Secondary Cell Group Deactivation in Dual Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dual connectivity scenarios, network nodes face challenges in determining whether to deactivate or release a secondary cell group (SCG) efficiently, particularly due to variations in user equipment (UE) capabilities and radio access technologies, leading to inefficiencies in power management and communication.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves the UE transmitting capability information to the network nodes, indicating support for SCG deactivation, and the network nodes determining based on this information whether to deactivate or release the SCG, ensuring compatibility across different radio access technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the RAN releases the SN while there is low data activity, then power consumption is reduced, but the SN may need to be resumed soon which causes inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic SCG management by introducing deactivation as an intermediate state between active and released states. The RAN can deactivate the SCG temporarily during low data activity periods, allowing rapid reactivation when data activity resumes, avoiding the overhead of full SN release and reestablishment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by deactivating the SCG in advance during low data activity periods while maintaining the configuration. This allows the UE to quickly resume data transmission when activity returns without requiring full SN reestablishment, thus preparing the system ahead of time for potential data resumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the RAN instructs a UE that does not support SCG deactivation to deactivate the SCG, then the instruction cannot be complied with, but releasing the SCG may not be optimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by checking UE-specific capabilities before applying SCG deactivation. The RAN determines whether each UE supports SCG deactivation individually and applies the appropriate management strategy (deactivation for supporting UEs, release for non-supporting UEs), allowing optimized power management for capable UEs while maintaining compatibility with legacy UEs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the management parameter from binary (release/not release) to ternary (deactivate/release/maintain) based on UE capability. By introducing capability-based parameter changes, the system can selectively apply deactivation to support power efficiency for capable UEs while using release for legacy UEs, optimizing overall network power consumption.
3Speed
If the UE maintains the SCG link active, then communication readiness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic state transitions for the SCG, allowing it to switch between active, deactivated, and released states based on data activity patterns. This dynamic management enables the system to maintain communication readiness when needed while reducing power consumption during low activity periods through deactivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies periodic action by monitoring data activity patterns and periodically transitioning the SCG between active and deactivated states. This periodic management allows the system to maintain readiness during high activity periods while conserving energy during low activity periods, optimizing the trade-off between communication readiness and power consumption.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C~2
AI summary
A network node of a radio access network (RAN), communicating with a user equipment (UE) in dual connectivity (DC) with a master node (MN) and a secondary node (SN), can implement a method for managing deactivation of a secondary cell group (SCG). The method includes detecting (1802) that a condition for deactivating the SCG is satisfied. The method further includes determining (1804) whether the UE supports deactivating the SCG, and causing (1806) the SN to deactivate or to release the SCG at the SN based on the determining.