Timer-based scheme for user equipment queue state estimation

At least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium including code for execution that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

• starting a first timer based on a queue state associated with a user equipment (UE) being estimated to equal zero bytes of data and based on a last buffer status report received from the UE indicating the queue state to be greater than zero bytes of data;
• sending a control message granting uplink resources to the UE if the first timer expires;
• and
• determining the queue state associated with the UE based, at least in part, on a response to the control message.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one memory element including control logic;
• and
• at least one processor operable to execute instructions associated with the control logic to:
• start a first timer based on a queue state associated with a user equipment (UE) being estimated to equal zero bytes of data and based on a last buffer status report received from the UE indicating the queue state to be greater than zero bytes of data;
• send a control message granting uplink resources to the UE if the first timer expires;
• and
• determine the queue state associated with the UE based, at least in part, on a response to the control message.