Master Node UE Type-Based Dual Connectivity Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

In dual-connectivity configurations, determining when to establish a second-RAT connection with a secondary node (SN) for a UE is challenging, particularly in ensuring strong enough coverage to prevent poor communication quality, especially for relay-UEs that impact other UEs.

Innovation Solution

The mechanism allows the master node (MN) to select between 'blind-addition' and 'threshold-based-addition' processes based on the type of UE, using threshold-based-addition for relay-UEs to ensure strong coverage before establishing the second-RAT connection and blind-addition for end-user UEs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If blind-addition is used for all UEs, then connection establishment is fast and flexible, but coverage quality cannot be guaranteed for relay-UEs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection establishment speedVSAvoidcoverage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different addition modes (blind-addition vs. threshold-based-addition) to different UE types locally. Relay-UEs use threshold-based-addition to ensure coverage quality, while end-user UEs use blind-addition for fast connection establishment. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by tailoring the approach to specific UE requirements rather than using a uniform method for all UEs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If threshold-based-addition is used for all UEs, then coverage quality is ensured, but connection establishment becomes slower and less flexible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage qualityVSAvoidconnection establishment speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent differentiates between relay-UEs and end-user UEs, applying threshold-based-addition only to relay-UEs where coverage quality is critical. For end-user UEs, blind-addition is used to maintain fast and flexible connection establishment. This selective application resolves the contradiction by optimizing for the right metric in the right context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a single addition mode is used for all UEs, then system complexity is low, but network performance cannot be optimized for different UE types

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidnetwork performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces UE-type-based differentiation to select between blind-addition and threshold-based-addition modes. This allows the system to maintain simple blind-addition for most end-user UEs while applying the more complex threshold-based approach only when needed for relay-UEs. The MN determines UE type and selects the appropriate mode, optimizing network performance without universally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If blind-addition is used for relay-UEs, then connection establishment is fast, but communication quality deteriorates due to poor coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection establishment speedVSAvoidcommunication quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifically addresses relay-UEs by applying threshold-based-addition instead of blind-addition. The MN requires the UE to report strong coverage of the SN before establishing the second-RAT connection. This ensures that relay-UEs, which have critical communication quality requirements, receive the enhanced coverage verification while other UE types continue to use faster blind-addition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

5Reliability

If threshold-based-addition is used for end-user UEs, then coverage quality is ensured, but flexible connection establishment is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage qualityVSAvoidconnection establishment flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains blind-addition for end-user UEs, preserving fast and flexible connection establishment. Threshold-based-addition is applied only to relay-UEs where coverage quality is the primary concern. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain adaptability and flexibility for the majority of UEs while providing enhanced reliability where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10659978B1Use of UE type as basis to control whether to use blind addition or rather threshold-based addition when configuring dual connectivity

Publication Date: 2020.05.19 SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC

AI summary

A mechanism for controlling configuration of dual connectivity for a UE that has a first connection with a first access node. The first access node could make a determination what type of UE the UE is, such as whether the UE is a relay-UE or rather an end-user UE for instance. Based on the determined type, the first access node could then control whether to apply blind addition or rather threshold-based addition in adding for the UE a second connection with a second access node. For instance, if the UE is an end-user UE rather than a relay-UE, then the first access node could apply blind addition rather than threshold-based addition, and if the UE is a relay-UE rather than an end-user UE, then the first access node could apply threshold-based addition rather than blind addition.