UE Capability Reporting to Stop Dual-Connectivity Ping-Pong
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks supporting dual-connectivity, devices frequently transition between dual-connectivity and standalone connectivity due to fluctuating RF interference, leading to inconsistent user experience, increased battery drain, and heightened network control-plane signaling loads, known as 'ping-ponging'.
Innovation Solution
The device reports a capability indicating it is not dual-connectivity capable when it has transitioned between dual and standalone connectivity at a high rate, causing the access node to refrain from setting up dual-connectivity service, thereby stopping the ping-ponging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dual-connectivity service is configured for a device, then data rate and service quality are improved, but the device experiences ping-ponging between dual-connectivity and standalone connectivity modes due to fluctuating RF interference
Solution Approach 1:
The access node monitors connectivity mode transition events between dual-connectivity and standalone modes. When the number of transitions exceeds a threshold within a time window, the system detects ping-ponging behavior and responds by reconfiguring the device to standalone mode, using feedback from transition monitoring to stabilize connectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively prevents further ping-ponging by detecting early signs of instability (threshold exceeded transitions) and preemptively switching the device to standalone mode before additional transitions occur, thereby stopping the oscillation between connectivity modes
2Reliability
If dual-connectivity service is configured for a device, then quality of service is improved, but battery drain increases due to frequent mode transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The access node monitors connectivity mode transition events and detects when transition frequency exceeds a threshold. Upon detecting ping-ponging, the system switches the device to standalone mode, providing feedback-based energy optimization by eliminating unnecessary mode transitions that consume battery power
3Productivity
If dual-connectivity service is configured for a device, then network capacity is improved, but control-plane signaling load increases due to frequent mode transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The access node monitors connectivity mode transition events between dual-connectivity and standalone modes. When the number of transitions exceeds a threshold within a time window, the system detects ping-ponging behavior and responds by reconfiguring the device to standalone mode, reducing control-plane signaling load through feedback from transition monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively prevents further ping-ponging by detecting early signs of instability (threshold exceeded transitions) and preemptively switching the device to standalone mode, thereby stopping the oscillation and reducing subsequent signaling overhead
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for controlling connectivity of a user equipment device (UE), the UE being dual-connectivity capable. The UE detects that the UE has ping-ponged at a threshold high rate between standalone connectivity and dual connectivity. And responsive to at least detecting that the UE has ping-ponged at the threshold high rate between standalone connectivity and dual connectivity, the UE transmits, to an access node serving the UE, a report including an indication that the UE is not dual-connectivity capable, even though the UE is dual-connectivity capable. The access node could then use the indication in the report as a basis to forgo configuring of dual connectivity for the UE, which could thereby help discontinue the ping-ponging.