Anchor Node RRC Connection Handling for Dense Base Station Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wireless communication systems face increased signaling load due to frequent handovers and dense deployment of base stations, leading to inefficiencies in core network signaling, particularly in processing RRC messages.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an RRC message processing system that involves a serving node and an anchor node, where the serving node connects to the anchor node, and the anchor node connects to the MME, allowing for joint processing of RRC messages by the anchor and serving nodes, separating the RRC message processing functions between the two nodes, and maintaining the RRC connection on the anchor node during handovers, thus reducing the need for handover signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If base stations are densely deployed to increase system capacity, then the wireless communication service coverage is improved, but the signaling load on the core network increases sharply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the base station functionality into serving nodes and anchor nodes. Serving nodes handle user communication while anchor nodes maintain RRC connections with the core network. This segmentation allows multiple serving nodes to share a single anchor node connection, reducing core network signaling load while maintaining system capacity through dense serving node deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor node acts as an intermediary between serving nodes and the core network MME. RRC messages are forwarded through the anchor node rather than directly between each serving node and MME, reducing the number of signaling connections to the core network and thereby reducing signaling load.
2Reliability
If serving node handover is performed on UE, then the wireless communication service continuity is improved, but at least four messages need to be sent between new serving node and MME to update S1 control plane connection
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor node serves as an intermediary that maintains the RRC connection with the MME during handovers. When a UE handovers between serving nodes, the RRC connection is preserved through the anchor node, eliminating the need to update S1 control plane connections and reducing handover signaling messages from at least four to minimal messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The RRC connection is preliminarily established between the anchor node and MME before handovers occur. This preliminary setup allows subsequent handovers to proceed without requiring connection updates, as the anchor node already has an active RRC connection with the MME that can accommodate serving node changes.
3Reliability
If MME sends paging message to all base stations in tracking area, then the UE can be located and reached, but signaling load of core network increases sharply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the base station population into serving nodes and anchor nodes for paging purposes. The MME sends paging messages only to anchor nodes rather than all base stations, since anchor nodes maintain the RRC connections. This segmentation reduces paging signaling load while maintaining UE reachability through the anchor node intermediary.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a radio resource control RRC message processing method, apparatus, and system. The method includes: setting up, by a first serving node, a connection to a first anchor node, and setting up, by the first anchor node, a connection to a mobility management entity MME; receiving, by the first serving node, a radio resource control RRC message sent by first user equipment UE, where the RRC message includes an RRC message carried by a signaling radio bearer SRB1 or an RRC message carried by an SRB2; and sending, by the first serving node, the RRC message to the first anchor node.