Enhanced VoLTE Medium Access Control Scheduling Algorithm for eMTC Devices

Abstract

4G networks introduced the support of IOT devices in 3GPP Release 13 with two new standards: Enhanced Machine-Type Communication (eMTC) and Narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT). eMTC can help CAT-M1 devices to get high speeds up to 1 Mbps utilizing low bandwidth (1.4MHz) and supports essential capabilities such as VoLTE whereas NB-IoT on the other hand is best suited for low-throughput, delay-tolerant applications, such as meters and sensors. Support for VoLTE has become crucial in eMTC devices due to proliferation of CAT M1 devices like smartwatches, wearables. Currently due to changes in 4G network due to eMTC, VoLTE scheduling is not optimal leading to lower user satisfaction. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm in 4G networks to optimize and prioritize the scheduling of VoLTE call during non-GBR retransmission from eMTC devices. Our novel idea has significantly cut the delay in scheduling of VoLTE for eMTC by on an average 30% resulting to better VoLTE support for CAT-M1 devices.