QoS Flow-to-DRB Mapping Sharing for Reliable 5G Handover

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In the 5G communication system, base stations lack the knowledge of QoS flow-to-DRB mapping rules for neighboring base stations, leading to incorrect packet transmission during handovers and offloading due to differing mapping rules between source and target base stations.

Innovation Solution

A method for sharing QoS flow-to-DRB mapping rules between base stations, including procedures for handover, offloading, Xn interface setup, and configuration updates, ensuring consistent mapping rules across neighboring base stations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If base stations use independent QoS flow-to-DRB mapping rules, then each base station can optimize its own packet routing, but handover and offloading fail when mapping rules differ between source and target base stations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent mapping rule optimizationVSAvoidHandover reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The source base station transmits its QoS flow-to-DRB mapping rule to the target base station before handover occurs. This preliminary action ensures the target base station has the necessary mapping information in advance, allowing it to correctly route packets without needing to independently determine the mapping rule, thus resolving the reliability issue while preserving independent optimization capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mapping rule transmission acts as an intermediary mechanism between source and target base stations. Instead of requiring the target base station to independently discover or infer the mapping rule, the rule is directly transmitted from the source, serving as a mediator that ensures consistent mapping behavior across handover boundaries

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If base stations share QoS flow-to-DRB mapping rules, then handover and offloading reliability improves, but base stations must exchange additional information increasing system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHandover reliabilityVSAvoidInformation exchange complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential mapping rule information needed for handover, rather than exchanging complete base station configuration data. By taking out and transmitting only the specific QoS flow-to-DRB mapping rule parameter, the solution improves reliability while minimizing the increase in system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mapping rule is transmitted in advance through existing handover signaling procedures, rather than establishing new complex information exchange mechanisms. This preliminary transmission of necessary information leverages existing system structures, reducing the overall complexity increase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If base stations transmit mapping rules during handover, then packet forwarding accuracy improves, but handover signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePacket routing accuracyVSAvoidSignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The mapping rule transmission is integrated into existing handover signaling messages, allowing these messages to serve multiple functions: both coordinating the handover process and conveying the mapping rule information. This multi-functionality improves packet routing accuracy without proportionally increasing signaling overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the mapping rule transmission with the handover request and response signaling. By combining these information exchanges into a single integrated process rather than separate transmissions, the solution achieves accurate packet forwarding while minimizing the total signaling overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4284057B1Method and device for transmitting QOS flow to DRB mapping rule
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4284057B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4284057B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4284057B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a method in which a source base station (BS) transmits a Quality of Service (QoS) flow-to-data radio bearer (DRB) mapping rule to a target BS in a wireless communication system, and a device supporting the same. The method may include: receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a measurement result of a target cell; determining the handover of the UE to the target BS on the basis of the measurement result; and transmitting, to the target BS, a handover request message including a QoS flow-to-DRB mapping rule of the source BS.