# US 10,313,208 B2 · Flexible assignment of network functions for radio access > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,313,208 B2 - Document ID: US10313208B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/432,534 - Filed: 2015-02-11 - Published: 2016-08-11 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-17 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Icaro L. J. da Silva; Gunnar Mildh; Johan Rune; Jari Vikberg; Pontus Wallentin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313208B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/5054: Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components - H04W 72/543: based on requested quality, e.g. QoS - H04L 41/5058: {Service discovery by the service manager} - H04L 41/5087: {wherein the managed service relates to voice services (management of VoIP services H04M7/0081)} - H04W 36/0069: {in case of dual connectivity, e.g. decoupled uplink/downlink} - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract The disclosure relates to a method of resource allocation for supporting communications with a wireless device is provided. The method is performed in a network element of a wireless communication network. The method comprises differentiating (2710) between synchronous network functions and asynchronous network functions. The synchronous and asynchronous network functions are associated with the provision of communication services to the wireless device. The synchronous network functions have requirements on processing timing which are strictly dependent on timing of a radio link used for communicating with the wireless device. The asynchronous network functions have requirements on processing timing not strictly dependent on the timing of the radio link. The method also comprises allocating (2720) resources of the wireless communication network for the instantiation of a first network function based on whether the first network function is synchronous or asynchronous. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of resource allocation for supporting communications with a wireless device, the method being performed in a network element of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: differentiating between synchronous network functions and asynchronous network functions, the synchronous and asynchronous network functions being associated with providing communication services to the wireless device, said synchronous network functions having requirements on processing timing which are strictly dependent on timing of a radio link used for communicating with the wireless device, and said asynchronous network functions having requirements on processing timing not strictly dependent on the timing of the radio link; and allocating resources of the wireless communication network for instantiation of a first network function based on whether the first network function is synchronous or asynchronous. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: obtaining information related to at least one of the following: a characteristic of the first network function; a relationship or dependency between the first network function and a further network function; available resources in entities of the wireless communication network; transmission resources between the entities of the wireless communication network; and the wireless device, wherein the resources are allocated based also on the obtained information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein allocating the resources for the instantiation of the first network function comprises, when the first network function is synchronous: allocating first resources resulting in latency for transmission and reception over the radio link which is below a threshold, thereby fulfilling the requirements on processing timing for the synchronous network functions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein allocating the resources for the instantiation of the first network function comprises, when the first network function is asynchronous: allocating second resources that result in a higher latency for transmission and reception over the radio link than is allowed for the synchronous network functions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the allocated resources comprise at least one of: processing resources, memory resources, and resources related to network interfaces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein resources are allocated further for instantiation of a second network function, based on whether the second network function is synchronous or asynchronous. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the first network function and the second network function respectively correspond to different protocol layers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the first and second network functions both are synchronous and are grouped into a synchronous function group, wherein resources, resulting in a latency for transmission and reception over the radio link that is below a threshold, are allocated for the synchronous function group, and wherein the threshold corresponds to the requirements on processing timing for the synchronous network functions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: sending information related to the instantiation of the first network function, the information being sent to at least one network entity of the wireless communication network associated with the allocated resources. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the allocation of the resources is triggered by a network event. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a first and a second radio link are used for communicating with the wireless device for dual connectivity operation, the method comprising when the first network function is asynchronous and associated with both the first and the second radio links: allocating resources for the instantiation of the first network function such that at least partly the same resources can be utilized when the operation of the first network function is associated with the first radio link and when the operation of the first network function is associated with the second radio link. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first network function is synchronous, wherein allocating the resources for instantiating the first network function comprises allocating first resources at a first network node in the wireless communication network, for instantiating the first network function at the first network node, wherein the method further includes allocating second resources at a second network node in the wireless communication network, for instantiating a second network function that is asynchronous, and wherein said first and second network functions are cooperatively used for communicating with the wireless device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first network function handles physical layer processing for the radio link, and wherein the second network function handles processing for one or more layers above the physical layer. ### Claim 14 A network element for a wireless communication network, the network element being configured to allocate resources for supporting communications with a wireless device, the network element being further configured to: differentiate between synchronous network functions and asynchronous network functions, the synchronous and asynchronous network functions being associated with providing communication services to the wireless device, said synchronous network functions having requirements on processing timing which are strictly dependent on timing of a radio link used for communicating with the wireless device, and said asynchronous network functions having requirements on processing timing not strictly dependent on the timing of the radio link; and allocate resources of the wireless communication network for instantiation of a first network function based on whether the first network function is synchronous or asynchronous. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The network element according to claim 14, further configured to: obtain information related to at least one of the following: a characteristic of the first network function; a relationship or dependency between the first network function and a further network function; available resources in entities of the wireless communication network; transmission resources between the entities of the wireless communication network; and the wireless device; and allocate the resources for the instantiation of the first network function based also on the obtained information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The network element according to claim 14, further configured to allocate the resources for the instantiation of the first network function by: when the first network function is synchronous, allocating first resources resulting in latency for transmission and reception over the radio link which is below a threshold, thereby fulfilling the requirements on processing timing for the synchronous network functions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The network element according to claim 14, further configured to allocate the resources for the instantiation of the first network function by: when the first network function is asynchronous, allocating second resources that result in a higher latency for transmission and reception over the radio link than is allowed for the synchronous network functions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The network element according to claim 14, wherein the allocated resources comprise at least one of: processing resources, memory resources, and resources related to network interfaces. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The network element according to claim 14, configured to allocate resources further for instantiation of a second network function, based on whether the second network function is synchronous or asynchronous. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The network element according to claim 19, wherein the first network function and the second network function respectively correspond to different protocol layers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The network element according to claim 19, wherein the first and second network functions both are synchronous and are grouped into a synchronous function group, the network element being further configured to allocate resources for the synchronous function group that results in a latency for transmission and reception over the radio link that is below a threshold corresponding to the requirements on processing timing for the synchronous network functions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The network element according to claim 14, further configured to: send information related to the instantiation of the first network function, the information being sent to at least one network entity of the wireless communication network associated with the allocated resources. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The network element according to claim 14, configured to allocate the resources triggered by a network event. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The network element according to claim 14, wherein a first and a second radio link are used for communicating with the wireless device for dual connectivity operation, and wherein the first network function is asynchronous and associated with both the first and the second radio links, the network element being configured to: allocate resources for the instantiation of the first network function such that at least partly the same resources can be utilized when the operation of the first network function is associated with the first radio link and when the operation of the first network function is associated with the second radio link. ### Claim 25 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a network element configured for operation in a wireless communication network and to support communications with a wireless device, configure the network element to: differentiate between synchronous network functions and asynchronous network functions, the synchronous and asynchronous network functions being associated with providing communication services to the wireless device, said synchronous network functions having requirements on processing timing which are strictly dependent on timing of a radio link used for communicating with the wireless device, and said asynchronous network functions having requirements on processing timing not strictly dependent on the timing of the radio link; and allocate resources of the wireless communication network for instantiation of a first network function based on whether the first network function is synchronous or asynchronous. ### Claim 26 A method of resource allocation in a wireless communication network, for supporting communications with a wireless communication apparatus, said method comprising: differentiating between synchronous functions and asynchronous functions associated with providing communication services to the wireless communication apparatus, said synchronous functions having processing timings strictly dependent on timings of one or more radio links used for communicating with the wireless communication apparatus, and said asynchronous functions having processing timings not strictly dependent on the timings of the one or more radio links; and allocating resources for the synchronous functions according to an allocation scheme that restricts allocation of processing resources for the synchronous functions to a radio node or nodes used to provide the one or more radio links, and that does not restrict allocation of processing resources for the asynchronous functions to the radio node or nodes.