Bearer Mapping for MAC CE Duplication Activation in 5G

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication systems, particularly with 4G/5G technology, there is a lack of clear solutions for unifying the mapping relationship between bitmap representations of media access control (MAC) control elements for data duplication activation/deactivation between the network side and the terminal side, leading to inconsistencies in managing bearer activation and deactivation.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for bearer mapping that explicitly or implicitly indicate the mapping relationship between bearer IDs and bitmaps in MAC control elements, allowing the terminal and network side to determine which bearers need to be activated or deactivated by sorting bearer IDs according to specific rules and maintaining a unified bearer ID sequence, ensuring consistent activation and deactivation across both sides.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple bearers are established with duplication functions and MAC CEs are used for activation/deactivation control, then service reliability and timeliness are improved, but inconsistency in mapping relationship between network side and terminal side occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice reliabilityVSAvoidmapping relationship consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a unified mapping rule between bearer IDs and bitmap positions before MAC CE transmission. The network side and terminal side both pre-configure the same mapping relationship (e.g., bearer ID 0 maps to bit position 0, bearer ID 1 maps to bit position 1), ensuring that when MAC CEs are exchanged for activation/deactivation control, both sides interpret the bitmap consistently without ambiguity or inconsistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If bearer IDs are dynamically managed during establishment, modification and release, then system adaptability is improved, but mapping relationship maintenance becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearer management flexibilityVSAvoidmapping relationship maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the mapping relationship adaptive to bearer lifecycle changes. When bearers are established, modified, or released, the mapping between bearer IDs and bitmap positions is dynamically updated according to preset rules (e.g., maintaining sequential ordering or reassigning based on current bearer configuration). This allows the system to adapt to dynamic bearer management while keeping the mapping rule itself simple and systematic, avoiding complex manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3667982B1Bearer mapping method and apparatus, base station, and terminal
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 DATANG MOBILE COMM EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3667982B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3667982B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3667982B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

A bearer mapping method and a device thereof, a base station and a terminal are provided, so as to solve how to unify the mapping relationship between the bitmap of the MAC CE of the duplication activation/deactivation at the network side and that at the terminal side. The method includes: indicating a mapping relationship between a bearer ID and a bitmap in an MAC CE, where the MAC CE is a control element for a duplication activation indication or deactivation indication, and the bearer ID is an ID of a bearer configured with a duplication function.