TTI-B Activation via MAC Control Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

The activation or deactivation of Transmission Time Interval Bundling (TTI-B) in wireless communication systems can lead to service interruptions due to poor radio frequency conditions, causing intra-cell handover failures and communication session drops, especially at cell edges.

Innovation Solution

Configuring TTI-B during communication session setup and activating or deactivating it based on detected RF conditions without performing an intra-cell handover, using downlink MAC layer commands to manage TTI-B configurations and switch between them during the session.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If intra-cell handover is performed to activate or deactivate TTI-B, then TTI-B can be switched, but service interruptions and communication session drops occur due to poor RF conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTTI-B switching capabilityVSAvoidcommunication session stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the TTI-B activation/deactivation function from the intra-cell handover procedure. Instead of using handover (which involves MAC reset and random access) to switch TTI-B, the system uses dedicated MAC control elements (MAC CE) to activate or deactivate TTI-B while maintaining the existing connection, thereby avoiding service interruptions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the TTI-B control function from the handover procedure. The base station can now independently control TTI-B activation/deactivation through separate MAC CE messages rather than coupling it with the complex handover process, allowing granular control without disrupting the communication session

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If MAC reset is performed for TTI-B activation, then TTI-B can be communicated, but random access procedure failures occur under poor RF conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTTI-B communication capabilityVSAvoidrandom access success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the MAC reset requirement from TTI-B activation. By using MAC control elements instead of MAC reset, the system avoids triggering random access procedures, thereby eliminating the reliability issue associated with random access failures under poor RF conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If intra-cell handover is used for TTI-B deactivation, then TTI-B can be stopped, but communication session drops occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTTI-B deactivation capabilityVSAvoidcommunication session continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the TTI-B deactivation function from the intra-cell handover procedure. Deactivation is now performed through dedicated MAC CE messages that directly control the TTI-B state without initiating handover, thereby preventing communication session drops

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9532388B2Activating and deactivating transmission time interval bundling

Publication Date: 2016.12.27 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A device is configured to send a connection message to a user device while a communication session is being established with the user device. The connection message may indicate a transmission time interval bundling (TTI-B) configuration to be configured by the user device. The device may determine to activate the TTI-B configuration after the communication session is established. The device may send a control message to the user device during the communication session. The control message may instruct the user device to activate the TTI-B configuration configured by the user device. The device may activate the TTI-B configuration for use during the communication session. The device may receive uplink data, from the user device, during the communication session based on activating the TTI-B configuration and sending the control message.