UEs of the one or more UEs, and (iii) to apply a buffer timeout process according to which the BS drops at least one data packet from the buffer in response to the at least one data packet being in the buffer for a timeout period, the operations comprising:

• making a determination that a served UE is a relay-UE that provides wireless backhaul connectivity for a relay base station (relay-BS);
• determining a count of how many UEs are being served by the relay-BS;
• and
• adjusting the timeout period based on the determination and on the determined count of UEs, wherein the BS is configured to refer to mapping data that maps (i) a first count of UEs being served by the relay-BS with a first duration by which the timeout period is to be adjusted and (ii) a second count of UEs being served by the relay-BS with a second duration by which the timeout period is to be adjusted, and wherein the BS is configured to, in accordance with the mapping data, adjust the timeout period by the first duration if the determined count is the first count or adjust the timeout period by the second duration if the determined count is the second count, whereby, when the BS then applies the buffer timeout process, the BS is configured to drop at least one data packet from the buffer in response to the at least one data packet being in the buffer for the timeout period set adjusted based on the determination and on the determined count of UEs.