Bearer-Specific User Plane Interruption Reporting for Secondary Cell Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies in Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) networks face challenges in efficiently managing user plane interruptions during changes or additions of secondary cells, leading to suboptimal network decisions and prolonged service disruptions.

Innovation Solution

Terminal devices and radio access nodes are equipped with mechanisms to report user plane interruption times specific to different data radio bearers, allowing the network to make informed decisions on bearer configurations and remapping, thereby reducing service interruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If carrier aggregation and Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity are implemented to provide more resources and higher throughput, then network capacity and user experience are improved, but user plane interruption time during cell changes increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork throughputVSAvoiduser plane interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal device measures and reports user plane interruption time to the network. The network uses this feedback information to optimize handover decisions, bearer configurations, and cell change procedures, thereby reducing interruption time while maintaining high throughput benefits of MR-DC

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device autonomously measures user plane interruption time and generates reports without continuous network intervention. The device self-manages the measurement process for different bearer types and triggers reports based on configured thresholds, reducing network signaling overhead while providing actionable data for optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If detailed user plane interruption time reporting is implemented for different bearer types, then network decision accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterruption time measurement accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different measurement and reporting configurations for different bearer types (MCG, SCG, split bearers). The network can configure specific threshold values and reporting requirements for each bearer type based on its characteristics and service requirements, providing precise measurement where needed while reducing signaling for less critical bearers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The network dynamically adjusts reporting parameters including threshold values, bearer type filters, and reporting triggers based on network conditions and service requirements. This allows the system to adapt the level of measurement detail to match actual needs, reducing signaling overhead when high precision is not required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4415418B1Methods and apparatuses relating to reporting of user plane interruption times
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4415418B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4415418B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4415418B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This specification describes a terminal device comprising means for transmitting a message relating to a change or addition of a primary cell of a secondary cell group, the message including (i) information indicative of a first user plane interruption time experienced by the terminal device and associated with the change or addition of the primary cell, and (ii) an indication of a first data radio bearer type to which the first user plane interruption time relates. It also describes a radio access node which receives the message.