Buffer State Reporting for Dual Connectivity in LTE
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication systems lack a standardized method for reporting buffer state information of a UE in scenarios involving inter-eNB carrier aggregation and dual connectivity, which hinders efficient data transmission between macro and small eNBs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for reporting the buffer state of a UE connected to multiple eNBs, involving triggering buffer state reports based on uplink data amounts, selecting appropriate eNBs for reporting, and allocating resources for data transmission, ensuring efficient data handling across multiple eNBs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If dual connectivity is implemented between heterogeneous eNBs to increase data transmission rate, then transmission rate is improved, but buffer state reporting complexity increases due to multiple independent eNBs requiring separate reports
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple buffer state reports intended for different eNBs into a single unified report. The UE identifies multiple eNBs requiring buffer state information, selects one eNB as the target for combined reporting, and transmits all buffer state information in one message, thereby reducing reporting complexity while maintaining dual connectivity benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal buffer state report structure that can serve multiple eNBs simultaneously. The combined report is designed to be universally applicable across different eNBs in the dual connectivity scenario, allowing one report to fulfill the information needs of multiple independent eNBs without requiring separate reporting mechanisms
2Measurement precision
If separate buffer state reports are transmitted to multiple eNBs to ensure accurate resource allocation, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate buffer state reports into a single combined report that contains information for multiple eNBs. This consolidation maintains the accuracy needed for resource allocation at each eNB while significantly reducing the total signaling overhead by transmitting all buffer state information in one message rather than multiple separate messages
3Loss of information
If the UE reports buffer state to all connected eNBs to ensure complete information availability, then information completeness is improved, but transmission delay increases due to multiple reporting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines buffer state reporting for multiple eNBs into a single reporting operation. Instead of sequentially or simultaneously transmitting separate reports to each eNB, the UE creates one unified report containing information for all connected eNBs and transmits it in a single operation, thereby maintaining information completeness while reducing the time required for reporting
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for reporting a buffer state by a user equipment accessing a first eNB and a second eNB in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: triggering a buffer state report for new data when the new data is generated; selecting at least one eNB to which the buffer state report is to be transmitted, on the basis of the amount of uplink data to be transmitted; transmitting the buffer state report for the new data to the selected at least one eNB; receiving, from at least one eNB among the first eNB and the second eNB, a resource allocated by the at least one eNB as a response to the buffer state report; and transmitting the new data using the allocated resource.