Master eNB Bearer Mapping for Dual Connectivity Partial Failures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dual connectivity systems in mobile communications networks, such as UMTS and LTE, do not adequately handle partial failures during Secondary eNB (SeNB) changes, leading to invalid configurations and dropped packets due to unmanaged failed bearers.

Innovation Solution

The method involves the Master eNB (MeNB) providing the target SeNB with information on bearers served by the source SeNB, including failed bearers, and using a flag to indicate whether these bearers should be switched or released, ensuring proper resource allocation and packet forwarding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dual connectivity systems perform SeNB changes without adequate handling of failed bearers, then the system operates with simpler procedures, but configuration mismatches and packet loss occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearer management reliabilityVSAvoidSeNB change procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The MeNB performs preliminary identification of failed bearers before completing the SeNB change procedure. By proactively determining which bearers failed to migrate to the target SeNB and pre-configuring their handling (switching back to MeNB or releasing), the system prevents configuration mismatches and packet loss without requiring complex post-failure recovery procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The MeNB acts as an intermediary between the source SeNB, target SeNB, and the core network during SeNB changes. It receives bearer status information from both SeNBs, determines failed bearers, and coordinates the switching or release of these bearers, thereby centralizing control and simplifying the overall procedure while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system manages failed bearers during SeNB changes, then packet loss is reduced, but processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket delivery reliabilityVSAvoidbearer management processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The MeNB identifies and handles failed bearers in advance during the SeNB change procedure rather than discovering and managing them after failures occur. This preliminary handling includes determining which bearers to switch back to MeNB and which to release, thereby preventing packet loss while minimizing processing time through proactive rather than reactive management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3103307B1Methods, apparatus and computer programs for performing radio bearer mapping in dual connectivity
Publication Date: 2021.03.24 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP3103307B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3103307B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3103307B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for partial failure handling of bearer mapping in dual connectivity are provided. One method includes, during a secondary evolved node B (SeNB) addition procedure, providing a target SeNB with an indication of SeNB change together with information on bearers that were served by a source SeNB. The method may further include receiving, by a master evolved node B (MeNB), bearer mapping for failed bearers from the target SeNB, and providing the source SeNB with the bearer mapping for the failed bearers.