Primary Link Reconfiguration for Dual Connectivity RRC State Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communications systems with dual connectivity, particularly in 4G and 5G networks, face challenges in determining the radio resource control (RRC) state for dual connectivity connections involving NR and WLAN links, employing link recovery procedures after failures, and re-establishment procedures in case of recovery failures.
Innovation Solution
The described techniques enable a user equipment (UE) to receive control signaling for establishing a dual connectivity connection with both wireless local area network (WLAN) and cellular network links, allowing the UE to establish either link as a primary link, which is reconfigurable, and supports a single RRC connection. The UE communicates based on a first RRC state and performs procedures like reporting link failures, monitoring responses, and re-establishing connections when links fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dual connectivity connection supports multiple radio resource control states simultaneously, then communication flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the RRC state management by introducing a primary link and secondary link architecture. The primary link maintains the main RRC connection with the network, while the secondary link provides supplemental connectivity. This segmentation allows the system to manage multiple links with different RRC states independently, improving flexibility without overwhelming complexity in a single unified state management system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of the primary link status. The network can dynamically switch between different RRC states (e.g., RRC_CONNECTED, RRC_INACTIVE) for the primary link based on current network conditions and UE requirements. This dynamic state management enables the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining a manageable complexity level through standardized state transitions.
2Reliability
If link recovery procedures are implemented after failure, then reliability is improved, but time for recovery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the secondary link in advance as a backup to the primary link. When primary link failure occurs, the secondary link is already configured and ready to take over, enabling rapid switchover. This preliminary preparation of alternative connectivity paths significantly reduces recovery time while maintaining high reliability through proactive failover capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network entity as an intermediary that coordinates the failover process. The network entity manages the transition from primary link to secondary link, handling the complexity of state synchronization and resource reallocation. This intermediary coordination enables smooth, fast failover without requiring the UE to independently manage the complex recovery procedures.
3Reliability
If re-establishment procedures are implemented after recovery failure, then reliability is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service failover where the UE autonomously monitors the status of primary and secondary links and automatically initiates switchover when primary link fails. The UE independently manages the re-establishment procedures without requiring complex manual intervention or complex coordination protocols, simplifying operation while maintaining reliability through automated response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the UE continuously reports link status to the network entity, and the network entity provides feedback about available resources and appropriate RRC states. This feedback loop enables automatic, intelligent decision-making for link recovery and re-establishment, simplifying the operational complexity through standardized feedback-driven procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive, from a network entity, control signaling indicating a configuration for establishing a dual connectivity connection. The dual connectivity connection may include a wireless local area network (WLAN) link and a cellular network link. The UE may establish the WLAN link or the cellular network link as a primary link of the dual connectivity connection. The primary link may be reconfigurable between the WLAN link and the cellular network link. The dual connectivity connection may support a single radio resource control connection associated with the primary link between the UE and the network entity. The UE may communicate with the network entity using at least the primary link of the dual connectivity connection. The UE may support a single radio resource control state of the plurality of radio resource control states at a time.