Network Convergence Protocol Layer for 5G Blockage Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G wireless communication systems face interruptions due to blockages, particularly in high-frequency bands like millimeter wave (mmW), leading to reduced throughput and user experience, as existing technologies rely on bearer switching which incurs long interruption times and inefficiencies in handling channel changes and human blockages.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Network Convergence Protocol (NCP) layer that manages packet communications without bearer switching, enabling retransmissions, reordering, and duplicate elimination across different radio access technologies (RATs) like LTE and 5G mmW, thereby reducing interruption times by dynamically handling blockages and maintaining communication through fallback operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bearer switching is used to handle channel blockages in 5G mmW communication, then connection reliability can be restored, but interruption time increases significantly and throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The NCP layer pre-establishes multiple bearers across different RATs (5G mmW and LTE) before blockage occurs. When blockage is detected, the system can immediately switch to a pre-configured alternative bearer without the delay of establishing a new connection, thus reducing interruption time while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The NCP layer acts as an intermediary between the TCP layer and the underlying transport bearers. It manages multiple bearers and performs reordering, retransmission, and duplicate elimination functions, allowing seamless switching between 5G mmW and LTE bearers during blockage events without requiring TCP retransmission and thus reducing interruption time
2Reliability
If bearer switching is implemented to handle blockages, then connection can be restored, but device complexity and operational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The NCP layer provides multiple functions (bearer management, reordering, retransmission, duplicate elimination) within a single protocol layer. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into one manageable layer rather than distributing it across multiple separate mechanisms, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining reliable connection restoration
Solution Approach 2:
The NCP layer autonomously manages bearer switching, reordering, and retransmission without requiring external control or complex coordination between multiple network entities. This self-service capability reduces signaling overhead and operational complexity while ensuring reliable connection restoration during blockages
3Reliability
If TCP retransmission is used after blockage, then data integrity is maintained, but throughput significantly decreases due to slow start mode
Solution Approach 1:
The NCP layer serves as an intermediary that handles retransmission at the transport layer before data reaches TCP. By performing reordering and retransmission in the NCP layer, the system maintains data integrity without triggering TCP's slow start mechanism, thus preserving high throughput while ensuring reliable data delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The NCP layer pre-configures multiple bearers and establishes reordering buffers before blockage occurs. When blockage is detected, data can be temporarily buffered and retransmitted through alternative bearers without interrupting the TCP flow, maintaining both data integrity and high throughput by avoiding TCP retransmission
Data Source
AI summary
A network device (e.g., an evolved Node B (eNB), user equipment (UE) or the like) can operate to reduce an interruption time during a fallback operation resulting from a communication link blockage condition (e.g., a human blockage or other natural/physical wireless blockage). The network device includes a network convergence protocol (NCP) layer that enables communication between other network devices of different radio access technologies (RATs) in a heterogeneous network.