Encapsulating F1AP Signaling in RRC for Local Traffic Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing radio access network (RAN) for local traffic across wireless connections, particularly in coordinating signaling between network nodes and user equipment (UE).
Innovation Solution
The method involves establishing a first wireless signaling connection between nodes and encapsulating or decapsulating traffic associated with a second wireless signaling connection within the first connection. This second connection corresponds to a non-F1 interface of a control plane or user plane network function, facilitating RAN management for local traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If signaling for RAN management is transported across wireless connections, then coordination between network nodes is improved, but device complexity and protocol overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds F1AP signaling messages within existing RRC signaling messages. The F1AP PDU is nested inside an RRC container, allowing RAN management signaling to be transported over the wireless connection without requiring separate signaling infrastructure. This nesting approach enables reliable coordination while utilizing existing protocol layers to minimize additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The RRC signaling acts as an intermediary carrier for F1AP messages. Instead of establishing direct F1 signaling over wireless, the patent uses RRC as a mediator to transport F1AP PDUs between the IAB-node and network. This intermediary approach enables RAN management coordination while leveraging the already-established RRC connection framework.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate signaling connections are established for RAN management, then coordination capability is improved, but loss of time and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines F1AP signaling traffic with existing RRC signaling transport. By merging the RAN management signaling requirement with the already-established RRC connection, the system achieves versatile coordination capability without the time penalty of establishing separate signaling connections. The F1AP PDU is carried within RRC message containers using the same transport resources.
3Adaptability or versatility
If F1 signaling is transported over wireless connection, then network function versatility is improved, but reliability of signaling transport deteriorates due to wireless nature
Solution Approach 1:
The RRC signaling connection is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it carries both traditional RRC messages and F1AP signaling PDUs for RAN management. This multi-functionality allows the same reliable wireless connection to support both access signaling and backhaul management, improving versatility while maintaining the reliability characteristics of the underlying RRC transport mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Example implementations include a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium of wireless communication for a network node to transport signaling used to coordinate management of a RAN for local traffic between a first node and a UE across a wireless connection. The network node may establish a first wireless signaling connection between a first node and a second node. The network node may encapsulate or decapsulate traffic associated with a second wireless signaling connection within the first wireless signaling connection. The second wireless signaling connection corresponds to a non-F1 interface of a control plane or user plane network function that terminates at the first node. For instance, the network node may be a consumer premises equipment (CPE) serving a UE, a base station wirelessly serving the CPE, or a core network node providing control for the UE.