Dynamic Air-Interface Reconfiguration for Dual-Connectivity Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular wireless networks, dual-connectivity service can be disrupted due to poor wireless-communication performance, leading to lower effective bit rates and aggregate data throughput, especially when user equipment (UE) is located far from access nodes or experiences RF obstructions, causing the network to degrade and potentially lose dual connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A computing system determines when a UE is moving towards an area where other UEs have lost dual connectivity due to poor performance and dynamically switches the UE's connection from a high-frequency carrier to a lower-frequency carrier, thereby maintaining dual connectivity and increasing aggregate throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a UE connects to a high-frequency carrier for dual-connectivity service, then data throughput can be increased, but the connection becomes more vulnerable to poor wireless-communication performance and RF obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the frequency parameter of the carrier by switching from a high-frequency carrier to a lower-frequency carrier when dual-connectivity is at risk of being lost. This parameter change allows the system to maintain data throughput while improving reliability in areas with RF obstructions or distance from access nodes.
2Area of stationary object
If a UE is located far from access nodes or experiences RF obstructions, then coverage area is expanded, but wireless-communication performance degrades causing loss of dual connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different carrier frequency qualities to different geographic locations by identifying areas where dual-connectivity is frequently lost and switching to lower-frequency carriers specifically in those locations. This local quality adjustment maintains dual-connectivity reliability in problematic areas while allowing high-frequency carriers to be used in areas with good signal conditions.
3Reliability
If the network switches to a lower-frequency carrier to maintain dual connectivity, then connection reliability is improved, but peak data rate may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the carrier frequency based on real-time conditions by monitoring whether a UE is moving toward areas where dual-connectivity is frequently lost. The system switches to lower-frequency carriers only when necessary to maintain dual-connectivity, and can switch back to high-frequency carriers when conditions improve, thus optimizing both reliability and peak data rate at different times.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for controlling air-interface connectivity of a user equipment device (UE). A computing system detects, when the UE has dual connectivity including a first air-interface connection with a first access node and a second air-interface connection with a second access node, and when the first air-interface connection is defined on a first carrier, that the UE is moving toward a geographic area where UEs that were served by the first access node on the first carrier as part of dual connectivity lost their dual connectivity due to their having insufficient aggregate dual-connectivity throughput. And based at least on the detecting, the computing system reconfigures the first air-interface connection of the UE's dual connectivity to be defined on a lower-frequency second carrier, to help avoid having the UE lose its dual connectivity.