Radio Access Network Multicast Bypassing Core Network

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current internet of vehicles communication methods experience significant transmission delays due to the need for multicasting messages through core networks, which increases latency and reduces efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A communication method where a first radio access network device directly multicasts messages through a first air interface without reporting to a core network element, using established radio bearers or user plane tunnels, thereby reducing transmission delays and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a terminal device sends a multicast message through the base station to the core network for triggering multicast, then the core network can manage and control the multicast process, but the transmission delay increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulticast control reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the multicast control function from the core network and relocates it to the radio access network device (base station). The base station directly multicasts messages to terminal devices without routing through the core network, thereby eliminating the time-consuming core network involvement while maintaining reliable control through local decision-making and coordination with other base stations via X2/Xn interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the multicast control process into two independent parts: (1) control plane signaling for bearer setup and coordination between base stations and core network, and (2) user plane data transmission for actual multicast message delivery between base stations and terminal devices. This segmentation allows the time-critical data transmission to occur independently without being blocked by core network processing delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Extent of automation

If the core network is involved in the multicast process, then centralized control and management are achieved, but the communication efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentralized control capabilityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by enabling autonomous multicast decision-making at the radio access network level. Each base station can independently determine when and how to multicast messages to its covered terminal devices, adapting to local conditions and requirements without waiting for core network instructions, thereby significantly improving communication efficiency while the core network retains overall system management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing radio bearers and user plane tunnels between base stations and terminal devices before multicast transmission is needed. This allows base stations to immediately forward multicast messages once received, without requiring real-time core network authorization or setup, thus enhancing communication efficiency while maintaining centralized control for bearer management and coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If a dedicated radio bearer for direct multicast is established, then all multicast messages can be transmitted efficiently through one bearer, but the bearer setup complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulticast transmission efficiencyVSAvoidbearer setup complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the dedicated radio bearer universal by designing it to handle all types of multicast messages regardless of source (local terminal or remote base station) or content. This single multi-functional bearer eliminates the need for separate bearers for different multicast scenarios, reducing overall bearer setup complexity while maintaining high transmission efficiency for all multicast traffic through the unified bearer structure.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3783926B1Communication method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3783926B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3783926B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3783926B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

This application discloses a communication method and a communications apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a first radio access network device, a first message from a terminal device on a radio bearer, or receiving, by the first radio access network device, a first message from a second radio access network device through a user plane tunnel, where the radio bearer is a bearer between the first radio access network device and the terminal device, and the user plane tunnel is a tunnel between the first radio access network device and the second radio access network device; and multicasting, by the first radio access network device, the first message through a first air interface, where the first air interface is an air interface for communication between the first radio access network device and a terminal device within a management range of the first radio access network device. According to the communication method and the communications apparatus in this application, a transmission delay of a multicast message can be reduced.