DRB Identifier Uniqueness in Dual Connectivity Base Stations

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Solution Overview

Problem

In dual connectivity architectures, ensuring the uniqueness of data radio bearer (DRB) identifiers is challenging, particularly when managing the mapping relationship between quality of service (QoS) flows and DRBs across different base stations.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where a first base station sends a message to a second base station to request the addition of a DRB, and the second base station responds with an identifier for the DRB. This process ensures that the DRB ID is unique and allows the first base station to reconfigure the mapping relationship between QoS flows and DRBs based on radio resource management policies and network conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a secondary base station independently assigns DRB identifiers, then the base station can flexibly manage DRBs based on local conditions, but the DRB identifier uniqueness cannot be guaranteed across different base stations

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDRB management flexibilityVSAvoidDRB identifier uniqueness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The master base station pre-allocates DRB identifier pools to secondary base stations before they independently manage DRBs. This preliminary assignment ensures that each secondary base station operates within a designated identifier range, guaranteeing uniqueness across the network while maintaining local management flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The DRB identifier space is segmented into multiple pools, with each pool assigned to a specific secondary base station. This segmentation allows secondary base stations to independently manage DRBs within their allocated ranges without conflicting with other base stations, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and uniqueness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the master base station centrally manages all DRB identifiers, then identifier uniqueness is ensured, but the secondary base station cannot adapt DRB configuration to local network conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDRB identifier uniquenessVSAvoidDRB management flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The master base station performs preliminary allocation of DRB identifier pools to secondary base stations, establishing uniqueness constraints in advance. This allows secondary base stations to autonomously manage DRBs within their allocated ranges without requiring real-time master station intervention, achieving both uniqueness and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Each secondary base station is granted autonomous authority to manage DRBs within its locally allocated identifier pool. This local quality approach enables adaptive DRB configuration based on local network conditions while the master station maintains overall uniqueness through the initial allocation structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If DRB configuration changes frequently to optimize network performance, then data transmission throughput improves, but signaling overhead between base stations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission throughputVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

DRB identifier pools are pre-allocated to secondary base stations in advance, allowing frequent DRB configuration changes without requiring master station involvement for each change. This reduces signaling overhead while enabling the network to optimize data transmission throughput through flexible DRB management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary base station is empowered to perform partial DRB management autonomously within its allocated identifier range, handling frequent configuration changes locally. This partial autonomy reduces the signaling burden on the master station while maintaining the ability to optimize network performance through frequent DRB adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250081025A1Method for obtaining data radio bearer identifier and base station

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD

AI summary

The method includes: sending, by a first base station, a first message to a second base station, where the first message is used to request to add a data radio bearer DRB; receiving, by the first base station, a second message sent by the second base station, where the second message is used to indicate an identifier of at least one DRB; and sending, by the first base station, first information to user equipment, where the first information includes DRB configuration information, and the DRB configuration information includes the identifier of the at least one DRB. In the embodiments of this application, the first base station can add the DRB based on a radio resource management policy and a network condition of the first base station, to reconfigure a mapping relationship between a QoS flow and the DRB, so that setting of the DRB is more flexible and effective.