PDCP-RLC Link Setup for Fast Unicast-Multicast Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multicast transmission technologies suffer from low reliability and significant signaling overheads and delays during mode switching between multicast and unicast transmission modes due to the need for reconfiguration using RRC signaling.
Innovation Solution
Configuring one PDCP entity to associate with multiple RLC entities, including both unicast and multicast modes, allowing flexible switching without reconfiguration, thereby reducing signaling overheads and delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multicast transmission mode is used, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but transmission reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transmission mode switching by establishing both unicast and multicast RLC entities that can be flexibly activated or deactivated based on transmission requirements. The network device can dynamically select between unicast and multicast modes for the same data, allowing the system to adapt between efficiency-oriented multicast transmission and reliability-oriented unicast transmission as conditions change.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission mode parameter by introducing dual RLC entity configuration. Instead of fixing the transmission mode, the system can switch between unicast and multicast modes by activating different RLC entities. This parameter change enables the system to optimize between transmission efficiency (multicast) and reliability (unicast) based on actual network conditions and service requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If transmission mode switching is performed using RRC signaling, then mode flexibility is improved, but signaling overhead and switching delay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing both unicast and multicast RLC entities before transmission mode switching is needed. Both RLC entities are configured and ready in advance, so when mode switching is required, the system can immediately activate the appropriate entity without waiting for RRC reconfiguration. This eliminates the time-consuming reconfiguration process while maintaining mode flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the RRC reconfiguration step from the mode switching process. By pre-configuring both unicast and multicast RLC entities, the actual mode switching only requires activating or deactivating specific entities, which can be done through simpler signaling rather than full RRC reconfiguration. This extraction of the reconfiguration step significantly reduces signaling overhead and switching delay.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The method includes: A first apparatus establishes a first radio link control RLC entity and a second RLC entity, where the first RLC entity and the second RLC entity are associated with a first packet data convergence protocol PDCP entity. The first apparatus sends first data through the first RLC entity and/or the second RLC entity. The first RLC entity corresponds to a unicast transmission mode, and the second RLC entity corresponds to a multicast transmission mode. According to the communication method provided in this application, one PDCP is configured to be associated with an RLC entity corresponding to the unicast transmission mode and an RLC entity corresponding to the multicast transmission mode. Data is transmitted through the RLC entity corresponding to the unicast transmission mode and/or the RLC entity corresponding to the multicast transmission mode. In this way, flexible switching can be performed between the unicast transmission mode and the multicast transmission mode. Therefore, signaling overheads and a delay during transmission mode switching can be reduced, and reliability of data transmission can be improved.