Base Station Cell Association for 4G-5G Interworking

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the context of tight interworking between 4G and 5G base stations, the gNB struggles to determine the relationship between NR cells requested by an eNB and its own cells, leading to inaccuracies in identifying the target secondary cell group (SCG) for user equipment (UE).

Innovation Solution

The method involves transmitting association information between cells belonging to different base stations, allowing the gNB to understand the cell-level association, which improves the accuracy of determining the target SCG cell for the UE by establishing clear correspondence between cells under the eNB and those requested by the eNB.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the same PCI is allocated to multiple NR cells within the coverage of an eNB, then the quantity of physical layer cell identities is optimized for high-frequency deployment, but PCI confusion occurs and the gNB cannot determine the relationship between NR cells and eNB cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment flexibility at high frequenciesVSAvoidPCI identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary information element (ECGI or serving cell identity) that mediates between the PCI and the gNB. This intermediary provides additional context that resolves the ambiguity caused by PCI reuse, allowing the gNB to correctly identify the relationship between NR cells and eNB cells without changing the PCI allocation strategy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds another dimension of identification by incorporating ECGI or serving cell identity information alongside the traditional PCI. This dimensional expansion transforms the one-dimensional PCI identification into a two-dimensional identification system, enabling unique cell identification even when PCIs are reused.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If detailed solutions are implemented to resolve PCI confusion, then the accuracy of determining target SCG cell improves, but the system complexity and ASN.1 impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget SCG cell determination accuracyVSAvoidsystem configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the association information (ECGI or serving cell identity) in the measurement report before the gNB needs to make its determination. This allows the gNB to directly use the pre-provided information without requiring complex real-time resolution procedures, thereby improving accuracy while minimizing additional system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential identification information (ECGI or serving cell identity) from the complex cell configuration data and places it directly in the measurement report. This extraction approach provides the gNB with just the necessary information needed for accurate cell determination, avoiding the need to process and interpret complex ASN.1 configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3799457B1Tight coupling method and device, and base station
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 DATANG MOBILE COMM EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3799457B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3799457B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3799457B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A method and a device for tight interworking processing, and a base station are provided, which relate to the technical field of communications. The method for tight interworking processing, applied to a first base station, includes: transmitting association information between a first cell and a second cell to a second base station; where the first cell is a cell belonging to the first base station, and the second cell is a cell requested by the first base station and belonging to the second base station.