Uplink Data Forwarding in Radio Access Network RAN
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In radio communication systems, when a terminal suspended from connection attempts to reconnect through a different base station, the setup of an uplink connection can involve significant processing and signaling, leading to inefficiencies, especially for small data transmissions or low latency connections.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves forwarding uplink data from the base station where the terminal initiates access to the base station maintaining the active interface for the terminal's connection, using the logical inter-node interface Xn in 5G or X2 in LTE, thereby avoiding a path switch and reducing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a terminal suspended from connection attempts to reconnect through a different base station, then the terminal can access the network through the new base station, but significant processing and signaling overhead is incurred in setting up the uplink connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the core network as an intermediary to manage connection context. When a terminal reconnects through a new base station, the core network coordinates the path switch and context transfer, reducing the signaling burden on individual base stations and streamlining the reconnection process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements connection context storage and maintenance mechanisms where the core network retains terminal context information before disconnection. This preliminary action enables faster reconnection by avoiding redundant authentication and setup procedures, reducing signaling overhead during reconnection
2Reliability
If a path switch is performed when a terminal reconnects through a different base station, then the uplink connection can be established, but latency increases due to the path switch process
Solution Approach 1:
The core network maintains terminal connection context and prepares path routing information in advance. When a terminal reconnects, the path switch can be executed more quickly because the routing decisions and context information are already available, reducing latency for small data transmissions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements selective path switching where the full path switch procedure is only executed when necessary. For small data transmissions, optimized procedures are used that perform only the essential routing changes, minimizing latency while maintaining connection reliability
3Reliability
If RRC inactive reconfigurations are performed during terminal reconnection, then the connection can be resumed, but UE power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the core network and base stations exchange information about terminal connection states and reconnection patterns. This feedback enables the network to optimize RRC reconfiguration timing and parameters, reducing unnecessary reconfigurations and thereby lowering UE power consumption while maintaining reliable connection resumption
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A solution for routing data in a radio access network RAN including a first base station (10), a second base station (20), and a logical inter-node interface (X), wherein the first base station (10) has a pending active session to a core network (110), which session is associated with a terminal (1), while the terminal is suspended from RAN connection. A method comprises detecting a resume attempt from the terminal (1) in the second base station (20); detecting an indicator, received in the second base station (20) from the terminal (1), associated with a characteristic of data to send from the terminal (1); receiving data in the second base station (20) from the terminal (1); forwarding, dependent on said indication, the received data to the first base station (10) over the logical inter-node interface (X) for transmission in the pending active session.