Split Bearer Offloading to Secondary eNB
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE-A, face challenges in managing bearer splits and data transmission between macro and small cell eNBs, leading to increased processing overhead and backhaul requirements, which can result in reduced throughput and mobility robustness.
Innovation Solution
The method involves splitting the user plane bearer between a secondary and a master network access point, allowing data transmission over an X2 interface, with the secondary eNB terminating the S1-U protocol and the master eNB handling control plane protocols, thereby reducing the processing load on the macro eNB and optimizing data routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the bearer is split at the master eNB, then control plane management is simplified, but processing overhead and backhaul requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the user plane bearer termination function from the master eNB and relocates it to the secondary eNB. This separation allows the master eNB to focus on control plane functions while the secondary eNB handles user plane data termination, thereby reducing processing overhead at the master eNB and optimizing data throughput through direct local handling at the secondary eNB.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more data is transported over X2 interface, then bearer splitting is enabled, but backhaul requirements and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing the secondary eNB to terminate user plane bearers locally without requiring all data to be transported over the X2 interface to the master eNB. This localized termination reduces the volume of data that needs to be transported over backhaul links while maintaining the flexibility of bearer splitting for enhanced data rates and load distribution.
3Productivity
If secondary eNB terminates S1-U protocol, then processing load on master eNB is reduced, but core network exposure to small cell mobility is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the protocol termination functions by having the secondary eNB terminate the S1-U user plane protocol while the master eNB retains control plane protocol termination. This segmentation allows the secondary eNB to handle user data processing locally, improving processing efficiency, while the master eNB maintains mobility management functions to ensure mobility robustness and core network exposure.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a communicating, at a first network access point, with a core network entity using a user plane protocol, said communicating comprising receiving user data from the core network entity on a first bearer, the first bearer capable of being split with a second network access point such that at least some of the user data is provided to the second network access point, the first network access point and the second network access point configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of user equipments, and wherein the first network access point does not communicate with the core network using a control plane protocol associated with the first bearer.