Duplicate Bearer SCell Failure Handling in 5G RLC Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

The 5G mobile communication system lacks a clear method for handling data transmission failures in the event of Secondary Cell (SCell) failure, particularly when the RLC entity reaches the maximum number of retransmissions, the physical layer of the SCell goes out-of-sync, or the random access procedure fails, leading to potential operational disruptions and interference.

Innovation Solution

The terminal device performs specific processing operations on the target RLC entity, SCell, and duplicate bearer, including resetting, deactivating, or suspending these components, and may send relevant information to the network device to ensure operational performance and avoid interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the RLC entity is configured to send data only through SCell, then the data transmission utilizes the SCell resources, but when SCell failure occurs (maximum retransmissions reached, physical layer out-of-sync, or random access failure), the terminal device lacks clear processing operations leading to operational disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational performance of terminal deviceVSAvoidclarity of processing operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-defines specific processing operations to be executed when SCell failure occurs. The terminal device is configured with predetermined actions (resetting RLC entity, deactivating SCell, suspending duplicate bearer) that are prepared in advance for various failure scenarios, eliminating the need for ad-hoc decision-making during failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the terminal device monitors SCell status (retransmission count, physical layer sync state, random access procedure status) and automatically triggers predefined processing operations when failure conditions are detected, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to failure events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the terminal device performs multiple processing operations (resetting RLC entity, processing SCell, processing duplicate bearer) when SCell failure occurs, then the operational stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational stabilityVSAvoidnumber of processing operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the failure processing into distinct, modular operations: resetting the RLC entity, processing the SCell (deactivation), and processing the duplicate bearer (suspension). Each operation is independently defined and can be executed as a separate module, making the complex processing systematic and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a reset mechanism for the RLC entity that discards the failed transmission state and recovers by reinitializing the entity. This allows the system to discard the failed configuration and recover through predefined reconfiguration procedures, maintaining stability without permanent damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If the terminal device sends information relevant to the target event to the network device, then the network device can perform subsequent processing ensuring operational performance, but the communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational performance of network deviceVSAvoidcommunication overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information relevant to the SCell failure event and sends it to the network device. Rather than transmitting complete system state or redundant data, the terminal device identifies and communicates only the critical failure information needed for network-side processing, minimizing overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3691403B1Method and apparatus for processing data transmission failure

Publication Date: 2026.04.15 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD

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AI summary

A method and an apparatus of processing data transmission failure are provided. The method includes determining a target event occurs, wherein the target event includes one or more of an event that a target RLC entity reaches a maximum number of retransmissions, an event that a physical layer of a target SCell is out of sync, and an event that a random access procedure of the target SCell fails, target RLC entity is in a terminal corresponding to a duplicate bearer, to-be-sent data of target RLC entity is sent only through an SCell, the target SCell is at least one SCell sending to-be-sent data of target RLC entity; resetting target RLC entity, and/or processing target SCell, and/or processing duplicate bearer. The technical solution specifies specific processing of a terminal if the target event occurs, thereby ensuring performance of the terminal and avoiding interference to other terminals.