BACKGROUND

The magnitude of traffic on a Long Term Evolution (LTE) eNB can vary significantly depending on the activity of individual UEs. In order to ensure good performance on an eNB, it is desirable to evenly distribute and balance incoming traffic load among available processors. Accordingly, the present systems and methods describe load measurement and load balancing for packet processing in an LTE eNB.

SUMMARY

A controller that processes signals in a baseband frequency band is described. The controller includes a plurality of processing engines (PEs). The controller also includes a distributor/load balancer that includes at least one processor or processing core. The at least one processor or processing core is configured to (1) enter a first mode in which each new UE session is assigned to a PE that is currently processing a fewest number of UE sessions; (2) determine whether a processing load differential between a least loaded PE and a highest loaded PE exceed a first threshold for at least a time threshold; and (3) in response to the processing load differential between the least loaded PE and the highest loaded PE exceeding the first threshold for at least the time threshold, enter a second mode in which each new UE session is assigned to the least loaded PE.

A method is also described. The method is performed by a controller that includes a plurality of processing engines (PEs) and a distributor/load balancer, the method comprising. The method includes entering a first mode in which each new UE session is assigned to a PE that is currently processing a fewest number of UE sessions. The method also includes determining whether a processing load differential between a least loaded PE and a highest loaded PE exceed a first threshold for at least a time threshold. The method also includes, in response to the processing load differential between the least loaded PE and the highest loaded PE exceeding the first threshold for at least the time threshold, entering a second mode in which each new UE session is assigned to the least loaded PE.

