Buffer Status Reporting in Dual Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems lack a method to realize dual connectivities between user equipment (UE) and both conventional and small cells, leading to delays in buffer status reporting (BSR) between eNodeBs.

Innovation Solution

The UE triggers separate buffer status reports for each connectivity as uplink data becomes available, allowing for efficient reporting and reducing delay in the existing BSR mechanism by identifying and reporting data through the appropriate connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the UE uses a single buffer status report mechanism for multiple connectivities, then the system complexity is reduced, but the delay in reporting buffer status increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveBSR mechanism complexityVSAvoidBSR reporting delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the buffer status reporting mechanism by introducing separate BSR procedures for different connectivity types (intra-eNB and inter-eNB). The MAC entity is divided into multiple MAC entities, each responsible for specific connectivity, allowing parallel and independent BSR reporting for each connectivity type, thus reducing reporting delay while maintaining manageable complexity through structured organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of time

If the UE triggers separate buffer status reports for each connectivity, then the BSR reporting delay is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveBSR reporting delayVSAvoidMAC entity structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal BSR triggering mechanism that operates across multiple MAC entities and connectivity types. The same BSR triggering conditions and procedures are applied universally to both intra-eNB and inter-eNB connectivities, allowing the system to achieve reduced reporting delay through parallel reporting while avoiding excessive complexity by reusing existing BSR logic across different contexts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the existing single connectivity BSR mechanism is used, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the productivity of uplink data transmission decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveBSR mechanism operationVSAvoiduplink data transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic connectivity identification within the BSR triggering process. When uplink data becomes available, the UE dynamically identifies which connectivity (intra-eNB or inter-eNB) the data belongs to and triggers the appropriate BSR procedure accordingly. This dynamic approach maintains ease of operation by automatically selecting the correct reporting path while significantly improving uplink transmission productivity through parallel processing of multiple connectivity types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2944114B1Method for reporting buffer status and communication device thereof
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2944114B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2944114B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2944114B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

There is provided a method for reporting buffer status. The method may comprise: establishing a first MAC entity for a first eNodeB and a second MAC entity for a second eNodeB; identifying the first MAC entity on which an uplink data is to be transmitted among the first and second MAC entities, if the uplink data becomes available to be transmitted; and triggering a buffer status report (BSR) for the first MAC entity.