Per-QoS Flow End Marker Transmission for 5G Handover Delay Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In modern mobile communication systems, handovers between base stations cause delays in data transmission, leading to interruptions and a poor user experience due to the need for the target base station to wait for an end marker from the source base station after all data packets of a PDU session have been forwarded.

Innovation Solution

The method involves the source base station transmitting an end marker packet to the target base station for each Quality of Service (QoS) flow once data forwarding for that flow is completed, allowing the target base station to start transmitting data received from the core network to the user equipment without waiting for all QoS flows to be forwarded.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the target base station waits for an end marker from the source base station after all data packets of a PDU session have been forwarded, then data transmission accuracy is ensured, but data transmission delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the end marker transmission by introducing per-QoS-flow end markers in addition to the traditional per-PDU-session end marker. This allows the target base station to process and transmit data on a per-flow basis rather than waiting for all flows to complete, reducing overall transmission delay while maintaining accuracy through segmented acknowledgment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The source base station sends end markers for individual QoS flows before all data packets of the PDU session are fully forwarded. This preliminary action allows the target base station to start transmitting data earlier without compromising accuracy, as the end markers provide advance notification that specific flows are complete

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the target base station waits for all QoS flows to be forwarded before transmitting data, then service continuity is maintained, but data interruption time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoiddata interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the handover process into per-QoS-flow operations with individual end markers, the system maintains service continuity for completed flows while allowing other flows to be processed in parallel, reducing overall data interruption time without sacrificing continuity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The target base station can continuously transmit data for QoS flows that have received end markers without interruption, while simultaneously processing other flows. This continuous useful action reduces overall data interruption time while maintaining service continuity through parallel processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4171125B1Method for supporting handover and corresponding base station and network node
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4171125B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4171125B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4171125B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a communication method and system for converging a 5th-Generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a 4th-Generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of Things (loT). The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the loT-related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services. A method for supporting handover and a corresponding base station and network node for performing the method is provided. The method includes forwarding data to a target base station, receiving a first end marker packet from a core network, and transmitting, for a quality of service, quality of service (QoS), flow for which the data forwarding has been completed, a second end marker packet to the target base station, the end marker packet containing a QoS flow identity (QFI). The methods of embodiments of the disclosure may reduce the packet transmission delay and improve the user experience.