Intermediary Entity for Dual-Connectivity RRC Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dual-connectivity wireless networks, managing the RRC state of a UE served by both a master node (MN) and secondary nodes (SNs) is burdensome for the MN, as it needs to track data flow and inactivity reports from multiple SNs, leading to inefficiencies in connection management.
Innovation Solution
An intermediary entity, such as a centralized packet controller (CPC), is introduced between the core-network gateway system and the SNs to track data flow and provide consolidated reports to the MN, allowing it to determine inactivity and manage RRC connections more efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the master node directly tracks data flow and inactivity reports from multiple secondary nodes, then connection management accuracy is improved, but device complexity and management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary entity is introduced between the master node and secondary nodes to consolidate data flow tracking and inactivity reporting. This intermediary receives data from multiple secondary nodes, processes it centrally, and provides a single consolidated report to the master node, thereby reducing the master node's complexity while maintaining accurate connection management
2Loss of information
If the master node receives separate inactivity reports from each secondary node, then data flow monitoring completeness is improved, but information processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate inactivity reports from different secondary nodes are merged into a single consolidated report by an intermediary entity. This consolidation maintains complete data flow monitoring information while significantly reducing the processing overhead at the master node, as it now handles one aggregated report instead of multiple separate reports
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system to help control connectivity of a UE served with dual connectivity by a master node and a plurality of secondary nodes. An intermediary that is disposed between a core-network gateway system and the secondary nodes tracks data flow between the gateway system and the secondary nodes and provides the master node with a data-flow report, which the master node could use as a basis to trigger release of the UE's RRC connection, and/or to control addition or removal of one or more secondary nodes for the UE's dual-connectivity service.