Cellular-WLAN Aggregation Data Handling Suspension

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE systems, the existing methods for handling cellular-WLAN aggregation result in unnecessary data recovery and signaling overhead when RRC connections are suspended or resumed, leading to wastage of radio resources and battery power due to unnecessary PDCP status reports.

Innovation Solution

A communication device that establishes an RRC connection, configures cellular-WLAN aggregation, enables data handling for a radio bearer, and upon receiving an RRCConnectionRelease or MobilityFromEUTRACommand message, disables data handling and avoids performing data recovery, thereby optimizing resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data recovery is performed upon receiving RRCConnectionRelease or MobilityFromEUTRACommand messages in cellular-WLAN aggregation, then data integrity is maintained, but signaling overhead and battery power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of data recovery execution by introducing conditional logic that checks whether the radio bearer is actually configured for cellular-WLAN aggregation before performing data recovery. This parameter change from unconditional to conditional execution reduces unnecessary PDCP status report transmissions, thereby reducing signaling overhead and battery power consumption while maintaining data integrity when CWA is actively configured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If PDCP status reports are transmitted during RRC connection suspension/resume, then data recovery is ensured, but radio resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata recoveryVSAvoidradio resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the execution parameter of PDCP status report transmission by adding a conditional check for CWA configuration status. When the radio bearer is not configured for cellular-WLAN aggregation, the PDCP status report transmission is skipped, preventing waste of radio resources. This selective parameter change ensures data recovery only when necessary, eliminating redundant resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If data handling is continuously monitored and recovered upon RRC messages, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoiddata handling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent simplifies the data handling logic by changing the parameter of recovery execution from a complex continuous monitoring approach to a simple conditional check based on CWA configuration status. The processing circuit only needs to check whether CWA is configured before performing data recovery, reducing the complexity of data handling mechanisms while maintaining communication reliability through targeted recovery actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3285428B1Device for handling cellular-WLAN aggregation
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 HTC CORP
  • EP3285428B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3285428B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3285428B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication device for handling a cellular-wireless local area network (cellular-WLAN) aggregation (CWA) comprises a storage device for storing instructions and a processing circuit coupled to the storage device. The processing circuit is configured to execute the instructions stored in the storage device. The instructions comprise establishing a radio resource control (RRC) connection to a cellular network; receiving a first RRC message configuring a CWA for a radio bearer from the cellular network on the RRC connection; enabling data handling for the radio bearer in response to the first RRC message; receiving an RRCConnectionRelease message or a MobilityFromEUTRACommand message on the RRC connection from the cellular network; and disabling the data handling for the radio bearer and not performing data recovery for the radio bearer, in response to the RRCConnectionRelease message or the MobilityFromEUTRACommand message.