Policy-Based Traffic Steering in LTE-NR Dual Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE/NR dual connectivity systems in Non-Standalone Architecture (NSA) configurations lack flexibility in traffic steering, often restricting Quality of Service (QoS) Class Identifiers (QCIs) and resulting in suboptimal network performance due to hard-coded policies and limited dynamic updates.
Innovation Solution
Implementing policy-based dual connectivity traffic steering, where a master LTE base station steers traffic between LTE and NR base stations based on policy information, including QCI, subscriber information, signal strength, load levels, and other factors, allowing dynamic updates and flexible traffic management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hard-coded QCI restrictions are implemented in NSA dual connectivity, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates and network performance becomes suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic traffic steering policies that allow the master base station to flexibly direct traffic between LTE and NR base stations based on real-time network conditions, subscriber profiles, and QCI requirements, replacing static hard-coded restrictions with adaptive decision-making capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of QCI handling from fixed restrictions to dynamic policy-based decisions, allowing different QCI ranges to be steered to different base stations based on network conditions and subscriber-specific policies, thereby improving adaptability without sacrificing operational simplicity
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible policy-based traffic steering is implemented, then adaptability is improved and network performance is optimized, but device complexity increases and processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a policy information structure as an intermediary between the core network and base stations, containing pre-configured steering rules and QCI mappings that reduce the complexity of real-time decision-making at the base station while maintaining flexible traffic steering capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration of traffic steering policies and QCI mappings in advance through the policy information structure, so that the master base station can make rapid routing decisions without complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing processing overhead while maintaining adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
Policy based dual connectivity traffic steering is described herein. A master Long-Term Evolution (LTE) base station may operate in conjunction with a secondary New Radio (NR) base station to provide dual connectivity to user equipment (UE) operating in an environment. The LTE base station can steer traffic between the LTE base station and the NR base station based at least in part on policy information received at the LTE base station. The policy information can indicate, for a particular UE and for a particular Quality of Service (QoS) Class Identifier (QCI), whether the LTE base station can transfer a communication to the NR base station. Thus, traffic steering determinations can be based on the policy information, quality identifiers, device capability, signal strength(s), load level(s), and the like, thereby providing a flexible framework for steering wireless traffic in a dual connectivity environment.