Terminal Capability Signaling for Dual Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional LTE systems are unable to recognize the architecture supported by terminal devices, leading to increased handover frequency and data traffic suppression due to the use of multiple base station devices with small coverages, and architectures like 1A and 3C are not concurrently usable, causing delays and inefficiencies in dual connectivity.

Innovation Solution

A method and computer program that enables a base station device to recognize the supported architectures of terminal devices by inquiring about terminal capabilities, determining usable architectures based on transmission rates and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements, and allowing concurrent use of multiple architectures when feasible.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple base station devices with small coverages are used, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but handover frequency increases and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidhandover management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network into master base stations and secondary base stations with distinct functional roles. Master base stations handle control plane functions and stable bearers, while secondary base stations provide additional data paths for specific architectures. This segmentation reduces handover complexity by maintaining stable control plane connections while allowing flexible data plane configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic architecture selection where the network can adaptively choose between architecture 1A and architecture 3C based on terminal device capabilities and network conditions. The base station determines usable architectures through capability inquiry and dynamically configures dual connectivity parameters, allowing the system to optimize performance while managing complexity adaptively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If architecture information is not recognized, then system simplicity is maintained, but dual connectivity efficiency deteriorates and delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem architecture complexityVSAvoiddual connectivity efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary capability inquiry where the base station device queries terminal devices about their supported architectures before establishing dual connectivity. This preliminary action allows the network to pre-determine usable architectures (1A or 3C) and configure appropriate data paths in advance, avoiding delays during actual data transmission and improving overall dual connectivity efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If single architecture is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different terminal devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearchitecture configuration complexityVSAvoidterminal device architecture support
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal base station capable of supporting multiple architectures (1A and 3C) simultaneously. The base station determines which architectures are usable for each terminal device based on capability inquiry results, and configures dual connectivity parameters accordingly. This multi-functional approach allows the same base station to adapt to different terminal capabilities without increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3122081B1Terminal device, base station device, usable architecture determination method, and computer program
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 KDDI CORP
  • EP3122081B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3122081B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3122081B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A terminal device is configured to establish a communication link with communication equipment through a base station device such that, upon establishing the communication link, part of the communication link is left for a certain base station while another part of the communication link is established with the terminal device through the other base station device according to a plurality of architectures, wherein the terminal device includes a wireless communication part configured to transmit support architecture information representing an architecture supported by the terminal device among a plurality of architectures to the base station device.