UE Capability Signaling Flag for Dual Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

In current wireless communications networks, User Equipment (UE) always transmits its Dual Connectivity (DC) capabilities, even if the network does not support it, leading to inefficiency due to the large amount of information being sent unnecessarily.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a flag in the message sent to the UE to indicate network support for DC, allowing the UE to only provide DC capabilities when the network requests them, specifically for requested frequency bands, thereby reducing unnecessary data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If UE always transmits DC capabilities, then network can obtain complete capability information, but unnecessary data transmission increases when network does not support DC

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability information completenessVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network node performs preliminary action by including a capability indication message in advance that specifies whether DC capabilities are needed. This allows the UE to prepare and transmit capability information only when required, avoiding unnecessary transmissions while ensuring complete information delivery when the network actually needs it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If UE transmits DC capabilities only when requested, then data transmission efficiency improves, but network must actively manage capability requests

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanism where the network node sends capability indication messages to UE based on its actual needs. The UE responds by transmitting DC capabilities only when the indication shows they are required. This feedback loop optimizes transmission efficiency while keeping network control manageable through simple indication signaling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If network includes capability indication message, then UE can reduce unnecessary transmissions, but message size and processing increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidmessage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The capability indication message extracts and separates the critical decision information (whether DC capabilities are needed) from the full capability negotiation process. This extracted indication is transmitted separately and concisely, allowing UE to determine transmission needs without processing large amounts of data, thus improving efficiency while minimizing processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3222072B1Capability signaling for dual connectivity
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP3222072B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3222072B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3222072B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for user equipment (UE) capability signaling for dual connectivity (DC) are provided. One method may include transmitting to at least one UE, by a network node, a message comprising a flag indicating that the apparatus supports dual connectivity and/or wants to receive UE capability indications of DC support. The method further includes, based on the presence of the flag, receiving, from the at least one UE, the dual connectivity capabilities of the at least one UE.