MAC Layer Cost Management for Inter-Node Uplink Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE mobile communication systems, 'Inter-node UP aggregation' leads to an excessively high transmission rate being guaranteed for EPS bearers, which is undesirable and inefficient in prioritization control.

Innovation Solution

A mobile station and mobile communication system are designed with MAC layer functions that manage carrier aggregation across multiple radio base stations, incorporating cost and priority management units to allocate transmission resources based on PBR values, ensuring accurate and efficient transmission rate management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If Inter-node UP aggregation is performed to achieve high throughput through simultaneous communications using component carriers under different radio base stations, then the transmission rate is improved, but the transmission rate guarantee becomes excessively high for the EPS bearer, which is undesirable from the viewpoint of prioritization control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission rateVSAvoidprioritization control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmission rate guarantee by separating the PBR value allocation across multiple MAC layer functions corresponding to different component carriers. Each MAC layer function manages its own cost value independently, preventing the cumulative effect of multiple base stations from resulting in excessively high guaranteed transmission rates. This segmentation allows the system to maintain prioritization control while achieving high throughput through carrier aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If each MAC layer function performs PBR control independently under Inter-node UP aggregation, then the transmission resources are allocated efficiently, but the cost management becomes complex requiring coordination between multiple base stations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidcost management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where MAC layer functions exchange cost value information with each other. The cost value managed by each MAC layer function is updated based on feedback from other MAC layer functions, ensuring consistent prioritization control across multiple component carriers. This feedback mechanism simplifies cost management by allowing independent MAC functions to coordinate through information exchange rather than requiring complex centralized management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3038418B1Mobile station and mobile communication system
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3038418B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3038418B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3038418B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An adequate transmission rate is guaranteed in a case where "Inter-node UP aggregation" is being performed. In a mobile station (UE) according to the present invention, each of MAC layer functions includes a cost management unit (25) configured to manage a cost of an LCH involved in "Inter-node UP aggregation", a priority management unit (24) configured to manage a priority of the LCH, and a bearer management unit (26) configured to allocate transmission resources to data for the LCH based on the priority and the cost of the LCH. The cost management unit (25) is configured to update the cost of the LCH managed by the cost management unit (25) itself, based on a PBR value informed by a network.