5G NR User Plane Protocol Version Negotiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, especially in Dual- or Multi-Connectivity scenarios, there is a risk of protocol mismatches between nodes supporting different versions of the 5G NR user plane protocol, leading to data loss, misinterpretation, and deadlock situations due to incompatible header structures and field interpretations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves exchanging version information between nodes using suitable information elements via higher-layer negotiation or in-band PDU signaling, ensuring that only compatible protocol versions are used for data transmission, allowing nodes to support different protocol versions as long as they understand the field and header structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If nodes in the wireless communication network support different versions of the 5G NR user plane protocol, then protocol flexibility and adaptability are improved, but protocol mismatches occur leading to data loss and misinterpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces protocol version information as an intermediary element that mediates between nodes with different protocol versions. By exchanging version information through higher-layer negotiation or in-band PDU signaling, nodes can identify compatibility issues before data transmission occurs, preventing mismatches without requiring all nodes to use the same protocol version
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary version negotiation before actual data transmission. Nodes exchange protocol version information in advance through control plane signaling or embedded in user plane PDUs, allowing the system to pre-determine compatibility and select appropriate header structures before data flow begins, thus preventing data loss and misinterpretation
2Adaptability or versatility
If nodes use different header structures for protocol versions, then backward compatibility is improved, but field interpretation errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
Protocol version information acts as a mediator that carries interpretation instructions for header fields. Receiving nodes use this intermediary information to correctly interpret header structures even when they differ from the sender's version, enabling accurate field interpretation across protocol version boundaries without requiring identical header formats
3Reliability
If protocol version information is exchanged via higher-layer negotiation, then version compatibility is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by incorporating only the essential version information needed for compatibility checking into the signaling process. Rather than exchanging complete protocol configuration data, nodes transmit minimal version identifiers through higher-layer negotiation or embedded PDU fields, achieving sufficient version compatibility assurance with reduced signaling overhead
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a first unit for handling a connection between the first unit and multiple second units in a wireless communications network is provided. The first unit obtains from each of the multiple second units a respective indication of which one or more version of NR User plane protocol (NR-U) it supports. The first unit decides which version of NR-U that is possible to use for the connection based on the indications received from the multiple second units.