Dual MAC Entity Buffer Status Reporting for Dual Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently triggering and reporting buffer status, particularly in dual connectivity scenarios where accurate data availability and resource allocation between multiple base stations are complex due to non-ideal backhaul interfaces and distributed scheduling nodes.

Innovation Solution

The method involves configuring user equipment (UE) with dual MAC entities (M-MAC and S-MAC) to independently manage logical channels and trigger buffer status reports (BSR) to each base station based on predefined criteria, ensuring accurate data availability reporting and resource allocation across Master Cell Group (MCG) and Secondary Cell Group (SCG) connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single MAC entity manages all logical channels in dual connectivity, then device complexity is reduced, but buffer status reporting accuracy and resource allocation efficiency deteriorate due to non-ideal backhaul interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMAC entity configurationVSAvoidbuffer status reporting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single MAC entity into two separate MAC entities (M-MAC for Master Cell Group and S-MAC for Secondary Cell Group). Each MAC entity independently manages its own logical channels and generates buffer status reports, enabling accurate buffer status reporting for each base station while maintaining manageable device complexity through structured separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If distributed scheduling nodes are used in dual connectivity, then resource allocation flexibility improves, but coordination complexity and handover management difficulty increase due to non-ideal backhaul

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation flexibilityVSAvoidcoordination management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the scheduling function into two independent scheduling nodes (M-scheduler and S-scheduler), each associated with a specific MAC entity and base station. This segmentation enables flexible resource allocation at each node while reducing coordination complexity by minimizing the need for frequent inter-node communication, especially beneficial in non-ideal backhaul conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each MAC entity and its associated scheduler operate autonomously, with the M-MAC managing MCG logical channels and the S-MAC managing SCG logical channels independently. This self-service approach allows each scheduling node to make local resource allocation decisions without constant coordination, improving flexibility while reducing management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3509345B1Method for triggering and reporting a buffer status and device therefor
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3509345B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3509345B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3509345B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and a device for triggering and reporting a buffer status in the wireless communication system, the method comprising: configuring a plurality of logical channel sets comprising a first logical channel set transmitting data to the first BS and a second logical channel set transmitting data to the second BS, wherein the first and the second logical channel sets respectively comprise one or more logical channels; receiving data for a first logical channel belonging to the first logical channel set; and triggering a buffer status reporting to the first BS, if the first logical channel has highest priority among logical channels for which data are available for transmission in the first logical channel set.