Simplified Wireless Protocol Stack Without PDCP for Low-Power Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Devices with relatively weak capabilities face high communication complexity due to the need to perform functions of various protocol layers in a conventional protocol stack, which exceeds their capability and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The protocol stack of these devices no longer includes the PDCP layer, reducing complexity by potentially omitting other layers such as MAC or RRC, and instead focusing on a simplified structure with a physical layer and optional additional layers like RRC or application layer for control and user planes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional protocol stack including PDCP layer is used in devices with weak capabilities, then communication reliability is maintained, but communication complexity and energy consumption increase beyond device capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the PDCP layer from the protocol stack of devices with weak capabilities (e.g., UE-R, NR-Light). This extraction reduces the number of protocol layers that need to be implemented, processed, and managed, thereby directly reducing communication complexity and energy consumption while maintaining essential communication functionality through alternative mechanisms at other protocol layers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the protocol stack into different configurations based on device capability. Full-capability devices use the complete protocol stack including PDCP, while weak-capability devices use a simplified stack without PDCP. This segmentation allows each device type to operate with appropriate complexity levels, matching their processing capabilities and energy constraints
2Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional protocol stack with PDCP layer is implemented, then complete communication functionality is achieved, but energy consumption exceeds the capacity of low-power devices
Solution Approach 1:
The PDCP layer is extracted from the protocol stack of energy-constrained devices, removing the energy burden associated with PDCP processing (header compression, encryption, in-order delivery) while preserving essential communication functionality through alternative implementations at other protocol layers or through network-side assistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic protocol stack adaptation where the presence or absence of the PDCP layer is determined based on device capability indicators. This dynamic configuration allows the system to automatically adjust the protocol stack complexity to match the energy capacity and processing capability of each device, enabling low-power devices to communicate effectively without being burdened by full-stack processing requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a wireless communication method and a communications apparatus. The method comprises: a first device sends first information to a second device, wherein a protocol stack of the first device does not comprise a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. In embodiments of the present application, a PDCP layer is no longer configured in the protocol stack of the first device, and compared with a first device that performs communication on the basis of a conventional protocol stack, the present invention facilitates reduction of the communication complexity of the first device.