Dual Connectivity Handover for Seamless Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

In dual connectivity handover procedures, existing technologies experience data transmission interruptions due to the simultaneous break-off of connections with master and secondary base stations, which affects the continuity of data transmission during handover processes in communication systems like LTE and 5G networks.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves maintaining one connection with a network device during the handover process, either a master network device or a secondary network device, to prevent data interruptions. This is achieved by optimizing the dual connectivity handover procedure, where the terminal device splits data streams and keeps one connection active, allowing seamless data transmission without interruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal device breaks off both connections to source master network device and source secondary network device simultaneously during handover, then the handover procedure can be completed, but data transmission interruption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover completionVSAvoiddata transmission interruption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device establishes connection with the target secondary network device before breaking off the connection with the source secondary network device. This preliminary action ensures that a target connection is ready before the source connection is terminated, thereby avoiding data transmission interruption during handover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The handover procedure is designed to maintain continuous data transmission by ensuring that the terminal device always has an active connection to a network device. The connection switching is performed in a manner that preserves the continuity of useful action (data transmission) throughout the handover process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Device complexity

If the terminal device breaks off both connections simultaneously during handover, then the handover process can be simplified, but data transmission continuity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover procedure complexityVSAvoiddata transmission continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The handover procedure is segmented into distinct phases: first establishing connection with target master network device, then establishing connection with target secondary network device, and finally breaking off connection with source secondary network device. This segmentation allows each step to be executed reliably while maintaining overall data transmission continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the terminal device maintains connection with source network device during handover, then data transmission continuity is preserved, but the handover procedure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission continuityVSAvoidhandover procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary actions by establishing connection with the target secondary network device before terminating the source connection. This preliminary establishment of target connection simplifies the overall procedure compared to maintaining both connections simultaneously, while still ensuring data transmission continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3841786B1Dual connectivity handover
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3841786B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3841786B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3841786B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices and computer readable mediums for a dual connectivity handover. The method comprises in response to receiving a request for a dual connectivity handover procedure of a terminal device, determining a first type of a target network device for a first handover of the dual connectivity handover procedure, the first type indicating whether a network device is a master network device or a secondary network device; transmitting, to a source master network device, a first message indicating the first type of the target network device for the terminal device to be connected with in the first handover, so that the terminal device is disconnected with the first type of a source network device; and in response to the terminal device being connected with the first type of the target network device, transmitting, to the source master network device, a second message indicating that the first handover is completed, to enable a second handover of the dual connectivity handover procedure to be performed, the terminal device being connected with a second type of a target network device and disconnected with the second type of a source network device in the second handover, the second type being different from the first type and indicating whether a network device is a master network device or a secondary network device.