eNB System Message Relay for Low-Latency gNB Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing solution for terminal devices camping on an evolved NodeB (eNB) to be handed over to a serving cell of a gNB (Next Generation NodeB) results in high latency due to inefficient access procedures.
Innovation Solution
The eNB sends a system message to the terminal device redirecting or handing it over to a serving cell of the gNB without the need for a security setup, utilizing a second message that includes cell information and conditions for redirection or handover, thereby reducing latency and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the terminal device follows the existing access procedure to be handed over to a gNB serving cell, then the handover process is completed with proper security setup, but the access latency becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The eNB pre-acquires and forwards system messages (including security context and cell configuration) of the target gNB serving cell to the terminal device before the actual handover occurs. This preliminary provision of information enables the terminal to quickly access the target cell without performing time-consuming message acquisition and security setup procedures after handover, thereby reducing access latency while maintaining handover reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The eNB acts as an intermediary between the gNB and the terminal device during the handover process. It retrieves system messages from the gNB and relays them to the terminal device in advance, facilitating a smoother and faster handover transition without requiring the terminal to directly interact with the gNB for message acquisition, thus reducing access latency while ensuring proper security setup
2Loss of time
If the eNB sends system messages to the terminal device for cell redirection or handover, then the terminal device can quickly access the gNB without security setup, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the system message acquisition process from the terminal device by having the eNB retrieve and forward these messages. This extraction eliminates the need for the terminal device to perform complex message acquisition and security setup procedures after handover, reducing access latency while the eNB manages the complexity of message preparation and forwarding
3Reliability
If the eNB sends paging messages in a broadcast manner, then all terminal devices can receive the paging message, but the system energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of broadcasting paging messages to all terminal devices uniformly, the eNB sends paging messages only to specific terminal devices that have previously indicated their interest in receiving such messages or are currently in an active state. This localized paging approach ensures reliable delivery to the intended recipient while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption from broadcasting to devices that do not need the message
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method and a related device are disclosed. An evolved NodeB eNB receives a first message sent by a terminal device, where the first message is for requesting to access the eNB. The eNB sends a second message to the terminal device, where the second message includes a system message corresponding to at least one serving cell of a gNB, and the second message indicates the terminal device to be redirected to one of the at least one serving cell of the gNB, or the second message indicates the terminal device to be handed over to one of the at least one serving cell of the gNB. The terminal device receives the system message of the serving cell of the gNB from the eNB, to access the gNB.