UE Access Stratum Segmentation for Carrier Aggregation Throughput

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE communication systems using carrier aggregation, user equipment (UE) at the edge of a cell experiences lower data transmission throughput due to limited coverage of high-band carriers, necessitating improved methods to aggregate data from different base stations.

Innovation Solution

The UE determines corresponding component carrier groups and sets up distinct access stratum entities to process and combine data from different base stations, creating separate EPS bearers to enhance data transmission throughput by handling carriers from various bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If relay nodes or small base stations are deployed to expand high-band carrier coverage, then coverage of high-band carriers is improved, but device complexity and network configuration complexity increase due to inter-site carrier aggregation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage area of high-band carriersVSAvoidcomplexity of inter-site carrier aggregation
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the access stratum into multiple independent entities (access stratum entity 1, access stratum entity 2, etc.), each corresponding to a specific base station. This segmentation allows the UE to independently process data from different base stations without requiring complex inter-site carrier aggregation configuration, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining expanded coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network side configures the UE with multiple access stratum entities that act as intermediaries between the UE and different base stations. This intermediary layer simplifies the interaction and data processing between the UE and multiple base stations, reducing the complexity of inter-site carrier aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple access stratum entities are configured to process data from different base stations, then data transmission throughput is improved, but processing complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission throughputVSAvoidprocessing complexity of multiple access stratum entities
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning specific functions to specific access stratum entities. Each access stratum entity is dedicated to processing data from a specific base station, allowing for optimized and simplified processing within each entity rather than requiring a single complex processing unit to handle all data streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

By segmenting the data processing function into multiple independent access stratum entities, each entity can be implemented with simpler, more efficient processing logic tailored to its specific base station's data characteristics, improving overall throughput while managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3764580B1Method and apparatus for transmitting data in carrier aggregation manner
Publication Date: 2022.09.21 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3764580B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3764580B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5
  • EP3764580B1 patent drawingFigure 6a~7

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method, a system and an apparatus for transmitting data in a CA manner. The method includes: creating, by a first base station currently serving a user equipment UE, EPS bearers under different component carriers CC Groups for the UE; setting, by the UE, different access stratum entities corresponding to the CC Groups to process data in the process of creating the EPS bearers; and determining, by the UE when transmitting or receiving data, a corresponding CC Group according to an EPS bearer that bears the data, and processing, by an access stratum entity corresponding to the CC Group, the data that needs to be transmitted or received, where a site is a first base station currently serving the UE, or a second base station currently serving the UE. The present invention ensures that the UE can receive the data that is transmitted over carriers aggregated from different bands of the first base station currently serving the UE and the second base station currently serving the UE, which improves data transmission throughput of the UE.