UE Aggregation Over Non-3GPP Links With Packet Encapsulation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in establishing efficient and convenient connections for user equipment (UE) aggregation, particularly in non-3GPP connections, which are not defined within 3GPP specifications, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections, leading to inconsistencies in data transmission and billing processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a UE aggregation control method that includes establishing non-3GPP connections, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, between remote and relay UEs, with encapsulation and decapsulation of data packets, providing bandwidth information, and adjusting data transmission based on network support and bandwidth availability, along with electronic billing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If non-3GPP connections are used for UE aggregation, then connection flexibility and ease of operation are improved, but data transmission consistency and reliability deteriorate due to lack of standardization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control plane intermediary mechanism that mediates between the remote UE and relay UE. This intermediary manages the non-3GPP connection establishment, data encapsulation, and billing processes, ensuring consistent data transmission while maintaining connection flexibility. The control plane coordinates the actions of both UEs to resolve the reliability issue in non-standardized connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the relay UE provides bandwidth information to the remote UE, and the control plane monitors data transmission status. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of data transmission parameters to maintain consistency and reliability in non-3GPP connections, while preserving the ease of operation advantage.
2Reliability
If data encapsulation is implemented for consistency, then data transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing function by implementing encapsulation only at the control plane level rather than throughout the entire data path. The control plane handles the encapsulation and decapsulation operations, while the user plane focuses on data transmission. This segmentation reduces the complexity burden on individual devices while maintaining transmission reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane mechanism provides universal encapsulation handling that works across different non-3GPP connection types (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi). This multi-functional approach allows the same encapsulation logic to manage various connection scenarios, reducing overall system complexity compared to connection-specific handling mechanisms.
3Productivity
If bandwidth information is provided and adjusted, then network performance and efficiency are improved, but measurement and control difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay UE autonomously measures and reports its available bandwidth to the control plane and remote UE without requiring complex external measurement systems. The relay UE self-monitors its transmission capabilities and provides this information through standardized control plane messages, simplifying the measurement process while enabling efficient bandwidth utilization for improved network performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) aggregation control method is provided. The UE aggregation control method may be applied to a UE. The UE aggregation control method may include the following steps. The UE may perform an application to initiate UE aggregation with a relay UE and to establish a non-3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) connection between the UE and the relay UE to achieve UE aggregation. Then, the UE may transmit encapsulated data packets to the relay UE, which are transmitted to a network node after decapsulated. The encapsulated data packets comprise headers containing address information and port information of the UE and the relay UE.