Control Plane User Plane Separation Reducing Signaling Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G networks, face high overheads in common control information due to the mobility of terminal devices, leading to excessive signaling and affecting user experience, as each carrier or cell requires a significant control channel, resulting in inefficient data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A data transmission method and apparatus that separates the control plane and user plane in the wireless network architecture, allowing the terminal device to send selection information to a control plane access network device, which determines a target user plane access network device based on system information and selection rules, thereby reducing common control overheads by using one control plane access network device for common control information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a point-to-point single link communication mode is used between terminal devices or between a terminal device and a network device, then control channels can be established for data transmission, but overheads of common control information become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication function into control plane and user plane. The control plane access network device handles control signaling (RRC connection, system information), while user plane access network devices handle data transmission. This segmentation allows control information to be centralized and reused, reducing redundant control overheads across multiple carriers and cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane access network device serves multiple user plane access network devices and multiple terminal devices simultaneously. By making the control plane device universal and shared across multiple data transmission paths, the patent eliminates the need for each carrier or cell to have separate control channels, thereby reducing common control information overheads.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cell handover occurs when the terminal device moves across cells, then mobility is supported, but signaling overheads become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates mobility management functions (handled by control plane access network device) from data transmission functions (handled by user plane access network devices). During handover, only the user plane connection needs to be switched while the control plane connection remains stable, reducing the amount of signaling required compared to traditional approaches where the entire connection must be re-established.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane access network device acts as an intermediary that remains constant during handover. It coordinates the handover process and maintains the control signaling connection, while only the user plane access network device changes. This intermediary approach reduces signaling overhead by avoiding complete re-negotiation of control parameters during mobility events.
3Adaptability or versatility
If each carrier or each cell has a control channel and a data channel, then complete communication functionality is provided, but overheads of common control information are excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network functionality into control plane access network devices (providing control channels) and user plane access network devices (providing data channels). This segmentation allows control channels to be shared across multiple data channels, reducing redundant control information while maintaining complete communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane access network device provides universal control services to multiple user plane access network devices and multiple terminal devices. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for duplicate control channels in each carrier or cell, as the same control plane device can serve multiple data transmission paths simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a data transmission method and a data transmission apparatus, which can establish a radio bearer for a data plane based on a new wireless network architecture (i.e., a network architecture in which a control plane and a user plane are separated) to implement data transmission. The method includes: a terminal device sends selection information to a control plane access network device, where the selection information indicates a target user plane access network device, which is determined from at least one user plane access network device based on system information and a user plane access network device selection rule. The terminal device receives first timing advance information and first radio bearer configuration information from the control plane access network device, and performs data transmission with the target user plane access network device based on the first timing advance information and the first radio bearer configuration information.