LTE/NR Traffic Switching for Stable Real-Time Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concurrent transmission of control messaging over New Radio (NR) connections negatively impacts the quality of real-time communications in Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks due to increased RRC reconfiguration messaging, leading to issues like frequent connectivity loss and packet loss.
Innovation Solution
A radio access network (RAN) manages data transmission by utilizing LTE connections for data and real-time communications, either by ceasing traffic on NR connections or reconfiguring active sessions to LTE, reducing control messaging volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If NR connection is used for data transmission alongside LTE real-time communication, then data transmission capability is improved, but control messaging volume increases and real-time communication quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic connection management where the system automatically switches between NR and LTE connections based on real-time communication status. When real-time communication is detected, the system dynamically redirects data transmission to LTE connection only. When real-time communication ends, the system dynamically switches back to NR connection for data transmission. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by adjusting the data transmission path in real-time based on communication requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the connection configuration by monitoring real-time communication status and adjusting which connection (NR or LTE) handles data transmission. The parameter being changed is the active data transmission connection, switching between NR and LTE based on whether real-time communication is active, thereby controlling the volume of control messaging and maintaining communication quality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If RRC reconfiguration messages are transmitted during real-time communication, then network control and management are improved, but communication quality and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates control messaging functions from the real-time communication path. By redirecting data transmission to LTE connection when real-time communication is active, the system removes the source of RRC reconfiguration messages from the NR connection that carries real-time traffic. This separation ensures that control messaging operations do not interfere with real-time communication quality and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The LTE connection acts as an intermediary for data transmission during real-time communication sessions. By using LTE as the intermediate path for data traffic when NR is active with real-time communication, the system avoids direct interaction between RRC reconfiguration messages and real-time traffic on the same connection, thereby preventing quality degradation while maintaining network control capabilities.
Data Source
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Figure 2
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AI summary
A radio access network, comprising a processor; a Long-Term Evolution, LTE, transceiver coupled to the processor and configured to send and receive at least real-time communications and data transmissions; a new radio, NR, transceiver coupled to the processor and configured to send and receive at least data transmissions; and memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the radio access network to perform operations comprising: receiving a request for a real-time communication session; upon receiving the request, determining whether a data transmission session over a NR connection is active; when the data transmission session is active, ceasing to allocate traffic to the NR connection for downlink.