Enabling efficient handling of redundant packet copies in wireless communication system

Abstract

The invention provides a method of operating at least one network unit in a wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system comprises a first network unit and a second networkunit that are both connected to a third network unit using a first connection, between the first network unit and the third network unit, and using a second connection, between the second network unit and the third network unit, wherein packets comprising the same information are transmitted over both the first connection and the second connection. The method comprises the first network unit receiving information from the third network unit indicating packets received by the third network unit from the first network unit over the first connection, and transmitting an indication to the secondnetwork unit enabling removal of packets from one or more transmission buffers of the second network unit corresponding to the indicated packets received by the third network unit from the first network unit over the first connection.

Description

technical field [0001] The proposed technology relates generally to wireless communication systems, e.g. based on multi-connectivity / dual-connectivity operation, and more particularly to methods of operating at least one network element in a wireless communication system, as well as corresponding network elements, computer programs and A computer program product and corresponding apparatus; an overall method of operating a network unit in a wireless communication system; and a method of operating a network device in a wireless communication system, as well as corresponding network devices, computer programs and computer program products and corresponding installation. Background technique [0002] New and evolved wireless communication systems are constantly being developed. As an example, so-called fifth-generation 5G systems are currently being discussed, developed and / or deployed. 5G (also known as New Radio NR) is currently primarily seen as a change to radio specifica...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0012] The main problem with sending the same PDCP packet from more than one node is that one node may take much longer than the other node(s) to send the PDCP packet due to poor coverage or different link bitrates

This has the disadvantage that the UE thus needs to wait for the worst node packet transmission before requesting a retransmission

[0013] Another problem with doubling / duplicating transfers is that resources can be wasted if one link is slower than the other

If this situation persists for multiple TTIs, it's easy to see that a slower link is useless, and PDCP duplication in a similar situation would be very resource-intensive with little advantage

Images