Dual-Connectivity QoE and MDT Measurements With Time Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks face challenges in coordinating and aligning Quality of Experience (QoE) and Minimization of Drive Testing (MDT) measurements for user equipment with dual connectivity, as there are no mechanisms to ensure time alignment between measurements performed by the master and secondary nodes.
Innovation Solution
Implement methods for RAN nodes to receive measurement configurations that include QoE and MDT alignment indications, initiating synchronized MDT measurements in response to QoE events, and sharing aligned measurement results with a measurement collection node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If QoE and MDT measurements are performed independently by master and secondary nodes, then each node can perform measurements autonomously, but time alignment between measurements cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The master node performs preliminary actions by receiving measurement configurations from the core network and proactively initiating MDT measurements at the secondary node before QoE measurements are completed. This preliminary initiation ensures that both measurement types are performed within a coordinated time window, achieving time alignment while maintaining autonomous measurement capabilities at each node.
2Ease of manufacture
If MDT measurements are initiated without coordination, then measurement setup is simple, but correlation of QoE and MDT measurements becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The master node acts as an intermediary between the core network and the secondary node. It receives measurement configurations from the core network, processes them appropriately, and initiates coordinated MDT measurements at the secondary node. This intermediary role enables simple measurement setup from the core network's perspective while achieving complex time-aligned measurement correlation through the master node's coordination function.
3Ease of operation
If no time alignment mechanism is implemented, then node operation is independent, but measurement analysis effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The master node implements feedback mechanisms by receiving measurement configurations from the core network, monitoring QoE measurement completion events, and using this feedback to initiate MDT measurements at the appropriate time at the secondary node. This feedback loop maintains independent node operation while ensuring time-aligned measurement analysis effectiveness through coordinated initiation based on QoE measurement status.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include methods performed by a first radio access network (RAN) node configured to provide dual connectivity for a user equipment (UE) together with a second RAN node. Such methods include receiving, from another node or function associated with the RAN, a measurement configuration that includes a first configuration for quality-of-experience (QoE) measurements and an indication that the QoE measurements should be time aligned with minimization of drive testing (MDT) measurements. Such methods include sending the first configuration to the UE, receiving from the UE a first indication that an event associated with the QoE measurements has occurred, and responsive to the first indication, initiating first MDT measurements and sending to the second RAN node a command to initiate MDT measurements that are time aligned with the QoE measurements associated with the first configuration. Other embodiments include complementary methods for the second RAN node and a measurement collection node or function (MCNF).