Base Station UE Context Release via Physical Layer Failure Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cellular wireless networks, particularly under the LTE protocol, there is a delay in establishing a new network connection for user equipment (UE) due to the wait for upper layer failure detection before releasing the UE's context record, leading to unnecessary resource consumption and connection delays when air interface communication fails.

Innovation Solution

A method where a base station detects physical layer failure and immediately transmits a UE-context release request to the network controller without waiting for upper layer failure, allowing for expedited release of the UE's context record and facilitating quicker re-establishment of network connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the base station waits for upper layer failure detection before releasing the UE context record, then the network ensures proper protocol layer failure confirmation, but the connection establishment time increases and network resources are consumed unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure detection accuracyVSAvoidconnection establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary failure detection at the physical layer and proactively releases the UE context record without waiting for upper layer failure confirmation. This preliminary action at the physical layer anticipates the eventual upper layer failure, eliminating the waiting period and reducing connection establishment time while maintaining reliability through the accuracy of physical layer failure detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention skips the traditional sequential process of waiting for upper layer failure detection by rushing through the failure detection process at the physical layer. By detecting failure at the lower physical layer and immediately acting, the system rushes through the intermediate waiting period, achieving faster context release and connection re-establishment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

2Reliability

If the base station waits for upper layer failure detection before releasing the UE context record, then the network follows the standard protocol failure detection procedure, but network resource consumption increases due to prolonged context retention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol complianceVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The base station takes preliminary action by detecting physical layer failure and releasing the UE context record immediately, rather than waiting for upper layer confirmation. This preliminary release action prevents prolonged retention of network resources associated with the failed UE context, reducing energy consumption while maintaining protocol compliance through accurate physical layer failure detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the failure detection parameter from upper layer protocol failure to physical layer failure. By monitoring physical layer parameters such as signal quality and transmission errors, the system can detect failure earlier and release context records promptly, optimizing network resource utilization without compromising protocol compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the base station releases the UE context record after physical layer failure detection, then the connection establishment speed increases, but the risk of premature context release before upper layer failure confirmation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection establishment speedVSAvoidcontext release timing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary failure detection at the physical layer and releases the context record without waiting for upper layer confirmation. This preliminary action accelerates connection establishment speed while maintaining reliability through the high accuracy of physical layer failure detection, which reliably indicates actual communication failure before upper layers can detect it

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the physical layer to trigger context release. The physical layer continuously monitors transmission quality and provides feedback about communication status. When physical layer failure is detected, this feedback immediately triggers context release, ensuring accurate timing based on actual communication status rather than delayed upper layer notifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9820331B1UE-context release in response to failure of air interface communication

Publication Date: 2017.11.14 SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC

AI summary

Disclosed is a method and system for release of a UE's context record in response to failure of air interface communication. As disclosed, a wireless communication system includes a base station that has a protocol stack defining a series of logical processing layers through which the base station sequentially processes data for transmission to a UE. The layers include an upper layer and a physical layer at which the base station processes the data for communication over an air interface to the UE. Accordingly, the base station detects failure of air interface communication between the base station and the UE. In response to detecting the failure, and without waiting to detect at the upper layer a further failure corresponding with the failure of the air interface communication, the base station transmits to a network controller a UE-context release request requesting release of bearer context that was established for the UE.