Multi-Hop PSCell Change Configuration for FR2 Dual Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3GPP Rel-17 solutions for conditional PSCell change (CPC) in wireless communication networks support only single-hop configurations, leading to significant interruption times and signaling overhead during frequent Secondary Cell Group (SCG) changes, particularly in Frequency Range 2 (FR2) operations.
Innovation Solution
Implement multi-hop CPC configurations by enabling network nodes to transmit and manage conditional reconfiguration messages across multiple hops, allowing for efficient handling of CPC execution conditions and minimizing interruptions by preparing future cell group changes without full reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If single-hop CPC configuration is used, then the system is simpler to implement, but interruption times and signaling overhead increase during frequent SCG changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple-hop CPC configurations in advance. The network nodes prepare conditional reconfiguration messages for multiple potential target PSCells before handover is needed, storing these configurations in the UE. When SCG change is triggered, the UE can immediately execute the pre-prepared configuration, avoiding the time loss of full reconfiguration and reducing interruption time during frequent SCG changes.
2Device complexity
If single-hop CPC configuration is used, then the signaling process is simpler, but signaling overhead increases during frequent SCG changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple single-hop CPC configurations into a single multi-hop CPC configuration message. Instead of sending separate reconfiguration messages for each potential target cell, the network nodes combine multiple target PSCell configurations into one comprehensive message sent to the UE. This reduces the number of signaling exchanges and overall signaling overhead during frequent SCG changes, while maintaining the complexity management benefits of structured configuration handling.
3Productivity
If multi-hop CPC configuration is implemented, then interruption times and signaling overhead are reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the multi-hop CPC configuration into distinct components: source PSCell configuration, intermediate PSCell configurations, and target PSCell configurations. Each hop is treated as a separate segment with its own conditional reconfiguration message structure. The network nodes handle each segment independently while maintaining overall coordination, making the complex multi-hop process manageable through structured segmentation of the configuration data and processing steps.
Data Source
AI summary
Network nodes and methods therein for handling multi-hop configuration of conditional primary secondary cell change or primary secondary cell group cell change (CPC) for a communication device (530, 531) configured with dual connectivity with a master cell group (MCG) managed by a first network node (511), and a secondary cell group (SCG) managed by the second network node (512), in a wireless communication network (500) are provided. Different solutions for enabling multi-hop CPC configurations and implementations of these solutions from the perspective of the first network node (511), the second network node (512), a target candidate network node and the communication device (530, 531) are disclosed.