L2 Relay Communication Bearer Mapping Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current L2 relay communication architecture lacks a specified data transmission process between network devices and remote terminal devices, resulting in low efficiency of data transmission.

Innovation Solution

A communication method where a network device sends information to configure the correspondence between data radio bearers, allowing efficient relay transmission between the network device and remote terminal devices through configured PDCP and RLC entities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If L2 relay communication architecture is implemented to support control plane interaction and RRC signaling exchange, then communication assurance between network device and remote terminal device is improved, but data transmission efficiency remains low due to lack of specified data transmission process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication assuranceVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data transmission process into distinct phases: control plane interaction phase (using existing L2 relay architecture) and user plane data transmission phase (with newly specified processes). This allows the control plane to be established through relay while data transmission follows optimized paths, resolving the contradiction between maintaining communication assurance and improving data transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a network device as an intermediary that coordinates between the relay terminal device and the remote terminal device. The network device manages the mapping relationships between data radio bearers and protocol entities, enabling efficient data transmission while maintaining the L2 relay architecture's reliability benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If data transmission process is not specified in L2 relay architecture, then implementation flexibility is maintained, but data transmission efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation flexibilityVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes mapping relationships between data radio bearers and protocol entities (PDCP-RLC mappings) in advance through network device configuration. This preliminary setup enables efficient data transmission without requiring complex runtime decisions, thus improving productivity while maintaining implementation flexibility through configurable parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces configurable parameters such as bearer mappings, PDCP entity associations, and RLC entity correspondences. These parameters can be adjusted by the network device to optimize data transmission efficiency for different scenarios while maintaining the overall architectural flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If correspondence between data radio bearers is configured for relay terminal device, then relay transmission efficiency is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelay transmission efficiencyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the bearer mapping configuration to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it enables efficient data transmission routing, establishes protocol entity associations, and provides QoS management. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate signaling messages, thereby improving relay transmission efficiency while minimizing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple configuration elements into unified signaling messages. For example, the mapping relationship between data radio bearers is configured together with PDCP and RLC entity associations in a single signaling exchange, reducing the total signaling overhead compared to separate configuration procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4068842B1Communication method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4068842B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4068842B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4068842B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

This application discloses a communication method and apparatus. A network device configures, for a first communication apparatus, a correspondence between a first data radio bearer and a second data radio bearer, so that the first communication apparatus learns that relay transmission between the network device and a second communication apparatus is performed by using the first data radio bearer and the second data radio bearer. In addition, the network device configures, for the second communication apparatus, a correspondence between an RLC entity of an SL interface corresponding to the second data radio bearer and a PDCP entity of a Uu interface, so that the second communication apparatus can efficiently determine the PDCP entity used for relay transmission. The foregoing communication method improves data transmission efficiency of L2 relay communication.