Repetition and rlc operation in new radio access technology

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for repetition and RLC operation in new radio access technology are provided. According to example embodiments described herein, at least one apparatus and method to transmit packet data convergence protocol data unit copies on two or more carriers; receive an indication that a packet data convergence protocol data unit has been correctly transmitted over one of the two or more carriers; and upon receiving the indication, command discarding of other packet data convergence protocol copies on carriers other than the one of the two or more carriers that has successful delivery.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of patent application No. 201880031049.X, filed on March 6, 2018, entitled "Repetition and RLC Operation in a New Radio Access Technology". Technical Field

[0002] The teachings of exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a novel method for resolving packet duplication at the PDCP sublayer, and more specifically, to improving radio link control and radio link failure operation when duplication occurs at the PDCP sublayer. Background Technology

[0003] This section is intended to provide background or context for the invention as described in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that may be pursued, but are not necessarily concepts that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to this application specification and claims, and is not acknowledged as prior art by virtue of its inclusion in this section.

[0004] Some abbreviations that can be found in the instruction manual and / or accompanying drawings are defined as follows:

[0005] AM Confirmation Mode

[0006] ARQ Automatic Retransmission Request

[0007] CPT Control Protocol Data Unit Type

[0008] HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request

[0009] MAC Media Access Control

[0010] MCG Main Community

[0011] NR New Radio

[0012] OTA (Over-the-Air) Download

[0013] P polling bit

[0014] PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol

[0015] PDU Protocol Data Unit

[0016] R Reserved bits

[0017] RLC Radio Link Control

[0018] RLF radio link failure

[0019] RRC Radio Resource Control

[0020] SC segmented control

[0021] SDU Service Data Unit

[0022] SN serial number

[0023] TB transfer block

[0024] UM Unconfirmed Mode

[0025] In LTE, the radio protocols used for the user plane currently consist of three layers: Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), Radio Link Control (RLC), and Media Access Control (MAC).

[0026] Key services or functions of the PDCP sublayer include header compression and decompression, user data transmission, encryption and decryption, and timer-based SDU discarding. When dual connectivity is configured, PDCP will also perform sequential reordering for separate bearers. These functions depend on the PDCP sequence number in the PDCP header of each PDCP PDU.

[0027] In addition, research projects on new radio access technology (NR) were agreed upon. One of the goals of NR is to support the extremely high bit rates required for 5G. To support such bit rates, both parties agreed to shift concatenation to MAC, reordering to PDCP, and leave the main functions of error correction and segmentation / reassembly to RLC. Furthermore, to increase reliability and potentially reduce latency, packet duplication was agreed upon at the PDCP sublayer.

[0028] However, it should be noted that repetitive grouping at the PDCP sublayer can lead to inefficiencies in RLC operations in AM mode.

[0029] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention described herein are at least used to address the problem of operational inefficiency that may be caused by the duplication of the packets associated with PDCP. Summary of the Invention

[0030] This section contains possible implementation examples, but does not imply any limitations.

[0031] In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes: determining, by a wireless device of a communication network, that at least one Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) element of a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) sublayer is a replica PDCP element of the PDCP sublayer that has been committed for transmission on two or more carriers; signaling to a control sublayer an indication of each PDCP element that is a replica PDCP element; and, based on the indication, preventing a radio link failure from being triggered when the number of retransmissions based on the replica PDCP elements reaches a retransmission threshold number.

[0032] Another exemplary embodiment is a method including the method of the preceding paragraph, based on the indication, receiving an indication to discard other packet data convergence protocol copies on carriers other than one carrier that has been successfully transmitted among two or more carriers. In another exemplary embodiment, it is a method as in the preceding paragraph, wherein, based on the indication, a radio link failure is prevented when the number of retransmissions of packet data convergence protocol data units based on the copy reaches a retransmission threshold number. Furthermore, a method including the preceding paragraph, wherein the control sublayer includes one of a radio link control sublayer and a radio resource control sublayer, and wherein the indication is signaled per packet data convergence protocol data unit or per radio carrier. Another exemplary embodiment is the method of this paragraph and / or the preceding paragraph, wherein the indication indicates which packet data convergence protocol data units are copies. Another exemplary embodiment is the method of this paragraph and / or the preceding paragraph, wherein the indication of copy packet data convergence protocol data units is received from the packet data convergence protocol sublayer by one of the radio link control sublayer and the radio resource control layer via a primitive between the radio link control sublayer and the packet data convergence protocol sublayer. In another exemplary embodiment, the method of this section and / or the front end is wherein one of the radio link control sublayer and the radio link control sublayer is configured by radio resource control to prevent triggering a radio link failure when a copy indication is received. Another exemplary embodiment is the method of this section and / or the front end, wherein the wireless device includes a mobile device, and wherein the packet data convergence protocol sublayer and the radio link control sublayer are used by the mobile device for uplink transmission. Yet another exemplary embodiment is the method of this section and / or the front end, wherein the RLC sublayer is configured such that a radio link failure is never triggered when the packet data convergence protocol data unit reaches the maximum number of retransmissions or a threshold number.

[0033] In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes modules for determining, by a wireless device of a communication network, that at least one packet data convergence protocol element (PaDATA) of a packet data convergence protocol sublayer is a copy of the PaDATA sublayer that has been submitted for transmission on two or more carriers; modules for signaling to a control sublayer an indication of each PaDATA element as a copy; and modules for preventing a radio link failure from being triggered when the number of retransmissions of the copy PaDATA elements reaches a retransmission threshold number, based on the indication.

[0034] Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus including a front-end device having a module, based on the indication, for receiving an instruction to discard other Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) copies on carriers other than one of the two or more carriers that has successfully delivered. In another exemplary embodiment, the local segment and / or front-end device, based on the indication, is used to prevent triggering a radio link failure when the number of retransmissions of a copy PDCP data unit reaches a threshold number. Furthermore, the indication is signaled per PDCP data unit or per radio bearer. Another exemplary embodiment is a local segment and / or front-end device where the indication indicates which PDCP data units are copies. Another exemplary embodiment is a local segment and / or front-end device where the indication of copy PDCP data units is received from the PDCP sublayer via a primitive between the radio link control and the PDCP sublayer. In another exemplary embodiment, it is a local segment and / or front-end device where the radio link control sublayer is configured by radio resource control to prevent triggering a radio link failure upon receiving a retransmission indication. Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus of this segment and / or the front end, wherein the wireless device includes a mobile device, and wherein the packet data convergence protocol sublayer and the radio link control sublayer are used by the mobile device for uplink transmission. Yet another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus of this segment and / or the front end, wherein the radio link control sublayer is configured such that a radio link failure is never triggered when the packet data convergence protocol data element reaches a maximum number of retransmissions or a threshold number of retransmissions.

[0035] In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code. The one or more memories and the computer program code, together with the one or more processors, are configured to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following operations: determining, by a wireless device of a communication network, that at least one packet data convergence protocol element (PaDATA) of a packet data convergence protocol sublayer is a copy of the PaDATA sublayer that has been committed to transmission on two or more carriers; signaling to a control sublayer an indication of each PaDATA sublayer that is a copy; and based on the indication, receiving a command to discard other PaDATA copies on carriers other than one of the two or more carriers that has successfully transmitted.

[0036] Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus including a front-end device, based on which the indication is configured to receive an instruction to discard additional packet convergence protocol copies on carriers other than one of the two or more carriers that has successfully delivered. In another exemplary embodiment of the apparatus of this segment and / or the front-end, based on the indication, a radio link failure is prevented from being triggered when the number of retransmissions based on the copy packet convergence protocol data unit reaches a retransmission threshold number. Furthermore, the control sublayer includes one of a radio link control sublayer and a radio resource control sublayer, and the indication is signaled per packet convergence protocol data unit or per radio bearer. Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus of this segment and / or the front-end, wherein the indication indicates which packet convergence protocol data units are copies. Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus of this segment and / or the front-end, wherein the indication of copy packet convergence protocol data units is received from the packet convergence protocol sublayer by the radio link control sublayer via a primitive between the radio link control sublayer and the packet convergence protocol sublayer. In another exemplary embodiment, the means of this segment and / or the frontend is provided, wherein the radio link control sublayer is configured by radio resource control to prevent the triggering of a radio link failure upon receiving a retransmission indication. Another exemplary embodiment is a means of this segment and / or the frontend, wherein the wireless device includes a mobile device, and wherein the packet data convergence protocol sublayer and the radio link control sublayer are used by the mobile device for uplink transmission. Yet another exemplary embodiment is a means of this segment and / or the frontend, wherein the RLC sublayer is configured such that a radio link failure is never triggered when a packet data convergence protocol data element reaches a maximum number of retransmissions or a threshold number of retransmissions.

[0037] In another exemplary embodiment, a method includes: transmitting a packet data convergence protocol data unit copy on two or more carriers by a wireless node; receiving an indication that the packet data convergence protocol data unit has been correctly transmitted on one of the two or more carriers; and, upon receiving the indication, commanding the discarding of other packet data convergence protocol copies on carriers other than the one of the two or more carriers that has been successfully transmitted.

[0038] Another exemplary embodiment is a method including the method described in the preceding paragraph, wherein discarding additional packet data convergence protocol copies comprises: notifying the corresponding radio link control entity not to send packet data convergence protocol copies. Another exemplary embodiment is the method of this paragraph and / or the preceding paragraph, wherein the wireless node includes one of a user equipment, a primary base station, and a secondary base station. In another exemplary embodiment, it is the method of this paragraph and / or the preceding paragraph, wherein the wireless node includes a primary base station, and wherein the indication is received by a radio link control function from the packet data convergence packet unit sublayer of the primary base station via a primitive between the packet data convergence packet unit sublayer and the radio link control function. Another exemplary embodiment is the method of this paragraph and / or the preceding paragraph, wherein the wireless node includes a secondary base station, and wherein the indication is received by the radio link control function of the secondary base station via X2 signaling between the packet data convergence packet unit sublayer of the primary base station and the packet data convergence packet unit sublayer of the secondary base station. In yet another exemplary embodiment, it is the method of this paragraph and / or the preceding paragraph, wherein the wireless node includes a mobile device, and wherein at least one of the packet data convergence packet unit and the service data unit is used by the mobile device for uplink transmission.

[0039] In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes: a module for transmitting copies of Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) data units by a wireless node on two or more carriers; a module for receiving an indication that the PDCP data units have been correctly transmitted on one of the two or more carriers; and a module for, upon receiving the indication, commanding the discarding of other PDCP copies on carriers other than the one of the two or more carriers that has been successfully transmitted.

[0040] Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus including the foregoing paragraph, wherein discarding additional Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) copies comprises: notifying the corresponding Radio Link Control (RLC) entity not to send a PCP copy. Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus of this paragraph and / or the front end, wherein the wireless node includes one of a user equipment (UE), a primary base station, and a secondary base station. In another exemplary embodiment, it is an apparatus of this paragraph and / or the front end, wherein the wireless node includes a primary base station, and wherein the indication is received by the Radio Link Control (RLC) function from the PCP sublayer of the primary base station via a primitive between the PCP sublayer and the RLC function. Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus of this paragraph and / or the front end, wherein the wireless node includes a secondary base station, and wherein the indication is received by the RLC function of the secondary base station via X2 signaling between the PCP sublayer of the primary base station and the PCP sublayer of the secondary base station. In yet another exemplary embodiment, it is an apparatus of this paragraph and / or the front end, wherein the wireless node includes a mobile device, and wherein at least one of the PCP and Serving Data Units is used by the mobile device for uplink transmission.

[0041] In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code. The one or more memories and the computer program code, together with the one or more processors, are configured to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following operations: transmit a copy of a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) data element on two or more carriers by a wireless node; receive an indication that the PDCP data element has been correctly transmitted via one of the two or more carriers; and, upon receiving the indication, command the discarding of other PDCP copies on carriers other than the one of the two or more carriers that has been successfully transmitted.

[0042] Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus including the foregoing paragraph, wherein discarding other Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) copies comprises: notifying the corresponding Radio Link Control (RLC) entity not to send a PDPCP copy. Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus of this paragraph and / or the front end, wherein the wireless node includes one of a user equipment (UE), a primary base station, and a secondary base station. In another exemplary embodiment, it is an apparatus of this paragraph and / or the front end, wherein the wireless node includes a primary base station, and wherein the indication is received by the Radio Link Control (RLC) function from the PDPCP sublayer of the primary base station via a primitive between the PDPCP sublayer and the RLC function. Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus of this paragraph and / or the front end, wherein the wireless node includes a secondary base station, and wherein the indication is received by the RLC function of the secondary base station via X2 signaling between the PDPCP sublayer of the primary base station and the PDPCP sublayer of the secondary base station. In yet another exemplary embodiment, it is an apparatus of this paragraph and / or the front end, wherein the wireless node includes a mobile device, and wherein at least one of the PDPCP and the Serving Data Unit (Serving Data Unit) is used by the mobile device for uplink transmission. Attached Figure Description

[0043] The foregoing and other aspects of the embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0044] Figure 1 The C-plane connection of the eNB involved in dual connectivity is shown, as in 3GPP TS 36.300V14.1.0 (2016-12). Figure 4 As shown in .9.3.1-1;

[0045] Figure 2 A diagram illustrating an example of a user equipment (UE) in partially overlapping cells is shown;

[0046] Figure 3a The PDCP PDU structure is shown;

[0047] Figure 3b The structure of the RLC PDU is shown;

[0048] Figure 4 Simplified block diagrams of various electronic devices suitable for practicing exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown; and

[0049] Figure 5a and 5b Each illustrates a method that can be performed by the apparatus according to an example embodiment of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0050] In this invention, we propose a novel operation that improves radio link control and radio link failure operation when repeating in the PDCP sublayer.

[0051] Figure 1 This demonstrates 3GPP TS 36.300V14.1.0 (2016-12). Figure 4 Figure 9.3.1-1 shows the C-plane connectivity of the eNB involved in the DC of a UE. For example... Figure 1 As shown, there is an S1-MME interface at the end of the MeNB, and the MeNB and SeNB are interconnected via X2-C. The S1 interface supports many-to-many relationships between the MME / S-GW and the eNB.

[0052] For "split bearer", the primary eNB (MeNB) can connect to the U plane of the MME / S-GW via S1-U. In addition, the MeNB interconnects to the secondary eNB (SeNB) via X2-U. The routing function in the PDCP layer of the MeNB determines whether to send the PDCP layer PDU of the split bearer directly to the UE through the local air interface, or whether to forward it to the SeNB via X2-U.

[0053] You can also refer to Figure 2 User equipment (UE 10) can connect to more than one cell simultaneously. In this example, UE 10 connects to a first cell 22 with base station 12 (e.g., an eNB, NCE, or WLAN access point) and a second cell 24 with base station 14 (e.g., an eNB, NCE, or WLAN access point). Therefore, the two cells 22 and 24 at least partially overlap. In one type of example embodiment, the first cell can operate on a licensed frequency band, while the second cell can operate on an open frequency band. For simplicity, Figure 2 The scenario shown depicts only two cells. In other alternative examples, any number of cells operating in licensed and / or open frequency bands could be provided to work together for appropriate carrier aggregation (CA) or dual connectivity.

[0054] Furthermore, according to the example embodiment, base station 12 and / or base station 14 may include a primary eNB or a secondary eNB. To transmit user plane data from the S-GW to the UE, a so-called "separate bearer" can be used. The separate bearer provides two or more paths for downlink user plane data. These can be transmitted from the S-GW to the UE via the primary eNB (MeNB), or via the MeNB to the secondary eNB (SeNB), which then transmits them to the UE.

[0055] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a UE and / or base station and / or other network device using such a separate bearer can be configured to include PDCP layer functionality to at least perform the RLF triggering and / or packet dropping functions described herein.

[0056] In addition, refer to Figure 3a It shows the PDCP PDU structure. For example... Figure 3a As shown, the PDCP PDU30 includes a PDCP header 32 and a PDCP SDU payload 34.

[0057] In addition, below the PDCP header and payload lies the RLC sublayer. As mentioned above, the main services or functions of the PDCP sublayer include: header compression and decompression, user data transmission, encryption and decryption, and timer-based SDU discarding. When configured for dual connectivity to separate bearers, PDCP also performs reordering in a sequential manner. Furthermore, as described herein, PDCP can also be used for packet discarding. These functions can also rely on information in the PDCP header of each PDCP PDU, such as the PDCP SN.

[0058] Example embodiments of the present invention address operations performed in the PDCP sublayer. For example, the main services and functions of the RLC sublayer include...

[0059] - Transmission of upper-layer PDUs;

[0060] - Error correction via ARQ (for AM data transmission only);

[0061] - Serialization, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs (for UM and AM data transmission only);

[0062] - Resegmentation of RLC data PDUs (for AM data transmission only);

[0063] - Reordering of RLC data PDUs (only for UM and AM data transfer);

[0064] - Duplicate detection (only for UM and AM data transmission);

[0065] - Protocol error detection (only for AM data transmission).

[0066] These functions can also rely on the RLC SN in the RLC header of each RLC PDU.

[0067] Figure 3b An RLC PDU 35 is shown. The RLC structure is a sublayer of the PDCP. (Example...) Figure 3b As shown, RLC PDU 35 includes RLCSDU 37. (As...) Figure 3bAs shown, RLC SDU 37 includes instructions for grouped copies, such as n, n+1, n+2, and n+3.

[0068] In addition, it should be noted that below the RLC structure is the MAC sublayer, whose main services and functions include:

[0069] - The mapping between logical channels and transmission channels;

[0070] - Multiplexing MAC SDUs belonging to one or different logical channels to transport blocks (TBs) of the physical layer on the transport channel / Demultiplexing transport blocks transmitted from the physical layer on the transport channel to MAC SDUs belonging to one or different logical channels.

[0071] - Scheduling information report;

[0072] - Error correction via HARQ;

[0073] - Priority processing between logical channels of a UE;

[0074] - Priority processing between UEs is achieved through dynamic scheduling;

[0075] -Transmission format selection; and

[0076] -filling.

[0077] Excerpts of standards and specifications related to the above points include:

[0078] 3GPP TS 36.322V13.2.0 (2016-06) Section 5.2.1:

[0079] When considering retransmitting an AMD PDU or a portion thereof, the sender of the AM RLC entity should:

[0080] - If retransmitting the AMD PDU is considered the first time:

[0081] - Set RETX_COUNT associated with the AMD PDU to zero;

[0082] - Otherwise, if it (is considered a retransmitted AMD PDU or a portion of an AMD PDU)

[0083] Not yet waiting for retransmission, or part of it is not yet waiting for retransmission:

[0084] - Increment RETX_COUNT;

[0085] -If RETX_COUNT = maxRetxThreshold:

[0086] - Indicate to the upper layer that the maximum retransmission limit has been reached.

[0087] 3GPP TS 36.331V14.1.0(2016-12)

[0088] 5.3.10.3DRB Additions / Modifications

[0089] UE should:

[0090] 1> For each drb-Identity value contained in drb-ToAddModList that is not part of the current UE configuration (DRB establishment, including cases using full configuration options):

[0091] 2> If the relevant entries in drb-ToAddModList contain entries set to TRUE

[0092] (i.e., adding LWA DRB) drb-TypeLWA:

[0093] 3> Perform LWA-specific DRB additions or reconfigurations as specified in 5.3.10.3a2;

[0094] 2> If the relevant entries in drb-ToAddModList include drb-TypeLWIP

[0095] (i.e., adding LWIP DRB):

[0096] 3> Perform LWIP-specific DRB additions or reconfigurations as specified in 5.3.10.3a3;

[0097] 2> Otherwise, if drb-ToAddModListSCG is not received or drb-Identity value is not included (i.e., add MCGDRB):

[0098] 3> Establish a PDCP entity and configure it using the current MCG security configuration and the received pdcp-Config;

[0099] 5.3.11 Actions related to radio link failures

[0100] 5.3.11.1 Detecting Physical Layer Issues in RRC_CONNECTED

[0101] UE should:

[0102] 1> When T300, T301, T304, and T311 are not running, start from the lower layer

[0103] When receiving a continuous "out of sync" instruction from N310 for PCell:

[0104] 2> Start timer T310;

[0105] 1> When receiving continuous "out of sync" instructions for PSCell from the lower layer when T307 is not running:

[0106] 2> Start T313;

[0107] Note: Physical layer monitoring and related autonomous actions do not apply to SCells other than PSCells.

[0108] 5.3.11.3 Detecting Wireless Link Faults

[0109] UE should:

[0110] 1> When T310 expires; or

[0111] 1> When T312 expires; or

[0112] 1> When a random access problem indication comes from the MCG MAC when T300, T301, T304, and T311 are not running; or

[0113] 1> When such an indication comes from the MCG RLC, it indicates that the maximum number of retransmissions has been reached for the SRB, the MCG, or the separate DRB:

[0114] 2> Consider detecting radio link failures (i.e., RLF) for the MCG.

[0115] 5.3.12 UE Actions After Maintaining RRC Connection

[0116] When leaving RRC_CONNECTED, the UE should:

[0117] 1> Reset MAC address;

[0118] 1> Stop all running timers except for T320, T325, and T330;

[0119] 1> If leaving RRC_CONNECTED is triggered due to an RRC pause:

[0120] 2> Rebuild RLC entities for all SRBs and DRBs;

[0121] 2> Store the UE AS context, which includes the current RRC configuration, the current security context, the PDCP state including the ROHC state, the C-RNTI used in the source PCell, the cellIdentity of the source PCell, and the physical cell identifier;

[0122] 2> Store the following information provided by E-UTRAN:

[0123] 3> resumeIdentity;

[0124] 2> Suspend all SRBs and DRBs, except for SRB0;

[0125] 2> Instruct the upper layer to pause the RRC connection;

[0126] 2> Configure the lower layer to pause integrity protection and encryption;

[0127] 5.6.13 SCG Fault Information

[0128] The purpose of this process is to notify the E-UTRAN of any SCG faults experienced by the UE, namely SCG radio link faults and SCG change faults.

[0129] Startup 5.6.13.2

[0130] The UE initiates the process of reporting an SCG fault when SCG transmission is not interrupted and one of the following conditions is met:

[0131] 1> According to 5.3.11, when a radio link failure of the SCG is detected; or

[0132] 1> According to 5.3.5.7a, when an SCG change failure occurs; or

[0133] 1> According to Section 7.17.2 of TS 36.133

[29] , when uplink transmission to PSCell is stopped because the maximum uplink transmission time difference is exceeded when powerControlMode is configured to 1.

[0134] After initiating this process, the UE should:

[0135] 1> Pause all SCG DRBs and pause SCG transmissions used to separate DRBs;

[0136] 1> Reset SCG-MAC;

[0137] 1> Stop T307;

[0138] 1> Initiate the transmission of SCGFailureInformation messages according to 5.6.13.3;

[0139] Regarding RLF, the current standard's current operations can be summarized as follows:

[0140] - Exit RRC connection mode;

[0141] - Reset MAC;

[0142] - Rebuild RLC entities for all SRBs and DRBs;

[0143] - Release all radio resources, including RLC entities, MAC configurations, and associated PDCP entities for all established RBs; and

[0144] - Indicates the release connection between the RRC and the upper layer, as well as the release reason.

[0145] Furthermore, as mentioned above, research projects on NR access technology have been agreed upon, involving packet duplication at the PDCP sublayer to increase reliability and potentially reduce latency. NR operation can use high bit rates, as seen in 5G operation, and in NR, system bandwidth can be aggregated across multiple carriers. However, while duplication processing within a single layer or on a single carrier is known and specified in 3GPP, duplication processing across communication layers (such as in NR) on two or more aggregated carriers is unknown. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention aim to at least address these shortcomings of current standard specifications.

[0146] Herein lies a problem: packet repetition on the PDCP sublayer over more than one carrier leads to inefficiency in RLC operation in AM mode, especially when such repetition occurs. These inefficiencies are related to radio link control and radio link failure operations when repetition occurs at the PDCP sublayer.

[0147] When repetition occurs at the PDCP sublayer, exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to novel operations to improve radio link control and radio link failure operation.

[0148] Before further describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail, refer to Figure 4 It illustrates simplified block diagrams of various electronic devices and apparatuses applicable to the practice of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0149] exist Figure 4 In this context, wireless network 1 is adapted to communicate with devices (such as mobile communication devices, which may be referred to as UE 10) via wireless link 11 through network access nodes (such as node B (base station, more specifically eNB 12).

[0150] Network 1 may include a network control element (NCE) 14, which may include MME / SGW functionality and provide connectivity to other networks, such as telephone networks and / or data communication networks (e.g., the Internet).

[0151] NCE 14 includes, for example, a controller such as a computer or data processor (DP) 14A, a computer-readable storage medium embodied as a memory (MEM) 14B—which stores a program of computer instructions (PROG) 14C, and a suitable path for communicating with the eNB 12 via a data / control path 13 to the eNB 12—which may be implemented, for example, as an X2 interface.

[0152] UE 10 includes, for example, a controller such as a computer or data processor (DP) 10A, a computer-readable storage medium embodied as a memory (MEM) 10B for storing a program of computer instructions (PROG) 10C, and a suitable radio frequency (RF) transceiver 10D for bidirectional wireless communication with eNB 12 via one or more antennas.

[0153] The eNB 12 also includes a controller, such as a computer or data processor (DP) 12A, a computer-readable storage medium embodied as a memory (MEM) 12B storing a program of computer instructions (PROG) 12C, and a suitable RF transceiver 12D for communicating with the UE 10 via one or more antennas. The eNB 12 is coupled to the NCE 14 via a data / control path 13. The eNB 12 may also be coupled to the NCE 14 via a data / control path 15, which may be implemented by a wired or wireless interface, such as an X2 interface. Additionally, the eNB 12 may include MME / SGW functionality and provides connectivity to other networks such as telephone networks and / or data communication networks (e.g., the Internet). Furthermore, according to the example embodiment, the eNB 12 and / or the NCE 14 may include a primary eNB or a secondary eNB.

[0154] Typically, various embodiments of UE 10 may include, but are not limited to, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) with wireless communication capabilities, portable computers with wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices such as digital cameras with wireless communication capabilities, gaming devices with wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback devices with wireless communication capabilities, internet devices that allow wireless internet access and browsing, and portable units or terminals that incorporate such capabilities.

[0155] Assuming that at least one of PROG 10C, 12C, and 14C includes program instructions that, when executed by the associated DP, enable the device to operate according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, as will be discussed in more detail below. That is, exemplary embodiments of the invention can be implemented, at least in part, by computer software executable by DP 10A of UE 10 and / or DP 12A of eNB 12 and / or DP 14A of NCE 14, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware (and firmware).

[0156] Computer-readable MEMs 10B, 12B, and 14B can be of any type suitable for the local technical environment and can be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based storage devices, flash memory, magnetic storage devices and systems, optical storage devices and systems, fixed memory, and removable memory. As a non-limiting example, DPs 10A, 12A, and 14A can be of any type suitable for the local technical environment and can include one or more of general-purpose computers, special-purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), and processors based on multi-core processor architectures.

[0157] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention address the problem that may be caused by packet duplication on the PDCP sublayer for multi-connectivity, wherein the same PDCP PDU is transmitted via two or more different RLC entities using different transmission paths and / or different logical channels.

[0158] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be advantageously applied to communication operations using carrier aggregation or in situations where inefficient multi-connectivity exists, for example:

[0159] 1) In RLC AM operation, failure to send a replica PDU can trigger unnecessary radio link failures; and

[0160] 2) When PDCP is notified that a copy has been received through one branch, sending the copy through another branch would waste resources.

[0161] To address the identified inefficiencies, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide novel operations including informing the device’s RLC which RLC SDUs transmitted to the target device via more than one carrier can be considered as copies for discarding and / or ignoring, and operations for causing RLF to be disallowed, even when an RLF is considered detected based on the maximum number of obvious retransmissions to PDCP copies transmitted to the target device on multiple carriers or a retransmission threshold.

[0162] Replica grouping operations

[0163] Example embodiments of the present invention provide PDCP operation to notify the device’s RLC which RLCSDU submitted for communication can be considered a copy.

[0164] According to the example embodiment, the PDCP drop instruction can be used to notify the corresponding RLC entity not to allow RLF and / or not to send replica packets, in order to execute instructions related to not allowing RLF and / or not sending other replica packets.

[0165] Furthermore, according to an example embodiment, an indication of correct transmission via any of the tributaries can trigger the PDCP to signal to all other tributaries that the PDCP PDU has been discarded. According to the embodiment, even if the RLC has already started transmitting the PDU (segmented transmission), it can still instruct and allow the RLC to discard the PDCP PDU.

[0166] According to the embodiment, when the discard timer for the PDCP SDU expires, or when the successful transmission of the PDCP SDU is confirmed by the PDCP status report, the UE should discard the PDCP SDU and the corresponding PDCP PDU. If the corresponding PDCP PDU has already been submitted to the lower layer, the UE should indicate to the lower layer that it should be discarded.

[0167] Additionally, when the lower layer confirms the successful delivery of a copy of the PDCP SDU, the UE should discard the PDCP SDU along with the corresponding PDUs that are still awaiting successful delivery in all tributaries. If, for a given tributary, the corresponding PDCP PDU has already been submitted to the lower layer, then the lower layer for that tributary should be instructed to discard it.

[0168] RLF operation

[0169] Example embodiments of the present invention provide novel operations including disallowing Recurrent LRFs (RLFs), even when an RLF is detected, for example based on a maximum or threshold number of retransmissions to the PDCP copy. According to example embodiments of the present invention, the maximum or threshold number may be predetermined by a network device such as a UE, or provided to the device by the network.

[0170] Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an RLF may be disallowed even when an RLF is detected, for example, based on a significant retransmission of a PDCP replica. According to the exemplary embodiment, retransmissions may be performed, for example, by the RLC sublayer, and an RLF may be disallowed even when a retransmission of a PDCP replica indicates an RLF.

[0171] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the PDCP operation associated with the RLC results in the RLC being configured such that when a duplicate occurs at the PDCP, an RLF is not allowed to be triggered when the maximum number of retransmissions or the threshold number of retransmissions is reached.

[0172] According to another example embodiment, for the assumption of using a repeated carrier (the entire carrier), this results in no RLF being triggered.

[0173] PDCP operations associated with the RLC (where the RLC SDU can be considered a copy) cause the PDCP to signal to the RLC which SDUs are copies. These exemplary operations may be limited to cases where another version of the PDCP copy has already been successfully transmitted.

[0174] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the PDCP maintains transmission buffers and relies on instructions from the RLC to manage them, and uses instructions from the RLC of one of the tributaries to identify when the PDCP is dropped and to send a signal to notify the other tributary.

[0175] In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, based on an indication from any of the tributaries that the PDCP PDU has been correctly sent, other tributaries are instructed not to send any additional copies.

[0176] According to an embodiment, the signaling can be a primitive, per packet or per bearer, and between layers (i.e., RLC and PDCP). According to this example embodiment, the signaling causes the RLC to be configured, for example, by the RRC to apply the operation according to the example embodiment of the invention, without requiring modification of the PDU structure.

[0177] about Figure 5a This illustrates a method and operation of a computer program product according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which can be executed by a network device, such as... Figure 4 The wireless devices shown include, for example, UE10, eNB 12, and / or NCE14. Figure 5a As shown in step 510, the wireless device of the communication network determines that at least one packet data convergence protocol data unit of the packet data convergence protocol sublayer is a copy of the packet data convergence protocol sublayer that has been submitted for transmission on two or more carriers. Figure 5a As shown in step 520, a signal is sent to the control sublayer to notify each packet data aggregation protocol data unit (PaDN) that it is a replica packet data aggregation protocol data unit. Then, as shown in step 530, based on this indication, a radio link failure is prevented from being triggered when the number of retransmissions based on that replica packet data aggregation protocol data unit reaches a retransmission threshold.

[0178] Based on the example embodiment described in the preceding paragraphs, the instruction is received to discard additional packet data convergence protocol copies on carriers other than one carrier that has been successfully delivered in two or more carriers.

[0179] According to the example embodiment described in the preceding paragraphs, the control sublayer includes one of the radio link control sublayer and the radio resource control sublayer, and the indication is signaled per packet data convergence protocol data unit or per radio bearer, and the indication indicates which packet data convergence protocol data units are copies.

[0180] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, the triggering of radio link failure is prevented when the number of retransmissions of a data unit based on the replica packet data aggregation protocol reaches the maximum number of retransmissions or the threshold number of retransmissions.

[0181] According to the example embodiments described in the preceding paragraphs, the instruction is transmitted by signal per packet data convergence protocol data unit or per radio bearer.

[0182] According to the example embodiment described in the above paragraphs, the indication indicates which packet data aggregation protocol data unit is a copy.

[0183] According to the example embodiment described in the preceding paragraphs, the control sublayer receives an instruction for a copy of the packet data convergence protocol data unit from the packet data convergence protocol sublayer via a primitive between the control sublayer and the packet data convergence protocol sublayer.

[0184] According to the example embodiments described in the preceding paragraphs, the control sublayer is configured by radio resource control to prevent radio link failure from being triggered upon receiving a repeated indication.

[0185] According to the example embodiments described in the preceding paragraphs, the wireless device includes a mobile device, and wherein the packet data convergence protocol sublayer and the radio link control sublayer are used by the mobile device for uplink transmission.

[0186] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, the control sublayer is configured such that a radio link failure is never triggered when the packet data convergence protocol data unit reaches the maximum number of retransmissions or the threshold number of retransmissions.

[0187] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code, which is executed by at least one processor to perform the methods described in any of the preceding paragraphs.

[0188] According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention described above, there exists an apparatus comprising: a wireless device (such as a communication network) for use with a communication network. Figure 4UE 10, eNB 12 and / or NCE 14) determine at least one Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDP) data element in the PDP sublayer as a module of a PDP sublayer that has been submitted for transmission as a copy of the PDP sublayer. Figure 4 As shown, radio link 11 and / or data path 13, DP 10A, DP12A and / or DP 14A, PROG 10C, PROG 12C and / or PROG 14C, and MEM 10B, MEM 12B and / or 14B); modules for signaling to the control sublayer indicating each packet data convergence protocol data unit (e.g., ) that is a replica packet data convergence protocol data unit. Figure 4 The radio link 11 and / or data path 13, DP 10A, DP 12A and / or DP14A, PROG 10C, PROG 12C and / or PROG 14C, and MEM 10B, MEM 12B and / or 14B); and a module for preventing radio link failure when the number of retransmissions of the converged data unit based on the replica packet data reaches the retransmission threshold number, based on the indication (e.g., Figure 4 DP 10A, DP 12A and / or DP 14A, PROG 10C, PROG 12C and / or PROG 14C, and MEM 10B, MEM 12B and / or 14B).

[0189] Figure 5b It shows that it can be made by devices (such as, but not limited to, such as) Figure 4 Additional or separate operations performed by devices such as UE 10, eNB12, and / or NCE 14. Figure 5b As shown in step 550, the wireless node transmits copies of the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) data cells on two or more carriers. For example... Figure 5b As shown in step 560, an indication is received that the packet data convergence protocol data unit has been correctly transmitted via one of two or more carriers. Then, as shown in step 570, upon receiving this indication, the other packet data convergence protocol copies on the carriers other than the one that has been successfully transmitted among the two or more carriers are ordered to be discarded.

[0190] According to the example embodiments described in the preceding paragraphs, discarding other packets data convergence protocol copies includes: notifying the relevant radio link control entity not to send packets data convergence protocol copies.

[0191] According to the example embodiments described in the above paragraphs, the wireless node includes one of a user equipment, a main base station, and a secondary base station.

[0192] According to the example embodiment described in the preceding paragraphs, the wireless node includes a primary base station, and wherein the instruction is received from the primary base station's packet data aggregation sublayer via a primitive between the packet data aggregation packet unit sublayer and the radio link control function through the radio link control function.

[0193] According to the example embodiments described in the preceding paragraphs, the wireless node includes an auxiliary base station, and the indication is received by the radio link control function of the auxiliary base station via X2 signaling between the packet data aggregation packet unit sublayer of the primary base station and the packet data aggregation packet unit sublayer of the auxiliary base station.

[0194] According to the example embodiments described in the preceding paragraphs, the wireless node includes a mobile device, and wherein at least one of the packet data aggregation packet unit and the service data unit is used for uplink transmission of the mobile device.

[0195] A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores program code that is executed by at least one processor to perform the methods described in any of the preceding paragraphs.

[0196] According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention described above, there exists an apparatus comprising: a module (e.g., a module for transmitting a copy of a packet data convergence protocol data unit on two or more carriers via a wireless node (i.e., transmitting a copy of a packet data convergence protocol via multiple branches) Figure 4 As shown, wireless link 11 and / or data path 13, DP 10A, DP12A and / or DP 14A, PROG 10C, PROG 12C and / or PROG 14C, and MEM 10B, MEM 12B and / or 14B); a module for receiving an indication that a packet data convergence protocol data element has been correctly transmitted via one of two or more carriers (i.e., an indication that a packet data convergence protocol data element has been correctly transmitted from any one of the tributaries) (such as...) Figure 4 As shown, wireless link 11 and / or data path 13, DP 10A, DP 12A and / or DP 14A, PROG 10C, PROG 12C and / or PROG 14C, and MEM 10B, MEM 12B and / or 14B); and a module that, upon receiving the indication, commands the discarding of other packet data convergence protocol copies on carriers other than one carrier that has successfully delivered among the two or more carriers (instructing other branches not to send other copies). Figure 4 As shown, wireless link 11 and / or data path 13, DP 10A, DP 12A and / or DP 14A, PROG IOC, PROG 12C and / or PROG 14C, and MEM 10B, MEM 12B and / or 14B).

[0197] Generally, various embodiments can be implemented in hardware or dedicated circuitry, software, logic, or any combination thereof. For example, some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while others may be implemented by firmware or software that can be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computing device, but the invention is not limited thereto. Although various aspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other illustrations, it is well known that these blocks, apparatuses, systems, techniques, or methods described herein can be implemented, by way of non-limiting example, in hardware, software, firmware, dedicated circuitry or logic, general-purpose hardware or controllers or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0198] Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is generally a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools can be used to transform logic-level designs into semiconductor circuit designs ready for etching and formation on semiconductor substrates.

[0199] The word “exemplary” as used herein means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. All embodiments described in this detailed description are exemplary embodiments, provided to enable those skilled in the art to make or use the invention, and not to limit the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0200] The foregoing description has provided a complete and detailed description, by way of exemplary and non-limiting examples, of the best methods and apparatus currently conceived by the inventors for carrying out the invention. However, various modifications and adaptations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims, given the foregoing description. Nevertheless, all such modifications and similar alterations to the teachings of the invention will still fall within the scope of the invention.

[0201] It should be noted that the terms “connection,” “coupling,” or any variation thereof refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include one or more intermediate elements present between two elements that are “connected” or “coupled” together. The coupling or connection between elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. As adopted herein, two elements can be considered “connected” or “coupled” together by using one or more wires, cables, and / or printed electrical connections, and by using electromagnetic energy—for example, electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency region, the microwave region, and the optical (visible and invisible) region—as several non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[0202] Furthermore, certain features of the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be utilized without correspondingly using other features. Therefore, the foregoing description should be considered merely as an illustration of the principles of the invention, and not as a limitation thereof.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising: At least one processor; as well as At least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code, together with the at least one processor, enable the mobile device to at least: The mobile device transmits a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) and a PDCP PDU copy via two different carriers, wherein the PDCP PDU copy is a copy of the PDCP PDU, wherein the two different carriers are aggregated carriers, and wherein the transmission includes submitting the PDCP PDU and the PDCP PDU copy to the corresponding RLC entities in two different Radio Link Control (RLC) entities for uplink transmission via the corresponding carriers in the two different carriers; A receiving indication indicates that one of the PDCP PDU and the PDCP PDU copy has been correctly transmitted on one of the two different carriers; as well as Upon receiving the instruction, a command is made to discard the other of the PDCP PDU and its copy, and the other of the PDCP PDU and its copy is submitted to another of the two different RLC entities for transmission over a carrier other than the one that has been successfully delivered, wherein the command to discard includes signaling to the other of the two different RLC entities to discard the other of the PDCP PDU and its copy.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein ordering the discarding of the PDCP PDU copy comprises notifying the other of the two different RLC entities not to send the PDCP PDU and the other of the PDCP PDU copies.

3. A communication method, comprising: A mobile device transmits a copy of a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) and a copy of a PDCPPDU via two different carriers, wherein the PDCP PDU copy is a copy of the PDCP PDU, wherein the two different carriers are aggregated carriers, and wherein the transmission includes submitting the PDCP PDU and the PDCP PDU copy to the corresponding RLC entities in two different Radio Link Control (RLC) entities for uplink transmission via the corresponding carriers in the two different carriers; A receiving indication indicates that one of the PDCP PDU and the PDCP PDU copy has been correctly transmitted on one of the two different carriers; as well as Upon receiving the instruction, a command is made to discard the other of the PDCP PDU and its copy, and the other of the PDCP PDU and its copy is submitted to another of the two different RLC entities for transmission over a carrier other than the one that has been successfully delivered, wherein the command to discard includes signaling to the other of the two different RLC entities to discard the other of the PDCP PDU and its copy.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein ordering the discarding of the PDCP PDU copy comprises notifying the other of the two different RLC entities not to send the PDCP PDU and the other of the PDCP PDU copies.

5. A mobile device, comprising: A module for transmitting Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) and PDCP PDU copies by a mobile device over two different carriers, wherein the PDCP PDU copies are copies of the PDCP PDU, wherein the two different carriers are aggregated carriers, and wherein the transmission includes submitting the PDCP PDU and the PDCP PDU copies to the respective RLC entities in two different Radio Link Control (RLC) entities for uplink transmission over the respective carriers in the two different carriers; A module for receiving an indication that one of the PDCP PDU and the copy of the PDCP PDU has been correctly transmitted on one of the two different carriers; as well as A module configured to, upon receiving the instruction, command the discarding of the PDCP PDU and the other of the PDCP PDU copies, wherein the PDCP PDU and the other of the PDCP PDU copies are submitted to another entity of the two different RLC entities for transmission over a carrier other than the one that has been successfully delivered, wherein the command to discard includes signaling to the other entity of the two different RLC entities to discard the PDCP PDU and the other of the PDCP PDU copies.

6. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein ordering the discarding of the PDCP PDU copy comprises notifying the other of the two different RLC entities not to send the PDCP PDU and the other of the PDCP PDU copies.

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