Base Station State Control for Dual Connectivity Delay Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dual connectivity radio communication systems, independent timing advance (TA) control and discontinuous reception (DRX) control between base stations and user equipment can cause data transmission delays due to premature release of radio resources and transition to DRX states.
Innovation Solution
A base station system that includes a data storage unit, a reception unit, and a state control unit to prevent user equipment from releasing radio resources or transitioning to a discontinuous reception state when data are available from another base station, by exchanging information about data existence through interfaces like X2 or Xn interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If independent TA control and DRX control are performed between each base station and user equipment, then resource usage efficiency is improved and battery consumption is reduced, but data transmission delay increases due to premature release of radio resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the TA control and DRX control mechanisms across multiple base stations by introducing a coordination interface (X2/Xn). When one base station detects data activity, it notifies other base stations through this interface, ensuring synchronized maintenance of user equipment active state across all serving base stations, thereby preventing premature resource release while maintaining efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where base stations exchange information about user equipment data activity status through the X2/Xn interface. This feedback loop allows base stations to adjust their TA and DRX control decisions based on real-time data from other base stations, preventing premature resource release and reducing transmission delays.
2Use of energy by moving object
If independent DRX control is performed by each base station, then battery consumption of user equipment is reduced, but user equipment transitions to DRX state prematurely causing data transmission delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines DRX control decisions across multiple base stations by establishing a coordination mechanism through the X2/Xn interface. When any base station detects ongoing data activity, it triggers a notification to other base stations, ensuring unified DRX state management that prevents premature transitions while optimizing battery consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where base stations share DRX state information and data activity status through the X2/Xn interface. This enables coordinated DRX control that responds to actual data transmission needs across the dual connectivity system, preventing premature DRX transitions that would cause delays while maintaining energy efficiency.
3Productivity
If radio resource is released when TA command is not received, then resource usage efficiency is improved, but data transmission delay occurs when data needs to be transmitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges TA control decisions across base stations by implementing coordination through the X2/Xn interface. When one base station receives or generates data, it notifies other base stations, ensuring that TA timers are coordinated and radio resources are maintained across the dual connectivity system, preventing premature release while optimizing resource usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where base stations exchange TA timer status and data activity information through the X2/Xn interface. This coordinated feedback system prevents premature TA timer expiration and radio resource release by ensuring all base stations are aware of ongoing data activities, thereby reducing transmission delays while maintaining resource efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one aspect of the present invention, a first base station for communicating with user equipment together with a second base station according to dual connectivity includes a data storage unit configured to store data to be transmitted from the first base station to the user equipment; a reception unit configured to receive from the second base station information indicating whether data to be transmitted from the second base station to the user equipment exist; and a state control unit configured to, when information indicating that data to be transmitted from the second base station to the user equipment exist is received, prevent the user equipment from releasing a radio resource or transitioning to a discontinuous reception state, even if the amount of to-be-transmitted data stored in the data storage unit is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.