In this work, we propose an innovative approach to contrast the bufferbloat, one of the primary sources of queueing latency, in 3GPP mobile networks. Our purpose is to validate an all-software, in-node traffic-control infrastructure, similar to what the Linux operating system already employs for Ethernet and WiFi networks. We introduce the IP trafficcontrol infrastructure in the RAN part of an LTE network, for both UE and eNB, that can perform packet scheduling on flows directed to the same Data Radio Bearer. The effectiveness of such strategy leverages on a reduced usable size of the in-node RLC buffer, thanks to the BQL algorithm, which we evaluate for the first time in the context of LTE. By using BQL, we can create a backlog of packets that stays in the Traffic Control layer, on which it is possible to perform packet scheduling without bloating the RLC buffer. We compare the performance of BQL to another algorithm, called DynRLC, proposed to dynamically size the RLC buffer eNB side. The preliminary evaluation of the proposed approach is done on the ns-3 network simulator and it shows that the proposed approach with BQL significantly improves the flow delay, by controlling the queueing latency, as well as enhancing the flow isolation.

Grant numbers : This work was partially funded by Spanish MINECO grant TEC2017-88373-R (5G-REFINE).