Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Cellular Networks: Use Cases, Challenges and Approaches

TL;DR

This paper reviews the use cases and challenges of URLLC in 5G networks, analyzes delay sources in LTE, and proposes techniques to reduce latency through coding, processing, and resource management.

Contribution

It introduces URLLC applications, analyzes delay sources, and evaluates techniques for latency reduction in 5G cellular networks.

Findings

Identified key latency sources in LTE networks

Proposed error control coding and signal processing methods

Evaluated radio resource management strategies

Abstract

The fifth-generation cellular mobile networks are expected to support mission critical ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) services in addition to the enhanced mobile broadband applications. This article first introduces three emerging mission critical applications of URLLC and identifies their requirements on end-to-end latency and reliability. We then investigate the various sources of end-to-end delay of current wireless networks by taking the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) as an example. Subsequently, we propose and evaluate several techniques to reduce the end-to-end latency from the perspectives of error control coding, signal processing, and radio resource management. We also briefly discuss other network design approaches with the potential for further latency reduction.