Inactivity Indication for Dual Connectivity Resource Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In dual connectivity scenarios, maintaining two active connections in wireless communication systems is inefficient when one connection becomes inactive, leading to unnecessary signaling load and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method for a user equipment (UE) to transmit an inactivity indication, indicating the inactivation of a specific bearer or channel, allowing for efficient management of connections by moving the specific path to another node and releasing resources at the first node, using RRC messages, MAC control elements, or L1 signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dual connectivity is maintained with two active connections, then service availability and flexibility are improved, but signaling load and resource utilization increase unnecessarily when one connection is inactive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic connection management by introducing an inactivity indication mechanism that allows the UE to signal when a connection is no longer active. This enables the network to dynamically adjust resource allocation and signaling based on actual connection status, transitioning from static dual connectivity maintenance to adaptive connection management that reduces signaling load when connections are inactive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback through the inactivity indication signal sent from UE to the network. This feedback mechanism provides real-time information about connection activity status, allowing the network to make informed decisions about resource allocation and connection management, thereby reducing unnecessary signaling for inactive connections while maintaining service availability for active ones.
2Reliability
If dual connectivity is maintained with two active connections, then service availability and flexibility are improved, but device complexity and resource management overhead increase when one connection is inactive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces device complexity by implementing dynamic connection management through inactivity indications. The UE can efficiently signal connection status changes, allowing the network to simplify resource management and reduce overhead for inactive connections, thereby lowering the overall complexity of dual connectivity management without sacrificing service availability.
3Speed
If resources are maintained for inactive connections, then quick reactivation is possible, but resource usage efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource management by allowing the network to release resources for inactive connections based on inactivity indications from the UE. This dynamic approach enables resources to be allocated only when needed, improving resource usage efficiency while maintaining the capability for quick reactivation when connections become active again.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the principle of discarding and recovering resources by releasing network resources for inactive connections upon receiving inactivity indications. This allows resources to be efficiently released and made available for other uses, while the connection state information is preserved to enable quick reactivation when needed, thus optimizing both resource efficiency and reactivation speed.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A method and apparatus for transmitting an inactivity indication in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE), which transmits/receives Internet protocol (IP) packets of a specific bearer/channel via a first connection with a first node, establishes a second connection with a second node while maintaining the first connection. When the specific bearer/channel is moved from the first node to the second node, the UE transmits an inactivity indication which indicates inactivation of the specific bearer/channel to the first node.