Systems and methods for buffer status reporting in wireless communication systems

#This U.S. patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Indian Patent Application No. 1217/CHE/2014, filed Mar. 10, 2014, and entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BUFFER STATUS REPORTING IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS.” The aforementioned application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

#This disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for buffer status reporting in wireless communication systems.

#Rapid increase in the mobile subscriber base and recent emergence of new applications such as multimedia online gaming, mobile TV, streaming multimedia content, etc. have resulted in large scale increases of mobile data usage. The rapid increase of mobile data usage has motivated development of new protocols and modification of the current protocols in the wireless access and core portions of wireless networks to support efficient end-to-end packet transmission. An example of a wireless broadband network is 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long-Term Evolution (LTE). LTE is an end-to-end broadband internet protocol (IP) network that aims to provide high sector capacity, scalability, improved end-user throughputs, and reduced user plane latency, bringing a significantly improved user experience with full mobility.

#The accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary cellular wireless communication system for implementing methods and systems consistent with the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary protocol architecture of a base station for implementing methods and systems consistent with the present disclosure.

#Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. While examples and features of disclosed principles are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. Also, the words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other similar forms are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is intended that the following detailed description be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

#The illustrated components and steps are set out to explain the exemplary embodiments shown, and it should be anticipated that ongoing technological development will change the manner in which particular functions are performed. These examples are presented herein for purposes of illustration, and not limitation. Further, the boundaries of the functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternative boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. Alternatives (including equivalents, extensions, variations, deviations, etc., of those described herein) will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. Such alternatives fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary cellular Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communication system 100 for implementing methods and systems consistent with the present disclosure. The LTE system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes one or more base stations (e.g., 114 and 116). In the example of FIG. 1, the base stations are shown as evolved NodeBs (eNBs) 114 and 116. Base stations are nodes that can relay signals for mobile devices, also referred to herein a user equipment (UE). The term “base station” (BS) can be interchangeably used with a network node, an access node, or a network component. Two or more base stations may operate on the same radio frequency or on different radio frequencies depending on the separation between the two or more base stations.