MAC PDU Expanded-Type Identification for 5G Control Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing MAC PDU structures in 5G systems are inadequate for identifying the expanded MAC CE types due to the limited range of LCID values, which cannot accommodate the increased number of MAC CE types introduced by the 5G system.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves setting MAC CE expanded-type indication information in the MAC PDU subheader and a MAC CE type index within the MAC CE to identify specific expanded types, allowing for two levels of indication to distinguish the expanded MAC CEs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the LCID field is used to identify MAC CE types, then the identification mechanism is simple, but the range of identifiable MAC CE types is limited to 64 types
Solution Approach 1:
The identification mechanism is segmented into two parts: the existing LCID field (6 bits) for basic identification and a new MAC CE type index field within the MAC CE structure for extended identification. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the simple LCID mechanism while adding capacity to identify expanded MAC CE types beyond the original 64 types.
Solution Approach 2:
The MAC CE type index is nested within the MAC CE structure itself, creating a hierarchical identification system. The outer layer uses LCID in the subheader for initial identification, while the inner layer uses the type index within the MAC CE payload for specific type differentiation, enabling identification of expanded MAC CE types without altering the external protocol structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the MAC PDU subheader structure is altered to accommodate expanded MAC CE types, then the identification capability is improved, but the compatibility with existing protocols is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The extended identification information (MAC CE type index) is extracted from the subheader and placed within the MAC CE structure itself. This extraction preserves the existing subheader format for backward compatibility while providing extended identification capability through the embedded type index in the MAC CE payload.
Solution Approach 2:
The MAC CE structure is designed with multi-functionality: it can carry both traditional MAC CE types (identified by LCID alone) and expanded MAC CE types (identified by LCID plus type index). This universal design allows the same structure to serve both legacy and extended identification needs without requiring separate protocol paths.
Data Source
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AI summary
A MAC PDU transmission method and apparatus are provided. In the present application, a MAC PDU is generated by a sending device, wherein the MAC PDU includes N media access control control elements MAC CE and N MAC PDU subheaders corresponding to the N MAC CEs in a one-to-one manner, at least one MAC PDU subheader in the N MAC PDU subheaders includes MAC CE expanded-type indication information used to indicate that a corresponding MAC CE is an expanded type of MAC CE, and a MAC CE corresponding to the MAC PDU subheader containing the MAC CE expanded-type indication information includes an MAC CE type index used to indicate an expansion type to which the MAC CE belongs, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; the MAC PDU is sent by the sending device.