Link change decision-making using reinforcement learning based on tracked rewards and outcomes in a wireless communication system

Decision-making equipment configured for link change decision- making using reinforcement learning, the decision-making equipment comprising communication circuitry and processing circuity whereby the decision-making equipment is configured to:

• track rewards earned for, and outcomes of, respective link change decisions, wherein possible outcomes of a link change decision to change a serving link of a wireless device to a target link include at least (i) a change of the serving link of the wireless device from the target link to another link and (ii) a network-initiated disconnect of the wireless device from the target link, wherein the decision-making equipment is configured to track rewards earned for, and outcomes of, respective link change decisions by, for each link change decision to change a serving link of a wireless device to a target link, tracking:
• an outcome of the link change decision reflecting how the wireless device became detached or disconnected from the target link after the serving link of the wireless device was changed to the target link according to link change the decision;
• and
• a reward earned for the link change decision characterizing an extent to which the link change decision was deemed successful up until the outcome of the link change decision occurred and/or as measured over a time period during which the wireless device was connected to, camped on, or attached via the target link;
• and
• make a link change decision based on the tracked rewards and outcomes.

A method for supporting link change decision-making using reinforcement learning, the method comprising:

• determining rewards earned for, and outcomes of, respective link change decisions, wherein possible outcomes of a link change decision to change a serving link of a wireless device to a target link include at least (i) a change of the serving link of the wireless device from the target link to another link and (ii) a network-initiated disconnect of the wireless device from the target link, wherein determining rewards earned for, and outcomes of, respective link change decisions comprises, for each link change decision to change a serving link of a wireless device to a target link, determining:
• an outcome of the link change decision reflecting how the wireless device became detached or disconnected from the target link after the serving link of the wireless device was changed to the target link according to link change the decision;
• and
• a reward earned for the link change decision characterizing an extent to which the link change decision was deemed successful up until the outcome of the link change decision occurred and/or as measured over a time period during which the wireless device was connected to, camped on, or attached via the target link;
• and
• signaling the determined rewards and outcomes to decision-making equipment that made the respective link change decisions.

Network equipment for supporting link change decision-making using reinforcement learning, the network equipment comprising communication circuitry and processing circuity whereby the network equipment is configured to:

• determine rewards earned for, and outcomes of, respective link change decisions, wherein possible outcomes of a link change decision to change a serving link of a wireless device to a target link include at least (i) a change of the serving link of the wireless device from the target link to another link and (ii) a network-initiated disconnect of the wireless device from the target link, wherein the network equipment is configured to determine rewards earned for, and outcomes of, respective link change decisions by, for each link change decision to change a serving link of a wireless device to a target link, determining:
• an outcome of the link change decision reflecting how the wireless device became detached or disconnected from the target link after the serving link of the wireless device was changed to the target link according to link change the decision;
• and
• a reward earned for the link change decision characterizing an extent to which the link change decision was deemed successful up until the outcome of the link change decision occurred and/or as measured over a time period during which the wireless device was connected to, camped on, or attached via the target link;
• and
• signal the determined rewards and outcomes to decision-making equipment that made the respective link change decisions.