Secondary Base Station Coordination in Dual Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR and LTE interworking, there is a challenge in improving coordination between master and secondary base stations operating on different radio access technologies, especially in dual connectivity scenarios where configuration modifications are needed across these nodes.

Innovation Solution

A method and device are provided where a secondary base station transmits a first RRC message with configuration parameters to a master base station, which responds with modifications, allowing the secondary base station to update its configuration and then transmit the modified configuration back, enhancing coordination by ensuring both nodes understand the necessary information for data transmission and reception across different carrier frequencies and technologies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a secondary base station transmits RRC messages with configuration parameters to a master base station in dual connectivity scenarios, then coordination between master and secondary base stations is improved, but the complexity of inter-base station communication and configuration management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination between base stationsVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The master base station acts as an intermediary that receives RRC messages from the secondary base station, processes the configuration parameters, and manages the coordination between the two base stations. This mediator approach centralizes the complexity management at the master base station while maintaining reliable coordination between nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If configuration parameters are exchanged between master and secondary base stations across different radio access technologies, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring configuration compatibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration compatibility verification
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The master base station provides feedback to the secondary base station regarding the received configuration parameters, indicating whether they are compatible or require modification. This feedback mechanism enables efficient configuration compatibility verification by allowing the secondary base station to adjust its parameters based on the master's assessment, ensuring cross-technology compatibility while maintaining high data transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3402308B1Coordination between multirat base stations in dual connectivity
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 HTC CORP
  • EP3402308B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3402308B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3402308B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A secondary base station (BS) for performing a modification procedure with a master BS comprises a storage device for storing instructions and a processing circuit coupled to the storage device. The storage device stores, and the processing circuit is configured to execute instructions of transmitting a first message comprising a first radio resource control (RRC) message and a secondary BS configuration to the master BS, wherein the secondary BS configuration comprises a plurality of configuration parameters; modifying the secondary BS configuration to a modified secondary BS configuration according to a master BS configuration, when receiving a second message comprising the master BS configuration from the master BS in response to the first message; and transmitting the modified secondary BS configuration to the master BS.