Split Signaling Bearer RLF Reporting for Wireless Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication networks, especially with dual connectivity, radio link failures (RLF) lead to significant service interruptions due to the lengthy process of re-establishing RRC connections, which affects network performance.

Innovation Solution

A method where a wireless device reports RLF via a second radio network node to the first radio network node, allowing for a handover to another radio network node, utilizing split SRB to minimize service interruptions and maintain connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wireless device waits for timer T310 to expire before declaring RLF and initiating reestablishment, then false RLF detections are avoided, but service interruption time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRLF detection accuracyVSAvoidservice interruption time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network configures the wireless device with alternative uplink resources and paths before RLF occurs. When the primary link fails, the device can immediately use the pre-configured alternative path (via second radio network node) to report the failure, eliminating the need to wait for timer expiration and enabling faster network response for handover or reconnection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the wireless device uses traditional RRC connection reestablishment procedure after RLF, then connection recovery is achieved, but network performance deteriorates due to long interruption duration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection recoveryVSAvoidnetwork performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The second radio network node acts as an intermediary for transmitting the RLF failure report to the first radio network node. This alternative path bypasses the failed direct link, enabling the network to quickly awareness of the failure condition and initiate appropriate recovery actions (handover, reconnection) without the device needing to complete the full traditional reestablishment procedure, thus reducing interruption time and maintaining network performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3566539B1Radio network node, wireless device, and methods performed therein for handling connections in a wireless communication network

Publication Date: 2021.03.17 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

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AI summary

Embodiments herein disclose a method performed by a wireless device (10) for handling connections in a wireless communication network, wherein the wireless device (10) is configured with a split signaling radio bearer to a first radio network node (12), being a master radio network node, and a second radio network node (13), being a secondary radio network node. The wireless device detects a radio link problem to the first radio network node (12); and transmits a failure report to the first radio network node (12) over the split signaling radio bearer via the second radio network node (13). The failure report indicates the radio link problem to the first radio network node (12).