Cell Activation via RRC-MAC Decoupling to Reduce Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cell activation process in LTE networks involves significant delays and glitches due to radio frontend re-tuning, which negatively impacts user experience and network performance, especially when configuring or deconfiguring secondary serving cells.
Innovation Solution
A method where a user equipment (UE) and network node collaborate to activate a cell upon configuration, using a message indicator to determine if cell activation should occur immediately, reducing the need for separate activation commands and minimizing interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cell configuration is performed using RRC signaling, then the cell can be configured for the terminal, but the process is slow and causes significant delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell configuration process into two independent parts: (1) RRC signaling for configuration parameters and (2) MAC control element for activation. This allows the configuration and activation to be decoupled, enabling faster cell availability without compromising configuration reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing cell configuration through RRC signaling in advance, before activation is needed. The terminal prepares the cell configuration parameters beforehand, so when activation is commanded via MAC control element, the cell can be activated immediately without waiting for configuration processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If radio frontend re-tuning is performed when configuring or deconfiguring cells, then the terminal can adapt to different frequency spectra, but glitches and interruptions occur during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs radio frontend re-tuning as a preliminary action during the RRC configuration phase, before the cell activation is commanded. This ensures that when the MAC control element activates the cell, the radio frontend is already tuned to the correct frequency, avoiding glitches during activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring that radio frontend re-tuning is completed before cell activation. This prevents interruptions in signal transmission and maintains continuous communication capability, as the terminal is already prepared to transmit and receive signals on the activated cell.
3Ease of operation
If separate activation commands are sent after cell configuration, then the cell activation can be controlled independently, but additional delay is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the activation control function from the RRC configuration process and places it in the MAC control element layer. This separation allows activation to be triggered independently and immediately through MAC control elements, which have much faster processing times than RRC signaling, thus reducing activation delay while maintaining operational control.
4Productivity
If multiple cells are configured for activation on an as-needed basis, then data rate requirements can be met, but the complexity of managing configuration and activation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments cell management into configuration (RRC) and activation (MAC control element) functions. This allows the terminal to manage multiple cells efficiently by receiving configuration parameters in advance through RRC and then activating/deactivating them quickly via MAC control elements, reducing the complexity of real-time cell management while maintaining high data rate capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The embodiments herein relate to a method performed in a terminal, a terminal, a method performed in a network node and a network node, for supporting activation of a cell. The terminal (700) is configured to receive a message form the network node (800) and if the message comprises an indicator indicating whether the UE shall perform activation of the cell, the UE (700) activates the cell upon configuration of the cell.