Terminal Device Data Splitting for Dual Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Dual Connectivity (DC) scenarios for wireless communication, especially in unlicensed bands, Listen Before Talk (LBT) failures and high channel occupancy lead to transmission delays and inefficiencies in data splitting between master and secondary network devices, affecting throughput and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A method in terminal devices determines data splitting based on channel occupancy and LBT statistics, splitting data when conditions are favorable and suspending or adjusting based on changing thresholds, and requesting reconfiguration of bearers to optimize channel usage, thereby mitigating delays and failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is split between master and secondary network devices, then throughput is improved, but transmission delays increase due to LBT failures and channel occupancy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic data splitting where the terminal device continuously monitors LBT statistics and channel occupancy, and adjusts the data splitting ratio in real-time based on current channel conditions. When LBT failures or high channel occupancy are detected, the system dynamically reduces or suspends data transmission through the affected path, thereby maintaining throughput while minimizing transmission delays caused by LBT failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where LBT statistics and channel occupancy information are continuously collected and fed back to the data splitting decision module. This feedback loop enables the system to adaptively adjust data splitting ratios based on actual channel performance, resolving the contradiction by using real-time channel state information to optimize both throughput and transmission delay.
2Reliability
If data splitting is continuously adjusted based on channel conditions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device autonomously performs LBT statistics collection, channel occupancy monitoring, and data splitting ratio adjustment without requiring complex network-side coordination. The device self-manages the entire data splitting control process by using locally available information, thereby improving reliability while avoiding the complexity of centralized control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of data splitting by using simple, measurable metrics such as LBT failure counts and channel occupancy thresholds. Instead of complex multi-dimensional optimization, the system adjusts data splitting based on changes in these key parameters, simplifying the control mechanism while maintaining transmission reliability through adaptive parameter adjustment.
3Productivity
If LBT statistics are monitored and used for data splitting decisions, then transmission efficiency is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses partial monitoring of LBT statistics by focusing on key metrics such as LBT failure counts and channel occupancy percentages rather than attempting to measure all possible channel parameters. This partial action approach achieves sufficient transmission efficiency improvement without requiring excessively precise measurement of every channel characteristic, thereby resolving the contradiction between efficiency gain and measurement precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method in a terminal device having Dual Connectivity, DC, with a master network device and a secondary network device. The method includes: determining, for a split bearer, to split data to be transmitted to the master network device and the secondary network device based at least on a channel occupancy and/or Listen Before Talk, LBT, statistics associated with a connection to the secondary network device; and splitting the data for transmitting to the master network device and the secondary network device over the split bearer.