LTE-WLAN Aggregation Timing Offset for Sequence Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing LTE-WLAN aggregation techniques face challenges in ensuring data sequence integrity and optimizing data transmission routes due to differences in transmission speeds and contention-based access in WLAN systems, leading to potential out-of-sequence data arrival at the RAN.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where a UE configures itself to transmit uplink data via either RAN or WLAN connections based on pre-defined conditions, such as data threshold, and applies a delay offset to account for propagation delays, ensuring efficient data routing and sequence integrity by using LWA bearer configuration messages and LWAAP PDUs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data is transmitted via both RAN and WLAN routes simultaneously, then user throughput is increased, but data sequence integrity deteriorates due to out-of-sequence arrival

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser throughputVSAvoiddata sequence integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base station pre-calculates and determines the time difference for data transmission between WLAN and RAN routes before actual data transmission occurs. This preliminary timing adjustment ensures that data packets transmitted through different routes arrive at the base station in the correct sequence, preventing out-of-order delivery while maintaining aggregated throughput benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If WLAN transmission is used to aggregate data, then transmission capacity is increased, but transmission time increases due to contention-based access and forwarding delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidtransmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the timing parameter of data transmission by applying a calculated time difference offset. This parameter change compensates for the inherent delays in WLAN contention-based access and forwarding, aligning the arrival times of data packets from different routes without requiring changes to the physical transmission medium or protocol structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If data routing is simplified without reordering at RAN, then device complexity is reduced, but data sequence integrity worsens due to out-of-sequence arrival

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereordering complexityVSAvoiddata sequence integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of implementing complex reordering mechanisms at the base station, the system performs preliminary timing adjustment at the transmission stage. The base station calculates the time difference in advance and uses this information to schedule data transmissions such that sequence integrity is maintained naturally, eliminating the need for post-reception reordering operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3226606B1Method for ran-WLAN aggregation
Publication Date: 2022.01.12 TCL COMM LTD
  • EP3226606B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3226606B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3226606B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and systems for controlling the transmission of data from a mobile device to a base station. Data may be transmitted directly from the mobile device to the base station, or via a WLAN access point.