L2 Relay Link Pausing for Non-Relay Base Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular communication networks, especially in 5G, the handover of relay links between User Equipment (UE) and Base Stations (BS) often results in service interruptions and increased signaling due to the lack of support for L2-relaying at target BSs, leading to repeated relay reselection and power wastage.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus and method involve pausing the L2 relay link when a target BS for handover does not support L2-relaying, using a timer to manage the paused state, and resuming when an L2-capable BS is available, allowing for efficient preservation of the relay connection and reducing signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the relay link is terminated when handover to a non-L2-capable BS is detected, then the network can avoid service interruptions, but repeated relay reselection occurs causing increased signaling overhead and power wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of L2-capability at target BSs before completing handover. When a non-L2-capable BS is detected as handover target, the relay link is paused in advance rather than terminated, preventing the need for subsequent relay reselection and avoiding associated power wastage and signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay link state is dynamically adjusted between active and paused states based on real-time handover target capability detection. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain the relay link when possible (saving power) while avoiding service interruptions when L2-capability is unavailable, resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If relay reselection is performed repeatedly when handover to non-L2-capable BS occurs, then service continuity can be maintained, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects L2-capability of handover target BSs before completing handover and pauses the relay link in advance when non-L2-capable BS is detected. This preliminary action prevents the need for repeated relay reselection procedures, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining service continuity through the paused relay link.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the relay link pause function as a separate control mechanism independent of handover execution. By separating the relay link management from the handover process, the system can maintain relay connectivity while avoiding repeated reselection signaling, thus reducing information loss due to excessive signaling.
3Loss of information
If the relay link is maintained during handover to non-L2-capable BS, then signaling overhead is reduced, but service interruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The relay link is dynamically controlled to be paused (not terminated) when handover to non-L2-capable BS is detected. This dynamic pause state maintains the relay connection in the network while preventing service interruptions at the UE side, thereby reducing signaling overhead without sacrificing service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay link is paused in advance before handover to non-L2-capable BS is completed. This preliminary pausing action prevents service interruptions while avoiding the need for repeated relay reselection signaling, thus achieving both reduced signaling overhead and maintained service continuity.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for receiving, at the apparatus, an indication indicating that a target base station of the apparatus for a handover does not support relaying, wherein the apparatus is in a radio resource control connected state and has a relay link with a serving base station via a relay user equipment and pausing the relay link based at least on the received indication.