QoS Flow Switching in 5G Dual Connectivity Base Stations

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Solution Overview

Problem

The industry faces challenges in efficiently managing and scheduling data transmission based on a Quality of Service (QoS) flow-based framework, particularly in implementing QoS flow granularity-based switching between base stations in dual connectivity scenarios within 5G communication systems.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a communication method that enables QoS flow switching between master and secondary base stations using QoS flow granularity, where the master base station sends request messages to the secondary base station to switch QoS flows, and both stations manage bearers and data transmission to ensure efficient data processing and communication efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If QoS flow switching is implemented between base stations in dual connectivity scenarios, then communication efficiency and resource allocation are improved, but system complexity and management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the QoS flow management into distinct components: the master base station handles overall coordination and decision-making, while the secondary base station executes specific switching operations. This segmentation allows complex QoS flow switching to be broken down into manageable tasks, improving communication efficiency without overwhelming the system with centralized complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The master base station acts as an intermediary between the terminal device and the secondary base station. It receives QoS flow switching requests, processes them according to network policies, and coordinates the execution with the secondary base station. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing control logic while enabling distributed execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If QoS flow granularity-based switching is implemented, then quality of service management precision is improved, but signaling overhead and processing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS management precisionVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by enabling QoS flow granularity-based switching only at specific points in the network architecture where it is most beneficial - at the base station interface. This allows precise QoS management for individual flows without requiring granular control throughout the entire network, thereby maintaining precision while limiting signaling overhead to essential locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The master base station performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring QoS flow parameters and switching policies before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary setup includes establishing QoS profiles, defining flow priorities, and pre-negotiating resource allocation with the secondary base station, which reduces the signaling burden during active QoS flow switching operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3664507B1Communication methods for a master base station and a terminal
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3664507B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3664507B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3664507B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application provides a communication method, a base station, a terminal device, and a system, to improve communication efficiency. The method includes: sending, by a master base station, a first request message to a secondary base station, where the first request message is used to instruct to switch a first QoS flow of a first session from the secondary base station to the master base station, and the first session is a session corresponding to a terminal device; and receiving, by the master base station, a first response message from the secondary base station, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.