Shared PDCP Entity for Dynamic MBS Transmission Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of clear methods for base stations and user equipment to configure and manage point-to-point (PTP) and point-to-multipoint (PTM) transmissions for multicast and broadcast services in 5G NR communications, particularly in scenarios where switching between PTP and PTM is unclear.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves base stations configuring different radio resources to transmit multicast and broadcast services, including transmitting MRB configurations to user equipment, which can switch between PTP and PTM by receiving distinct configurations for multicast and unicast transmissions, allowing for efficient management of MBS communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If base stations and user equipment use separate PDCP entities for PTP and PTM transmissions, then transmission management becomes clearer and more reliable, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the PDCP layer into separate PDCP entities: a first PDCP entity for PTP transmissions and a second PDCP entity for PTM transmissions. This segmentation allows independent management of different transmission types, improving reliability by preventing interference between PTP and PTM protocols while maintaining clear protocol handling for each transmission mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching between PTP and PTM transmission modes based on service requirements. The base station can configure and switch between different PDCP entities according to the specific multicast or unicast service needs, allowing flexible adaptation to changing transmission requirements without manual reconfiguration.
2Productivity
If base stations dynamically switch between PTP and PTM transmissions, then resource allocation efficiency improves, but configuration management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures both PTP and PTM transmission parameters and PDCP entities before actual transmission begins. The base station prepares multiple configuration sets in advance, allowing rapid switching between transmission modes without time-consuming reconfiguration during active transmission, thus improving resource allocation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter-based configuration where different transmission modes are defined by specific parameter sets. By changing configuration parameters rather than structural elements, the system enables efficient switching between PTP and PTM while maintaining manageable complexity through parameterized control instead of structural reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method in one or more nodes of a radio access network (RAN), for managing multicast and/or broadcast services (MBS) communications, includes transmitting to a user device an MBS radio bearer (MRB) configuration associated with an MRB, implementing a shared packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity to transmit first MB S packets to the user device via the MRB and according to the MRB configuration and a first lower layer configuration, and after transmitting the first MB S packets, implementing the shared PDCP entity to transmit second MB S packets to the user device via the MRB and according to a second lower layer configuration and the MRB configuration. The first and second lower layer configurations being different ones of a multicast configuration and a unicast configuration.