Breakout System RLC Reset for Packet Loss Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile data networks, the breakout system at the edge experiences packet loss due to out-of-sync sequence numbers in radio link control (RLC) flows, leading to errors and a degraded user experience.

Innovation Solution

The breakout system initiates an RLC reset command to resynchronize the data communication between the user equipment (UE) and the radio network controller (RNC), ensuring that both RLC entities maintain synchronized sequence numbers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data is offloaded at the edge by the breakout system, then network capacity and data processing efficiency are improved, but sequence number synchronization between RLC entities deteriorates leading to packet loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata processing efficiencyVSAvoidsequence number synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The breakout system implements a feedback mechanism by monitoring the sequence numbers in RLC packets from both the UE and RNC flows. When a sequence number gap is detected indicating desynchronization, the system triggers an RLC reset command to restore synchronization, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling data offloading

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of sequence number synchronization status continuously during data offloading operations. By detecting desynchronization early through sequence number monitoring before significant packet loss occurs, the system can proactively initiate RLC reset commands to prevent further deterioration of synchronization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If RLC reset is initiated by the breakout system to resynchronize flows, then sequence number synchronization is improved, but network control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesequence number synchronizationVSAvoidnetwork control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The breakout system autonomously monitors sequence numbers and self-determines when RLC reset is needed without requiring external coordination with the RNC. The system independently detects synchronization status and autonomously initiates reset commands, reducing the need for complex inter-node communication and control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the breakout system monitors and maintains synchronization of radio traffic, then user quality of experience is improved, but processing overhead at the edge increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of experienceVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The breakout system performs partial monitoring by focusing specifically on sequence number fields in RLC packets rather than analyzing complete packet contents. This selective monitoring approach provides sufficient synchronization information while minimizing processing overhead and resource consumption at the edge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8942174B2Reducing packet loss in a mobile data network with data breakout at the edge

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A breakout system initiates radio link control (RLC) resets to resynchronize data communication to improve quality of experience for the user. Synchronization of radio traffic is monitored and maintained by the breakout system. When data is broken out, the RLC function is split into two different flows, between the user equipment (UE) and the breakout system and between the breakout system and the radio network controller (RNC). When the sequence numbers of the two flows become out of sync the ciphering context will become out of synchronization resulting in errors. The breakout system can initiate an RLC reset into both of these flows to resynchronize the data communication to improve user's quality of experience.