Deactivated SCG Beam Failure Reporting to Cut UE Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, particularly in 5G/NR systems, there is a lack of clarity on how a user equipment (UE) should handle beam failure detection and recovery when a secondary cell group (SCG) is deactivated, leading to unclear procedures and potential increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The UE is configured to perform beam failure detection (BFD) for a deactivated SCG using a first BFD configuration, and upon detecting an initial beam failure, it transmits a message to the MCG node. Subsequent beam failures are not reported until a new BFD configuration is received, reducing unnecessary signaling and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE continuously reports beam failure for deactivated SCG, then beam failure detection reliability is improved, but UE energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic beam failure detection with configurable reporting intervals. Instead of continuous reporting, the UE reports beam failure at defined periodic intervals or only when configuration changes occur, reducing energy consumption while maintaining detection reliability. The network can configure the reporting period to balance between reliability and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the reporting behavior parameter from continuous to event-triggered or periodic. By modifying the reporting parameter to only report on initial beam failure or when BFD configuration changes, the system achieves energy efficiency while maintaining reliability through selective reporting at critical moments.
2Loss of information
If the UE reports every beam failure event, then network awareness of beam conditions is improved, but network load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and reports only the most critical beam failure information to the network. Specifically, it reports the initial beam failure event and updates when configuration changes, filtering out redundant continuous reporting. This extraction of essential information maintains network awareness while significantly reducing network load from unnecessary signaling.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of reporting all beam failure events continuously, the patent applies partial reporting by selecting only significant events (initial failure and configuration changes). This partial action approach provides sufficient network awareness without the excessive signaling burden of continuous reporting.
3Reliability
If the UE performs BFD on deactivated SCG, then beam failure detection capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes beam failure detection dynamic by configuring it only when needed. The network can dynamically enable or disable BFD on deactivated SCG through configuration messages, allowing the UE to perform BFD only during periods when the network requires monitoring, rather than continuously. This dynamic approach maintains detection capability while reducing energy consumption during periods when monitoring is not required.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE) configured to communicate with a radio access network (RAN) via a master cell group (MCG) and a secondary cell group (SCG). Such methods include, while the SCG is deactivated, performing beam failure detection (BFD) for at least one cell in the SCG, according to a first BFD configuration. Such methods include, in response to detecting an initial beam failure in the deactivated SCG, transmitting a first message indicating the initial beam failure to a RAN node configured to provide the MCG; and in response to detecting one or more subsequent beam failures in the deactivated SCG, refraining from transmitting to the RAN any messages indicating the one or more subsequent beam failures (e.g., until receiving another BFD configuration). Other embodiments include complementary methods for a RAN node, as well as UEs and RAN nodes configured to perform such methods.