5G MBS Traffic Multiplexing and QoS Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in efficiently configuring and multiplexing Multicast/Broadcast Services (MBS) traffic, prioritizing uplink traffic, handling HARQ retransmissions, and ensuring reliable transmission in New Radio (NR) networks, particularly due to varied Quality of Service (QoS) requirements and dynamic service delivery needs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of procedures for managing multiplexed MBS traffic, prioritizing between MBS and unicast uplink traffic, handling HARQ retransmissions over a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI), supporting PDCP Status Reporting, and enabling wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) to join active multicast sessions, including configuration with a single Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) entity and demultiplexing at the SDAP or MAC layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple MBS services are multiplexed over the same radio bearers to improve resource efficiency, then resource utilization improves, but service configuration complexity and difficulty of managing varied QoS requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments MBS services by introducing service-specific logical channels and separating QoS flow handling. Each MBS service is assigned dedicated logical channels (e.g., MTCH for multicast, BTCH for broadcast) while sharing physical radio bearers. This segmentation allows efficient resource utilization through multiplexing while managing QoS complexity through structured separation of service flows at the logical channel level.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic changes in traffic delivery are implemented to meet varied QoS requirements, then service adaptability improves, but transmission reliability and efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic service delivery through RAN-based switching between multicast and unicast modes. The network can dynamically change how traffic is delivered to UEs based on real-time conditions such as UE mobility, channel quality, and service requirements. This dynamic adaptation maintains transmission reliability by switching to more robust unicast delivery when multicast reliability is insufficient, while preserving efficiency through multicast when conditions are favorable.
3Reliability
If HARQ retransmissions are handled over C-RNTI to improve reliability, then transmission reliability improves, but uplink resource allocation complexity and power consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling HARQ retransmissions selectively over C-RNTI only for specific MBS services that require high reliability, rather than uniformly for all MBS traffic. The network can configure certain services to use C-RNTI-based HARQ while other services use more energy-efficient group-common HARQ or no HARQ. This localized application of reliable but power-intensive retransmission mechanisms maintains overall system efficiency while providing enhanced reliability where needed.
4Ease of operation
If a single SDAP entity is configured for MBS services to simplify device configuration, then configuration simplicity improves, but traffic demultiplexing complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary demultiplexing function at the MAC layer that receives multiplexed MBS traffic from a single SDAP entity and separates it into service-specific logical channels. This intermediary MAC-layer demultiplexer handles the complexity of separating multiple MBS QoS flows while the SDAP layer maintains simple single-entity configuration. The MAC layer acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between configuration simplicity and traffic separation requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are described herein for Multicast/Broadcast Services (MBS). The embodiments described herein are directed to procedures for managing multiplexed MBS traffic, for prioritization between MBS related UL traffic, unicast UL traffic, and SL traffic, for handling HARQ retransmissions over C-RNTI, to support PDCP Status Reporting for MBS services, and for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) joining already started/activated Multicast Sessions. In one example, a WTRU may receive multiplexed MBS services via one or more MBS radio bearers (MRB) and/or one or more unicast data radio bearers (DRBs). The WTRU may be configured with a single Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) entity for the MBS services, and demultiplexing of traffic may be performed at the SDAP layer. The WTRU may be configured to demultiplex multiple logical channels across different MBS services, where the logical channels are received over the same transport block.