Carrier Aggregation RLC Timer Segmentation Across Mixed Frequency Ranges
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, carrier aggregation across different frequency ranges with varying numerologies poses challenges due to radio link control (RLC) discontinuities, leading to inefficient resource utilization and increased memory requirements, as existing techniques struggle to differentiate and manage RLC holes effectively across different frequency ranges.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves identifying the numerology associated with RLC holes to selectively apply different RLC parameters, such as reassembly timers, for each frequency range, allowing parallel operation and efficient resource management, thereby reducing packet delay and buffer usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single RLC timer is used for all carriers in carrier aggregation, then the system is simpler to manage, but packet delay increases and resource utilization decreases when carriers have different numerologies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the unified RLC timer into multiple numerology-specific RLC timers (e.g., RLC timer for first numerology, RLC timer for second numerology). Each timer independently manages RLC holes for its corresponding numerology, allowing parallel operation and preventing delays caused by a single conservative timer setting. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining simplicity through modular design while eliminating packet delay through numerology-specific timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic timer selection based on numerology identification. When an RLC hole is detected, the system dynamically determines which numerology the hole belongs to and activates the corresponding RLC timer. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt timer behavior to actual numerology requirements, reducing unnecessary waiting time while maintaining proper RLC hole management for each numerology type.
2Reliability
If conservative RLC timer settings are used to ensure reliable RLC hole management, then reliability improves, but resource utilization decreases and throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring different RLC timer values for different numerologies based on their specific characteristics. Instead of using a single conservative timer value for all carriers, the system sets optimized timer values locally for each numerology (e.g., shorter timers for numerologies with faster HARQ feedback, longer timers for those requiring more time). This ensures reliable RLC hole management for each numerology while maximizing throughput by avoiding unnecessary conservative delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the RLC timer parameter based on numerology identification. When an RLC hole is detected, the system determines the associated numerology and selects or adjusts the RLC timer parameter accordingly. This parameter change allows the system to maintain reliability by ensuring adequate timer duration for each numerology's specific requirements while improving productivity by using shorter, more efficient timer values where appropriate.
3Productivity
If RLC parameters are differentiated by numerology, then resource utilization and throughput improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic numerology identification and corresponding RLC parameter selection. When an RLC hole is detected, the system dynamically determines which numerology the hole belongs to and automatically applies the appropriate RLC parameters for that numerology. This dynamic approach enables differentiated parameter management that improves resource utilization and throughput while keeping the system manageable through automated numerology-based parameter selection rather than manual configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may communicate on a first set of carriers in a first frequency range (FR) and a second set of carriers in a second FR. The UE may detect a radio link control (RLC) discontinuity on at least one of the first set of carriers or the second set of carriers. The UE may identify one or more FRs, of the first FR and the second FR, in which the RLC discontinuity occurred. The UE may transmit an RLC status report based at least in part on the identified one or more FRs. Numerous other aspects are described.