Fast Secondary Cell Activation via Numerology-Based Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 3GPP Rel-15 new radio (NR) networks, face significant delays in secondary cell activation and deactivation, which are detrimental to performance, especially for services with stringent latency requirements, due to the long minimum activation delay of about 5 milliseconds and varying maximum allowed delays, impacting efficient bandwidth utilization.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a process that allows for fast secondary cell activation and deactivation by configuring user equipment (UE) to receive medium access control (MAC) control elements indicating activation or deactivation, with activation delay times determined based on the numerology of the serving cell, enabling activation or deactivation within a few timing slots and less than 5 milliseconds, thus reducing delays and improving bandwidth utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the standard MAC CE activation/deactivation procedure is used, then the SCell activation or deactivation is reliably executed, but the activation delay is long (minimum 5 milliseconds to tens or hundreds of milliseconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures multiple SCell activation delay values (e.g., first activation delay, second activation delay) along with their corresponding timing configurations before actual SCell activation is needed. When activation is required, the UE simply applies the pre-configured timing parameters, eliminating the need for lengthy activation procedures and achieving fast SCell activation within a fraction of a millisecond while maintaining reliability through pre-validated configurations.
2Loss of energy
If the SCell is frequently deactivated to save resources, then energy consumption is reduced, but the reconfiguration time increases service interruption and latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic SCell activation and deactivation control by enabling the network to flexibly switch between different pre-configured activation delay values based on real-time traffic conditions and service requirements. This dynamic control allows the system to quickly activate SCells when traffic demands increase and rapidly deactivate them when traffic decreases, optimizing energy consumption while minimizing service interruption time through instantaneous reconfiguration switching.
3Productivity
If the activation delay is reduced to meet latency requirements, then the responsiveness to traffic needs is improved, but the complexity of timing management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SCell activation process by pre-configuring multiple independent activation delay values (first activation delay, second activation delay, etc.) with distinct timing relationships. Each segmented delay configuration can be independently selected and applied based on specific service requirements, allowing the system to achieve fast response times without managing a single complex timing mechanism, thereby reducing overall timing management complexity while improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is performed by user equipment (UE) for communicating on a secondary cell (SCell) with fast activation or deactivation. The method includes receiving, from a serving cell, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) including a plurality of bits, wherein individual bits of the plurality of bits each indicate whether respective secondary cells (SCells) of a fifth generation (5G) wireless cellular network are activated or deactivated. The method includes based on a numerology of the serving cell, determining an activation delay time for one or more activated SCells indicated by the plurality of bits of the MAC CE. The method includes communicating using the one or more activated SCells based on the determined activation delay time.