Asymmetrical 5G NR Protocol Stack Frame Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems utilize symmetrical up-link/down-link protocol stacks and frame structures, which are inefficient due to the asymmetrical capabilities between base stations and user equipment, limiting flexibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an asymmetrical protocol stack and frame structure for 5G NR communication systems, where the user equipment and base station use different transmit and receive protocols and frame structures, with the user equipment constructing MAC subPDU headers at the end of the frame and the base station at the beginning, to optimize processing and storage resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If symmetrical protocol stacks and frame structures are used in both uplink and downlink, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but communication flexibility and efficiency are limited due to asymmetrical capabilities between base station and user equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by implementing different protocol stack configurations and frame structures for uplink and downlink directions. Specifically, the MAC PDU structure, header placement, and multiplexing procedures are optimized differently for UE transmission versus gNB transmission, allowing each direction to be tailored to the specific computational and storage capabilities of the transmitting device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by customizing protocol parameters and processing procedures for specific locations in the communication system. The UE side implements simplified procedures appropriate for limited hardware resources, while the gNB side implements more sophisticated procedures leveraging its greater computational power and storage capacity.
2Productivity
If symmetrical protocol structures are used, then device complexity is reduced, but processing efficiency and resource utilization are worsened due to ignoring physical capability differences
Solution Approach 1:
Different MAC PDU construction procedures are implemented for uplink and downlink. For example, subheader placement and concatenation rules differ between directions, allowing optimization for the specific resource constraints of UE versus the capabilities of gNB.
Solution Approach 2:
Protocol parameters such as buffer sizes, processing timelines, and multiplexing configurations are changed based on the direction of communication. The UE uses parameters optimized for limited memory and processing, while the gNB uses parameters that leverage its greater resources.
3Device complexity
If UE implements simplified transmission and reception procedures, then limited computation and storage resources are optimized, but the asymmetrical capabilities of BS and UE are not addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by applying simplification specifically at the UE where computational resources are limited, while allowing the gNB to implement more complex procedures. This localized optimization addresses the capability mismatch without forcing uniform simplicity across the entire system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A 5G NR user equipment (UE) and 5G NR based station (gNB) for transmitting and receiving NR User Plane data traffic and NR Control Plane data are described. Both, the UE and gNB include processor memory in electronic communication with the processor. Instructions stored in the memory are executable to process received downlink (DL) packets according to receive Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol and/or Received Radio Link Control (RLC) Protocol. The instructions are also executable to process uplink (UL) packets for transmission according to transmit MAC and/or RLC protocols. The Transmit MAC frame structure and/or RLC frame structure are/is different in formats than those from Receive MAC and/or RLC frame structure at each end (i.e., at the UE and/or at the gNB). In the Up-link (UL), the MAC CE is transmitted at the end of the frame while for the Down-link (DL) the MAC CE is transmitted at beginning of the frame.