Master-Secondary Node Procedure Prioritization for Mobility Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-radio dual connectivity networking, the simultaneous air interface reconfigurations at the master and secondary nodes lead to signaling procedure intersections, compromising service mobility continuity and increasing the likelihood of dropped calls.

Innovation Solution

Implementing two intersecting procedure processing methods at the master and secondary nodes, along with corresponding devices and a storage medium, to prioritize and manage conflicting procedures, ensuring service continuity and reducing dropped calls by optimizing handover and non-handover reconfigurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If simultaneous air interface reconfigurations are performed at master node and secondary node, then spectrum efficiency and throughput are improved, but service mobility continuity deteriorates and dropped calls increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidservice mobility continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the master node preemptively suspend its air interface reconfiguration procedure when it detects that a secondary node reconfiguration is ongoing. This suspension mechanism prevents the intersection of signaling procedures before they can occur, thereby maintaining service mobility continuity while allowing throughput optimization to proceed when conditions are favorable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If air interface reconfiguration procedures intersect between master node and secondary node, then signaling efficiency is improved, but service mobility process continuity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling efficiencyVSAvoidservice mobility process continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The master node performs preliminary detection to identify when a secondary node reconfiguration procedure is in progress before initiating its own reconfiguration. This advance detection enables the master node to suspend its procedure preemptively, preventing signaling procedure intersections that would compromise service mobility continuity while maintaining efficient signaling when procedures do not conflict.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If handover procedures are prioritized over non-handover procedures, then service mobility continuity is improved, but reconfiguration completion time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice mobility continuityVSAvoidreconfiguration completion time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic prioritization where the master node adjusts the execution order of reconfiguration procedures based on real-time conditions. When handover procedures are detected, they are given priority over non-handover procedures. This dynamic adjustment ensures service mobility continuity is maintained while minimizing time loss by only reordering procedures when necessary rather than always following a fixed sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4044674B1Method and device for handling intersecting processes, apparatus, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 ZTE CORP
  • EP4044674B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4044674B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4044674B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided are a method and device for handling intersecting processes, an apparatus, and a storage medium. A method is applied in a master node, and comprises: receiving a secondary node process message sent by a secondary node; and determining a service processing process according to a master node service scenario, a secondary node process scenario and a preset service scenario priority level, a secondary node process switching scenario being determined according to the secondary node process message.