eNodeB Scheduling for Dual Connectivity Packet Reordering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication technologies face inefficiencies in dual connectivity and LTE-WLAN aggregation due to reordering and timing issues with packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers, particularly when packets are sent over independent links or different radio access technologies, leading to delays and complex design implementations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing optimized scheduling strategies at the eNodeB level to predict and manage packet sequence numbers, allowing the UE to accurately identify dropped packets and improve data transfer efficiency by selecting appropriate scheduling strategies based on link load and user distribution across multiple radio links.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If packets are sent over independent links or different radio access technologies in dual connectivity, then data transfer capacity is improved, but reordering and timing issues occur leading to delays and complex design implementations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer capacityVSAvoidpacket reordering delays

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the eNodeB predict and determine the expected reception time of packets before they are actually received. The eNodeB calculates timing information based on historical data and network conditions, and proactively prepares reordering buffers and timing references. This allows the system to anticipate packet arrival times and perform reordering operations in advance, reducing actual delays caused by out-of-order packet reception in dual connectivity scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism by implementing a PDCP reordering function at the eNodeB that acts as a mediator between the multiple independent links (LTE and WLAN). This reordering function receives packets from different links, buffers them temporarily, and releases them in the correct sequence based on predicted timing information. The intermediary reordering buffer decouples the independent links from the upper layers, allowing them to operate independently while maintaining ordered delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If packets are sent over independent links or different radio access technologies in dual connectivity, then data transfer capacity is improved, but design implementation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer capacityVSAvoiddesign implementation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting timing parameters and buffer sizes based on network conditions. The eNodeB modifies the reordering window size, buffer allocation, and timing predictions according to observed packet arrival patterns and link conditions. This allows the system to adapt to varying dual connectivity scenarios without requiring fundamentally different implementation approaches for each case

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If packet reordering is performed at the UE side in dual connectivity, then packet sequence accuracy is improved, but processing delay and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket sequence accuracyVSAvoidprocessing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the packet reordering function from the UE side and relocates it to the eNodeB side. By moving the reordering operation to the network side, the UE no longer needs to perform complex timing calculations and buffer management for reordering. The eNodeB performs the reordering based on its superior computational resources and global network view, then delivers already-reordered packets to the UE, reducing UE processing delay and power consumption while maintaining sequence accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3459310B1Optimized scheduling strategies for dual connectivity and link aggregation

Publication Date: 2022.05.04 APPLE INC

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AI summary

Technology for an eNodeB to perform optimized scheduling strategies for dual connectivity and LWA with a user equipment (UE) within a wireless communication network is disclosed. The eNodeB can select one or more scheduling strategies for communicating one or more packet data units (PDUs) from a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer to a plurality of lower link layers for communication to the UE. The eNodeB can associate each one of the one or more PDUs with a sequence number (SN). The eNodeB can signal a transceiver of the eNodeB to transmit to the UE the one or more PDUs and associated sequence numbers (SNs) on the plurality of lower link layers according to the one or more scheduling strategies to enable the UE to identify a dropped packet source from the plurality of lower link layers based on the one or more scheduling strategies.