LTE Trunking Bearer Switching for Service Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing LTE trunking communication systems face challenges in ensuring timely receipt of trunked services by user equipment (UE) when it moves between different cells within and outside the MBMS single frequency network (MBSFN) area.

Innovation Solution

The UE reports area identifier information to the network, allowing the network to select an appropriate trunked service bearing mode, either unicast or MBMS, based on this information, ensuring continuous service delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If MBMS bearer is used for trunked service transmission, then service coverage area is expanded, but service continuity cannot be guaranteed when UE moves outside MBSFN area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverage areaVSAvoidservice continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between MBMS bearer and unicast bearer based on UE location. When UE is inside MBSFN area, MBMS bearer provides efficient multicast transmission; when UE moves outside, the system transitions to unicast bearer to maintain service continuity, making the transmission mode adaptable to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The network side acts as an intermediary that monitors UE location and manages bearer switching. The network receives area identifier information from UE, determines the appropriate bearing mode, and coordinates the transition between MBMS and unicast transmission to ensure seamless service delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If unicast bearer is used for trunked service transmission, then service continuity is maintained, but network load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidnetwork load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies unicast transmission partially, only when necessary for service continuity. Most transmissions use efficient MBMS multicast mode, and unicast is activated only as a supplementary mode when UE moves outside MBSFN area, minimizing the excessive network load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmission parameter (bearer type) based on UE location parameters. By monitoring area identifier information and dynamically adjusting the bearing mode parameter between MBMS and unicast, the system optimizes network resource utilization while maintaining service quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If MBMS bearer is used, then resource utilization is efficient, but service timeliness cannot be ensured when UE moves between cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidservice delivery time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanism where UE reports area identifier information to the network. This feedback enables the network to detect UE movement and trigger timely bearer switching, ensuring service delivery remains timely while maintaining efficient resource utilization through predominant MBMS usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system supports both MBMS and unicast bearing modes, then service adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice bearing mode adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements multi-functionality by supporting both MBMS and unicast bearing modes within a unified framework. The same service infrastructure handles both transmission types, with the network side intelligently selecting the appropriate mode based on UE location, achieving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3188518B1LTE trunking communication method and device
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 ZTE CORP
  • EP3188518B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3188518B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3188518B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method for LTE trunking communication, a user equipment and a first network element device are disclosed. The method includes: when a user equipment which is ready to receive trunked service data through a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) bearer moves between a cell inside an MBMS single frequency network (MBSFN) area where a trunked service is located and a cell outside the MBMFN area, reporting area identifier information of the user equipment; and the user equipment receiving the trunked service data according to a trunked service bearing mode selected by a network side based on the received area identifier information.