Secondary Node Change in Dual Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently handling secondary node changes in dual connectivity scenarios, particularly in managing the transition of user equipment between different base stations while maintaining seamless data communication across multiple carrier frequencies.
Innovation Solution
The proposed network architecture enables seamless secondary node changes by configuring the user equipment to maintain dual connectivity through a process involving signaling radio bearers, measurement configurations, and interface messages between base stations, ensuring continuous communication by updating the secondary cell group configurations and measurement reports across different base stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network hands over data communication from a first base station to a third base station while maintaining dual connectivity with a second base station, then mobile control performance is improved, but communication interruption may occur during the handover process
Solution Approach 1:
The target base station (third base station) is pre-configured with the user equipment's context information, including security parameters and data radio bearer configurations, before the handover is executed. This preliminary preparation allows the handover to proceed without interruption as the user equipment can immediately establish communication with the target base station upon arrival, eliminating the traditional break in communication continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The source base station acts as an intermediary by forwarding the user equipment's context information to the target base station through the Xn interface before handover. This intermediary action ensures that the target base station is fully prepared to take over communication seamlessly, maintaining reliability while minimizing handover interruption time.
2Reliability
If the network maintains dual connectivity with both first and second base stations during handover, then communication reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handover process is segmented into distinct phases: preparation phase where the target base station receives context information, execution phase where the user equipment switches connections, and completion phase where the source base station releases resources. This segmentation allows dual connectivity to be maintained during handover in a controlled manner, improving reliability while managing system complexity through structured process division.
3Productivity
If the network transfers all data communication from the first base station to the third base station, then handover efficiency is improved, but data radio bearer configuration errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The source base station provides feedback to the target base station regarding the user equipment's current data radio bearer configurations and any specific requirements. This feedback mechanism ensures that the target base station can accurately replicate or appropriately modify the bearer configurations during handover, maintaining precision while enabling efficient handover execution. The feedback loop prevents configuration errors by ensuring the target base station has accurate information about the user equipment's data communication requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a method and related communication device for handling a secondary node (SN) change in dual connectivity. A target SN receives the latest secondary cell group configuration for a user equipment from a source SN via a master node (MN).