UE Context Acquisition in EN-DC Handover via Intermediary Node

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G mobile communications, during UE handover in EN-DC architecture, the target MN lacks UE context information stored on the SN side, leading to failed handovers due to inadequate radio resource configuration.

Innovation Solution

A method where the first network node requests and obtains the UE context from the second network node, and then sends both contexts to the third and fourth network nodes to facilitate resource configuration and trigger a successful handover.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If UE contexts are stored separately in MN and SN locations in EN-DC architecture, then the architecture supports dual connectivity services, but the target MN cannot obtain complete UE context information during handover

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedual connectivity service supportVSAvoidUE context information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The source MN acts as an intermediary that collects UE contexts from both the source MN location and source SN location, then transfers the complete context information to the target MN. This intermediary role resolves the information loss problem by consolidating distributed context data before handover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The source MN proactively obtains the UE context from the source SN before the handover is triggered. This preliminary action ensures that complete UE context information is available at the source MN in advance, enabling successful handover execution without information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the target MN configures radio resources based on incomplete UE context, then the handover process can proceed, but the handover may fail due to inadequate resource configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover execution speedVSAvoidhandover success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The source MN obtains the complete UE context from the source SN before triggering the handover. This preliminary acquisition of context information ensures that the target MN receives all necessary data for proper radio resource configuration, thereby preventing handover failures while maintaining execution speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the MN does not know the UE context on the SN side, then the MN can independently manage MCG resources, but the MN cannot configure reasonable radio resources for the UE in DC scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMN independent managementVSAvoidradio resource configuration capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The source MN serves as an intermediary that collects and consolidates UE context information from both MN and SN locations. This allows the target MN to receive complete context information without requiring direct access to the SN, thus maintaining MN independence while enabling proper DC radio resource configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3716684B1Method and system for acquiring terminal context, computer storage medium
Publication Date: 2022.10.19 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3716684B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3716684B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3716684B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A user equipment context obtaining method and apparatus, and a computer storage medium are disclosed in the present invention. The method includes: obtaining, by a first network node from a second network node, a user equipment context of a user equipment on the side of the second network node; and sending, by the first network node, a user equipment context of the user equipment on the side of the first network node and the user equipment context of the user equipment on the side of the second network node to a third network node, where the first network node and the second network node are a master node and a secondary node in a first dual connectivity network respectively, and the third network node is a master node in a second dual connectivity network.