A resource management framework for LTE-WLAN networks in high-speed trains

We consider a scenario where several WLAN users in a moving vehicle, such as in a train, are accessing internet using WLAN APs installed in the train. In addition to WLAN APs, there are also multiple mobile routers installed in that train. Here, a mobile router communicates with WLAN APs in the train and with LTE eNodeBs outside the train. A mobile router supports LTE User Equipment (UE) or modem type functionality to communicate with LTE eNodeB and Ethernet (or other) interfaces to communicate with WLAN APs. Packets from WLAN user devices get communicated over WLAN and LTE networks in this scenario. Even though a mobile router could support multiple LTE UEs in the same node, these UEs could offer different level of performance due to different channel and interference conditions in a high-speed train scenario. For uplink traffic from WLAN devices, it becomes important to select a suitable mobile router UE to communicate uplink data to LTE eNodeB and eventually to an application server in the internet. We first propose methods for uplink load balancing across different LTE UEs that are located in the same mobile router. We next consider uplink and downlink QoS management problem in such networks. LTE QoS scheduler runs at LTE eNodeB and considers variety of factors to allocate uplink and downlink resources to a UE. This scheduler treats each LTE UE as an individual UE and is not aware of multiple co-located UEs in a mobile router. We propose a network topology discovery method that allows LTE eNodeB to learn identity of multiple LTE UEs that are located on the same mobile router. We next use above methods to propose enhanced LTE QoS scheduling mechanisms to enable different types of resource management decisions in high-speed trains.