User Plane Network Element Packet Sequence Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communications, when switching from one access technology to another during a multi-access session, data packets can arrive out of order, causing errors and poor user experience due to the lack of proper sequence processing.
Innovation Solution
A communication method where a user plane network element sends indication information to a first access device after sending a downlink data packet, allowing it to determine when the packet is sent, enabling seamless switching to a second access technology, ensuring that data packets are processed in the correct sequence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data packets are transmitted through multiple access technologies during session switching, then transmission flexibility and network adaptability are improved, but data packet delivery order cannot be guaranteed causing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network side send indication information in advance to notify the terminal about the switching from first access technology to second access technology. This allows the terminal to prepare for potential out-of-order packet arrival before it actually occurs, enabling proper sequence processing and maintaining data reliability during the transition between access technologies.
2Productivity
If the receiver processes data packets based on receiving sequence during access switching, then processing speed is improved, but data packet errors occur due to out-of-order delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the terminal feed back sequence number information to the network side when detecting out-of-order packets. This feedback mechanism allows the network to understand the actual packet arrival sequence and take corrective actions, such as retransmitting packets in the correct order or adjusting the transmission sequence, thereby ensuring data accuracy without significantly impacting processing speed.
3Loss of information
If no indication information is sent during access technology switching, then signaling overhead is reduced, but the terminal cannot correctly process packets in sequence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential indication information needed for sequence processing - specifically the notification about access technology switching and relevant sequence number data. By taking out only this critical information rather than transmitting complete packet data or excessive control signals, the patent minimizes signaling overhead while still enabling the terminal to correctly process packets in sequence.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication method and an apparatus are provided. The method includes: when needing to switch from using a first access device to send a data flow to a terminal device to using a second access device to send the data flow to the terminal device, first sending, by a user plane network element, indication information to the first access device, where the indication information is used to indicate the first access device to notify the user plane network element after the first access device sends a first downlink data packet of the data flow of a first session to the terminal device, so that after receiving response information, the user plane network element determines that the first downlink data packet that is of the data flow and that is sent by using the first access device is sent to the terminal device; and sending a second downlink data packet of the data flow to the terminal device by using a second access device, so that the terminal device can process the data packets based on a sequence of receiving the data packets, and an error or poor user experience caused by out-of-order delivery of the data packets is avoided.