Small Cell User Plane Setup for Quick Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack effective solutions for enhancing the performance of small cells, particularly in scenarios not covered by macro cells, where carrier aggregation between base stations is insufficient.
Innovation Solution
A method for small cell communications involving message exchanges between the MME, base station, and SGW to set up and manage user planes, including evolved radio access bearers and tunnel identities, facilitating quick handovers and reducing data loss, while maintaining system compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carrier aggregation between base stations is applied, then small cell performance is enhanced under macro cell coverage, but no effective solution exists for small cells not covered by macro cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal user plane setup mechanism that works across all small cell scenarios - both under macro cell coverage and standalone small cells. The MME directly establishes user plane connections with base stations in small cell clusters, providing a multi-functional solution that adapts to different deployment conditions without requiring scenario-specific protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The MME acts as an intermediary that directly manages user plane setup between the core network and base stations in small cell clusters. This intermediary role enables the MME to coordinate tunnel identity assignment and user plane configuration, bridging the gap between core network control and small cell access, particularly for standalone small cells without macro cell coverage.
2Reliability
If traditional user plane setup is used, then system compatibility is maintained, but quick handovers and data loss reduction are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary user plane setup by having the MME assign tunnel identities and establish user plane configurations before handover occurs. The downlink TEID and transport layer address are pre-assigned and communicated to the SGW in advance, enabling rapid handover execution without complex real-time coordination during the handover event itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the user plane setup procedures into a streamlined message exchange between MME, base station, and SGW. By combining tunnel identity assignment, transport layer address allocation, and user plane configuration into integrated message flows, the system reduces the number of separate signaling steps while maintaining compatibility with existing network elements.
3Speed
If direct user plane setup between MME and base station is implemented, then quick handovers are supported, but impact on existing system compatibility must be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal user plane setup mechanism that works across all small cell scenarios - both under macro cell coverage and standalone small cells. The MME directly establishes user plane connections with base stations in small cell clusters, providing a multi-functional solution that adapts to different deployment conditions without requiring scenario-specific protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces new parameters (downlink TEID, transport layer address) into existing message flows between MME, base station, and SGW. By adding these parameters to standard user plane setup messages rather than creating entirely new signaling procedures, the system achieves faster handover capability while maintaining backward compatibility with existing network elements and protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention presents a method for small cell communications, comprising: MME transmits a message of setting up a user plane for UE to a base station in a small cell cluster of the UE, wherein the messages of setting up a user plane include information about evolved radio access bearer as well as uplink tunnel identity and address of the transport layer assigned by SGW; the base station assigns downlink TEID and address of the transport layer to the UE, and responds to the MME; the MME transmits the downlink TEID and the address of the transport layer assigned to the UE to the SGW that serves the UE, and receives a response message from the SGW. Examples of the present invention further present an MME device, a base station device, an SGW device and a small cell communication system. The above scheme presented by the present invention provides a method of supporting the architecture and data transmission of small cells, which supports quick handover between small cells, reduces data loss during the handover, avoids multi-hop data forwarding, guarantees QoS, and improves user experience and system performance.