Dual Connectivity Configuration via Secondary Node Load Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, adding a heavily loaded access node as a secondary node for dual-connectivity service can exacerbate existing load problems, leading to increased delays and service issues, particularly when a user equipment (UE) is likely to engage in high data communication.
Innovation Solution
The primary access node determines whether the secondary access node is heavily loaded and if the UE's service would significantly contribute to this load, and if so, it forgoes adding the secondary access node for dual-connectivity service, or selects a different node to avoid overwhelming the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a heavily loaded access node is added as a secondary node for dual-connectivity service, then the UE can engage in high data communication, but the load on the access node increases excessively causing delays and service issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of the secondary node's load status and the UE's data communication needs before configuring dual-connectivity. The access node evaluates whether the secondary node is heavily loaded and whether the UE is likely to engage in high data communication, and only proceeds with dual-connectivity configuration if the assessment indicates it is safe to do so, thereby preventing service degradation before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the load status of access nodes and the data communication patterns of UEs. Based on this feedback, the access node dynamically adjusts dual-connectivity configuration decisions, forgoing addition of heavily loaded nodes as secondary nodes when conditions indicate potential service degradation, thus maintaining service quality while enabling data communication
2Productivity
If dual-connectivity is configured for high data communication, then data transmission capacity increases, but system complexity increases due to multiple air-interface connections
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of both the secondary node's load status and the UE's data communication requirements before configuring dual-connectivity. This advance assessment ensures that dual-connectivity is only established when it will genuinely benefit data transmission capacity, avoiding unnecessary complexity from indiscriminate dual-connectivity deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the configuration parameters of dual-connectivity based on real-time conditions. When the secondary node is heavily loaded or the UE is not likely to engage in high data communication, the system forgoes dual-connectivity configuration or selects different nodes, thereby adjusting the system state to balance data transmission capacity needs against connection management complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for controlling configuration of dual connectivity of a UE in a system where the UE is served by a first access node over a first air-interface connection and in which configuring the dual connectivity includes adding for the UE a second air-interface connection with a second access node to facilitate concurrent service of the UE by the first access node over the first connection and the second access node over the second connection. An example method includes determining whether both (i) the second access node is threshold highly loaded and (ii) the UE is likely to engage in a threshold high extent of data communication when served by the second access node. And the example method includes, responsive to the determination being affirmative, forgoing from adding for the UE the second air-interface connection between the UE and the second access node.