Dynamic scheduling based on carrier aggregation capabilities

A method comprising:

• determining, by a radio access network (RAN) that is configured for carrier-aggregation service via a plurality of component carriers in a given coverage area, a usage level in the given coverage area, wherein a target aggregate scheduling ratio is defined for the coverage area, and wherein the target aggregate scheduling ratio indicates that a first number of data units that should be sent to a user equipment (UE) of a first user-equipment class for each data unit that is sent to a UE of a second user-equipment class;
• and
• determining, by the RAN, that the usage level in the given coverage area is greater than a threshold usage level and responsively:
• (a) determining, by the RAN, that a first UE that has established a data connection in the given coverage area is both (i) associated with a first user-equipment class from the plurality of user-equipment classes, and (ii) not configured for carrier-aggregation service;
• (b) determining that a second UE that has established a data connection in the given coverage area is both (i) associated with a second user-equipment class, and (ii) configured for carrier-aggregation service;
• and
• (c) in response to the determining that both the first UE and the second UE have established respective data connections in the given coverage area, implementing a per-carrier scheduling ratio that indicates that a UE of the first user-equipment class should be sent a second number of data units for each data unit that is sent to a UE of the second user-equipment class, wherein the second number is greater than the first number.

A method comprising:

• determining, by a radio access network (RAN) that is configured for carrier-aggregation service via a plurality of component carriers in a given coverage area, a usage level in the given coverage area;
• and
• determining, by the RAN, that the usage level in the given coverage area is greater than a threshold usage level and responsively:
• determining relative carrier-aggregation capabilities between two or more classes of user equipment (UE) that have established data connections in the coverage area;
• determining that the relative carrier-aggregation capabilities in the coverage indicate at least one UE of a first user-equipment class that is not configured for carrier-aggregation service, and at least one UE of a second user-equipment class is configured for carrier-aggregation service;
• responsively adjusting a per-carrier scheduling ratio for the given coverage area based on the relative carrier-aggregation capabilities between the two or more UE classes;
• and
• scheduling communications for transmission over the plurality of component carriers, via the at least one wireless communication interface, in accordance with the adjusted per-carrier scheduling ratio.

A system comprising:

• at least one wireless communication interface operable to provide carrier-aggregation service via a plurality of component carriers in a given coverage area of a radio access network;
• and
• a controller configured to determine that a usage level in the given coverage area is greater than a threshold usage level and responsively perform functions comprising:
• determining relative carrier-aggregation capabilities between two or more classes of user equipment (UE) that have established data connections in the coverage area;
• and
• determining that the relative carrier-aggregation capabilities in the coverage indicate at least one UE of a first user-equipment class that is not configured for carrier-aggregation service, and at least one UE of a second user-equipment class is configured for carrier-aggregation service, and responsively:
• (a) adjusting a per-carrier scheduling ratio for the given coverage area based on the relative carrier-aggregation capabilities between the two or more UE classes that have established data connections in the coverage area;
• and
• (b) scheduling communications for transmission over the plurality of component carriers, via the at least one wireless communication interface, in accordance with the adjusted per-carrier scheduling ratio.