5G Central Distributed Unit Network Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G communication systems face challenges in handling user connections when base stations include both central and distributed units, particularly due to insufficient resources, leading to unsuccessful network access for users.

Innovation Solution

A method involving message interactions between central and distributed units to manage user connection requests, including generating rejection or permission messages based on resource availability and context setup procedures, allowing for efficient allocation of resources and communication of connection status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the base station includes both central unit and distributed unit to improve resource management flexibility, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station is divided into two functional units: a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The CU handles control plane functions including RRC and PDCP protocol layers, while the DU handles user plane functions including RLC, MAC, and physical layer. This segmentation allows independent optimization and management of control and data plane resources, improving overall resource allocation efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through clear functional boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the distributed unit establishes user context to enable network access, then user connection capability is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser connection capabilityVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The distributed unit performs preliminary actions by establishing user context in advance, including allocating necessary resources and configuring parameters before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary setup ensures that when a user needs network access, the connection can be established quickly and reliably without consuming excessive resources during the actual data transfer phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the distributed unit reports resource status and context establishment results to the central unit. Based on this feedback, the central unit can make informed decisions about resource allocation, adjusting the user context configuration to optimize the balance between connection reliability and resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If rejection messages are generated based on resource availability to manage network access, then network resource protection is improved, but user access delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource protectionVSAvoiduser access delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by proactively generating rejection messages when resource availability indicates that accepting new connections would compromise network performance. The distributed unit monitors resource status and preemptively rejects connection requests when thresholds are exceeded, preventing resource exhaustion before it occurs. This approach protects network resources while minimizing delays by making rejection decisions based on pre-established criteria rather than waiting for resource depletion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3836729B1Methods and devices for network access
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3836729B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3836729B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3836729B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). The embodiments of the present invention provide methods and devices for network access. The method includes receiving a first request message forwarded by a distributed unit in a base station and indication information of the distributed unit with respect to the first request message, the first request message requesting to connect a user equipment to a network; determining a processing to be performed on the first request message based on the indication Information; and transmitting an indication of the determined processing to the distributed unit.