Cross-RAT Control-Plane Messaging for Low-Latency 5G Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G radio architectures do not efficiently handle control plane messages specific to New 5G cells, which are required for low latency communication, as they often rely on LTE cells for transmission.
Innovation Solution
A radio station system and method that allows control-plane messages, such as NAS or RRC messages, to be transmitted on a subordinate New 5G cell based on predetermined conditions related to message content, bearer type, transmission cause, or core network type, enabling efficient interworking between LTE and New 5G RATs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control-plane messages are transmitted on LTE cells, then wide-area coverage and stability are ensured, but low latency requirements and communication efficiency are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control-plane message transmission by separating it into two paths: LTE cells for wide-area coverage and New 5G cells for low-latency communication. This segmentation allows each RAT to handle specific types of traffic according to its strengths, resolving the contradiction between coverage stability and latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic selection of transmission cells based on message type, network conditions, and latency requirements. The system can adaptively switch between LTE and New 5G cells for control-plane message transmission, optimizing both coverage stability and latency performance dynamically.
2Loss of time
If control-plane messages are transmitted on New 5G cells, then low latency and communication efficiency are improved, but coverage stability and reliability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control-plane message transmission function between LTE and New 5G cells, assigning New 5G cells specifically for latency-sensitive messages while relying on LTE for coverage-stability-critical messages. This segmentation allows New 5G to optimize for speed without compromising overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses LTE as an intermediary layer that provides stable coverage while New 5G cells provide low-latency paths when available. The LTE infrastructure acts as a reliable baseline that compensates for the coverage limitations of New 5G cells.
3Device complexity
If a common PDCP layer and common RRC layer are used for both LTE and New 5G, then system complexity is reduced, but efficient handling of New 5G-specific control plane messages is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control-plane message handling by introducing separate PDCP and RRC layer instances for New 5G-specific messages while maintaining a common PDCP and RRC layer for general functions. This segmentation enables efficient handling of New 5G-specific messages without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the common PDCP and RRC layers to handle both LTE and New 5G messages universally, while New 5G-specific layers provide specialized handling when needed. This multi-functionality approach balances complexity reduction with efficient New 5G message handling.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio station (2) transmits or receives, to or from a radio terminal (1) in a second cell (23, 24), a CP message containing a NAS message or an RRC message or both, when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The second cell (23, 24) uses a RAT different from that of the first cell, and is used in addition and subordinate to the first cell. The predetermined condition relates to at least one of: (a) a content or type of the CP message; (b) a type of a signalling radio bearer used to transmit the CP message; (c) a transmission cause of the CP message; and (d) a type of a core network associated with the NAS message. It is thus, for example, possible to contributing to efficient transmission of control plane (CP) messages in a radio architecture that provides interworking of two different Radio Access Technologies (RATs).