UE Context Duplication for 5G Signaling Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication systems, particularly in 5G networks, face challenges in efficiently managing user equipment (UE) context duplication and relocation, leading to increased signaling overhead and latency during state transitions, which affects power consumption and data transmission efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves configuring a UE with primary and secondary identifiers for context duplication and relocation within and outside a configured radio area, allowing the anchor network node to retain context and maintain core network connectivity while an assisting network node facilitates faster context retrieval and reduced failure likelihood.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE context is duplicated at multiple network nodes, then context retrieval reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates duplicate copies of the UE context at multiple network nodes (source gNB and target gNB) simultaneously. This copying approach allows the UE to be served by either node without requiring context retrieval signaling, thus improving reliability while the patent optimizes the copying process to minimize signaling overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The context duplication is performed in advance during the handover preparation phase, before the UE actually needs to access the network. This preliminary action ensures that context is already available at both source and target nodes, eliminating the need for runtime context retrieval signaling
2Adaptability or versatility
If UE context is relocated during state transitions, then mobility management is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relocating the UE context from source to target node, the patent creates a duplicate copy at the target node while retaining the original at the source node. This copying mechanism allows instantaneous context availability at the target node during handover, eliminating the time-consuming relocation process and reducing latency
Solution Approach 2:
The context duplication is performed during the handover preparation phase before the actual handover execution. This preliminary duplication ensures that when the UE transitions states, the target node already has the context ready, eliminating latency associated with real-time context relocation
3Device complexity
If single identifier is used for UE in inactive state, then device complexity is reduced, but mobility management capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identifier system into two distinct identifiers: a first identifier for accessing the source gNB and a second identifier for accessing the target gNB. This segmentation allows the UE to be efficiently managed by different nodes based on which identifier is provided, enhancing mobility management capability while keeping the mechanism simple through clear identifier differentiation
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for user equipment (UE) context duplication. In certain embodiments, when a UE may resume at a target network node within its configured radio area, a duplication of a UE context may occur at the target network node, and the target network node may allocate an additional/secondary identifier to the UE. The secondary identifier may indicate the UE's identity within the network. When configured with a secondary identifier, the UE may retain an original/primary identifier assigned by the anchor network node. The anchor network node may retain the UE context and may maintain user plane connectivity to a core network. The UE may use this primary identifier for operations within the configured radio area, whereas the secondary identifier may be used when resuming operations to a cell that is outside of the configured radio area.