Multi-Path DRB Uplink Delay Measurement for MR-DC

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication technologies fail to effectively measure transmission delays in scenarios where one data radio bearer (DRB) corresponds to two or more radio link control (RLC) entity bearers, which is necessary for ensuring low-latency performance in ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) services.

Innovation Solution

The method involves UE-side and network-side delay measurements on each path where a DRB is transmitted, allowing for the determination of an uplink delay by combining these measurements to adjust resource allocation and meet service requirements, applicable in multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC) and carrier aggregation (CA) scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If one DRB corresponds to only one RLC entity bearer (one-path communication), then delay measurement is simple and straightforward, but the system cannot support multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC) scenarios where multiple paths are needed for enhanced reliability and throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the delay measurement process into separate measurements for each path (first path and second path). The terminal device performs UE-side delay measurement independently on each path, and the network device performs network-side delay measurement independently on each path. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple paths without requiring a completely new measurement framework, thereby supporting MR-DC scenarios while maintaining manageable complexity through modular measurement approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If separate delay measurements are performed on each path in multi-path communication, then accurate uplink delay determination is achieved, but the measurement process becomes more complex compared to conventional one-path communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement process is divided into distinct UE-side measurements and network-side measurements for each path. By segmenting the measurements into separate, independent processes rather than attempting a unified measurement approach, the patent achieves accurate delay determination for each path while keeping the complexity of individual measurement processes manageable and comparable to conventional one-path measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate measurement results (UE-side delay and network-side delay for each path) that serve as mediators between the raw transmission data and the final uplink delay determination. These intermediate measurements allow the system to accurately capture delay characteristics of each path separately, then combine them systematically to determine the overall uplink delay, reducing the complexity of direct end-to-end measurement in multi-path scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If conventional delay measurement methods are used, then the measurement process is simple, but they cannot accurately measure transmission delay in scenarios where one DRB corresponds to two or more RLC entity bearers

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by creating separate measurement procedures for each path (first path with first RLC entity and second path with second RLC entity). This allows the system to accurately measure delay in multi-path scenarios where conventional methods fail, while each individual measurement procedure remains as easy to implement as conventional one-path measurements, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving multi-path measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3952402B1Communication method and apparatus with determination of uplink delay
Publication Date: 2025.10.22
  • EP3952402B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3952402B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3952402B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

This application discloses a communication method, a related device, and a system. The method includes: A first network device receives first information from a terminal device, where the first information includes a first delay and a second delay, or the first information includes a third delay, the first delay is a delay of the terminal device on a first path, the second delay is a delay of the terminal device on a second path, the third delay is obtained by the terminal device based on the delay of the terminal device on the first path and the delay of the terminal device on the second path, and data packets transmitted on the first path and the second path belong to a first DRB. The first network device determines an uplink delay of the first DRB based on the first information, a fourth delay, and a fifth delay, where the fourth delay is a network-side delay on the first path, and the fifth delay is a network-side delay on the second path. According to this application, in a scenario in which a data packet of one DRB is transmitted on a plurality of paths, DRB delay measurement can be implemented.