SCell Direct Activation via Unified RRC Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in the direct activation of secondary cells during handover procedures in carrier aggregation, leading to increased processing time and delay for user equipment (UE) in 5G and LTE networks, particularly due to the need for UE to decode RRC Connection Reconfiguration signaling twice.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves combining RRC signaling for SCell configuration with the handover command to reduce UE processing time, allowing for simultaneous SCell activation during the handover process, thereby minimizing total activation delay by eliminating the need for separate decoding steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate RRC signaling is used for SCell configuration and handover command, then configuration accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the SCell configuration information and handover command into a single RRC Connection Reconfiguration message. The source base station generates one unified message that includes both the SCell configuration parameters and the handover command, eliminating the need for separate signaling exchanges. This merging reduces the number of decoding operations required by the UE and decreases overall processing time while maintaining configuration accuracy through the structured inclusion of all necessary parameters in the unified message.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate decoding steps are implemented for SCell configuration and handover command, then signaling accuracy is improved, but activation delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The source base station prepares and sends the complete RRC Connection Reconfiguration message containing both SCell configuration and handover command before the UE needs to execute the handover. This preliminary action allows the UE to receive and process all necessary information in a single decoding operation, reducing activation delay. The message is structured to include all required parameters upfront, eliminating the need for subsequent separate decoding steps and enabling immediate execution of both SCell activation and handover procedures.
3Reliability
If multiple RRC signaling messages are exchanged for SCell activation during handover, then configuration reliability is improved, but network efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple RRC signaling messages into a single RRC Connection Reconfiguration message that carries both SCell configuration information and handover command. This unified message structure maintains configuration reliability by including all necessary parameters (SCell indices, frequency information, activation commands) in one reliable transmission, while simultaneously improving network efficiency by reducing the total number of message exchanges, minimizing air interface overhead, and decreasing processing load on both network and UE.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus of a user equipment (UE) includes processing circuitry, where to configure the UE for enhanced utilization of carrier aggregation (euCA) secondary cell (SCell) direct activation, the processing circuitry is to decode radio resource control (RRC) signaling from a source base station. The RRC signaling includes a handover command for a handover to a primary serving cell (PSCell) of a target base station, and an SCell activation command for euCA direct activation of a SCell of the target base station. A random access channel (RACH) procedure is performed in connection with the handover to the PSCell of the target base station. Upon completion of the handover, cell measurements of the SCell of the target base station are performed. The cell measurements are encoded for transmission to the PSCell in a channel state information (CSI) report, to activate the SCell of the target base station.