6G Dual Connectivity with Independent Cell Group Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing 5G MR-DC design faces high deployment, UE, and RAN complexity due to requirements for simultaneous receive/transmit operations, complex UE capability reporting, and extensive RAN coordination, which are not efficiently addressed in current wireless communication systems.
Innovation Solution
The proposed 6G MR-DC design relaxes the need for simultaneous Rx/Tx operations at the UE, reduces RAN coordination complexity, and simplifies UE capability reporting by allowing independent activation/deactivation of cell groups, maintaining a single anchor node for RAN connectivity, and using flexible SRB configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If simultaneous receive/transmit operations are required at the UE, then dual connectivity functionality is achieved, but UE power consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic activation and deactivation of cell groups (CGs) based on traffic conditions. The UE can switch between active and inactive states for secondary CGs, allowing dual connectivity functionality to be available when needed while conserving power when not actively used. This dynamic state transition resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptable rather than statically requiring simultaneous operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different operational states to different cell groups independently. The primary CG remains active while secondary CGs can be activated or deactivated based on local traffic requirements. This localized control allows the UE to maintain dual connectivity capability selectively rather than globally, reducing power consumption while preserving functionality where needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extensive RAN coordination is implemented, then dual connectivity management is achieved, but RAN complexity and deployment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dual connectivity management into independent cell group activations. Each CG can be managed separately with its own activation/deactivation state, reducing the coordination overhead between RAN nodes. This segmentation allows simpler RAN coordination compared to managing all cell groups as a unified complex system, directly addressing the contradiction between management capability and system complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex UE capability reporting is required, then precise network configuration is achieved, but UE processing complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the reporting parameters from comprehensive capability descriptions to simpler activation state indicators. Instead of reporting detailed UE capabilities for all possible configurations, the UE reports the current activation state of cell groups, which is a simpler parameter that still enables precise network configuration decisions. This parameter simplification resolves the contradiction between configuration precision and processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for sixth generation (6G) dual connectivity (DC) are discussed. A user equipment (UE) establishes a connection with a first node through a first cell group (CG) of the first node; sends, to the first node, a DC request comprising an indication of a preferred target cell; receives, from the first node, in response to the DC request, a configuration message comprising an identification of a second CG of a second node to use with the first CG of the first node in a DC mode; and initiates, in response to the configuration message, the DC mode with the first CG of the first node and the second CG of the second node. Corresponding network functionalities are also discussed.