Secondary Node Bandwidth Configuration in Dual Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently configuring Secondary Nodes (SN) and reporting in Dual Connectivity (DC) scenarios, particularly in determining optimal bandwidth and location settings for communication devices in New Radio (NR) systems, which affect data rate, latency, and system capacity.

Innovation Solution

A method and device configuration that involves a first base station receiving communication device capabilities, transmitting SN Addition Request messages to configure a Secondary Node, determining and transmitting Secondary Cell Group configurations, including maximum reception and transmission bandwidths and their locations, to enable efficient Dual Connectivity between base stations and user equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the first base station configures the secondary node with maximum reception bandwidth capabilities, then the data rate is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple bandwidth configuration parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidbandwidth configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential bandwidth configuration parameters (maximum reception bandwidth and its location) from the complete device capabilities, transmitting only these critical parameters in the SCG configuration rather than all capability parameters, thus reducing configuration complexity while maintaining data rate optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation by specifying bandwidth location relative to a reference point (center frequency or starting resource block) rather than absolute parameters, simplifying the configuration while enabling precise bandwidth allocation for high data rate transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the secondary node configuration includes detailed bandwidth location information, then the system capacity is improved, but the signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing detailed bandwidth location information only where necessary (in the SCG configuration for the secondary node) rather than throughout all signaling messages, optimizing system capacity while minimizing overall signaling overhead through localized detailed specification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of time

If the bandwidth allocation is optimized for high data rate transmission, then the latency is reduced, but the ease of operation decreases due to precise location positioning requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidbandwidth positioning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning the bandwidth location relative to a reference point (center frequency or starting resource block) during the SCG configuration phase, enabling fast data transmission with reduced latency while simplifying subsequent operations through pre-established precise positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3432678B1Device and method of configuring a secondary node and reporting in dual connectivity
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 HTC CORP
  • EP3432678B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3432678B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3432678B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A network comprising a first base station (BS) and a second BS for Dual Connectivity (DC), comprising the first BS receiving a first plurality of communication device capabilities of a communication device from the communication device, a third BS or a core network, wherein the first plurality of communication device capabilities comprise a first maximum reception bandwidth (RX_BW) for a first frequency band; the first BS transmitting a first SN Addition Request message to the second BS, to configure the second BS as a first SN for the communication device, wherein the first SN Addition Request message comprises the first plurality of communication device capabilities; and the second BS determining a first RX_BW and a location of the first RX_BW on a first carrier according to the first maximum RX_BW.