MBS Session Sequence Number Signaling During Downlink Inactivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face challenges in initializing sequence numbers for Multicast and Broadcast Services (MBS) multicast sessions during inactivity, leading to inefficiencies and potential data loss or synchronization issues in wireless networks.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves transmitting sequence numbers of user plane Protocol Data Units (PDU) to Radio Access Network (RAN) nodes even when no downlink multicast packets are available, using messages and information elements that include sequence numbers and Quality of Service Flow Identifiers, allowing for the setup and synchronization of MBS sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sequence numbers are transmitted only when downlink multicast packets are available, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but session initialization and synchronization reliability deteriorates during inactivity periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting sequence numbers in advance during session setup or modification, before actual data transmission begins. This ensures that the RAN node has the necessary sequence number information ready, enabling reliable session initialization and synchronization even during subsequent inactivity periods, while avoiding continuous transmission during data transmission phases
2Reliability
If sequence numbers are transmitted during inactivity periods, then session synchronization reliability is improved, but network signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transmits sequence numbers in advance during session setup or modification phases, rather than continuously during inactivity periods. This preliminary transmission approach ensures synchronization reliability is established upfront, avoiding the need for repeated signaling during inactivity while maintaining reliable session state at the RAN node
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing session setup and modification procedures to carry sequence number information, leveraging already-necessary signaling exchanges. This approach avoids additional dedicated signaling overhead by embedding sequence number transmission within existing protocol interactions that occur during session establishment or reconfiguration
3Reliability
If sequence numbers are transmitted in every downlink multicast packet, then data loss prevention is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sequence number information from the data transmission path and transmits it separately during session setup or modification. This separation allows the actual data transmission to occur without redundant sequence number overhead, preventing data loss through initial reliable transmission while conserving network bandwidth during ongoing data transfer phases
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising: receiving information from a Session Management Function; determining, from the information, to transmit to a Radio Access Network node at least one of a message and an information element, the at least one of the message and the information element comprising a sequence number of a last transmitted (or next to be transmitted) user plane Protocol Data Unit carrying a valid user plane payload of a Quality of Service Flow of a Multicast and Broadcast Services multicast session; and transmitting at least one of the message and the information element to the Radio Access Network node while no downlink multicast packet in the Multicast and Broadcast Services multicast session is available for transmission to the Radio access Network node.