UE Early Measurement Indication for Carrier Aggregation Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions for configuring carrier aggregation (CA) and dual connectivity (DC) in LTE networks face challenges when a user equipment (UE) resumes from a dormant state, leading to inefficient resource usage and potential performance degradation due to inadequate bandwidth allocation and unnecessary signaling.

Innovation Solution

The UE sends an indication of early measurements report availability, including additional information like buffer status and expected traffic, during the transition to a connected state, allowing the network to determine whether CA/DC configurations are beneficial, thereby optimizing resource allocation and reducing unnecessary signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the network configures CA/DC for a UE resuming from dormant state without assessing data transmission characteristics, then the UE can quickly establish connection, but network resources are wasted and UE battery power is consumed unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveConnection establishment speedVSAvoidNetwork resource waste and UE battery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs early measurements in idle mode before transitioning to connected mode, pre-gathering information about neighboring cells and signal conditions. This preliminary action enables the network to make informed decisions about CA/DC configuration when the UE actually needs to establish a connection, avoiding unnecessary resource allocation while maintaining quick connection establishment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE includes an indication of early measurements report availability in the RRC resume request message, providing feedback to the network about the state of measurement data. This feedback mechanism allows the network to assess whether CA/DC configuration is beneficial based on actual measurement quality and data transmission characteristics, enabling resource-efficient decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the network performs detailed assessment of UE data transmission characteristics before CA/DC configuration, then resource allocation is optimized, but connection establishment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveResource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidConnection establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the level of assessment based on UE data transmission characteristics and measurement report availability. The network can quickly establish connection with basic configuration and then optimize CA/DC settings based on actual traffic patterns, rather than performing all assessments upfront, thus balancing speed and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the UE includes additional information like buffer status and expected traffic in early measurements report, then the network can accurately assess data transmission characteristics, but the signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveData transmission characteristic assessment accuracyVSAvoidSignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The UE selectively includes only the most relevant additional information (buffer status, expected traffic type) in the early measurements report, rather than transmitting all possible data characteristics. This partial action approach provides sufficient information for the network to make accurate CA/DC configuration decisions while minimizing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12058546B2Measurements for carrier aggregation/dual connectivity setup

Publication Date: 2024.08.06 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

According to some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device comprises: determining a characteristic of data for transmission between the wireless device and a network node; determining the wireless device is configured to send measurement information to the network node; and transmitting an indication of the determined characteristic of data for transmission to the network node with the measurement information. In particular embodiments, the measurement information comprises an indication that measurements are available or a measurement report.