JP6871354B2 - Uplink signaling for dual connectivity - Google Patents

Description

The disclosure generally relates to dual connectivity, specifically allowing a wireless device to send an uplink signaling message when it is connected to a first network element on at least two wireless links. With respect to methods and devices for doing so.

EPS (Evolved Packet System) is an advanced 3GPP (3rd Generation Partne)
rship Project) Packet switching domain. EPS is EPC (Evolved Packet C)
ore) and E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network)
) And. FIG. 1 outlines an EPC architecture in a non-roaming context, which is a PGW (Packet Data Network (PDN) Gatewa).
y), SGW (Serving Gateway), PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Functio)
n), MME (Mobility Management Entity), and wireless devices also called user devices (UE). The radio access network E-UTRAN consists of one or more eNodeBs (eNBs).

FIG. 2 shows the entire E-UTRAN architecture, E-UT towards the UE.
Includes multiple eNBs that provide protocol termination for the RA user plane and control plane. The control termination of the user plane is PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol)
, RLC (Radio Link Control), MAC (Medium Access Control) and PHY (P
hysical Layer) is included. The control termination of the control plane includes RRC (Radio Resource Control) in addition to the control termination of the listed user planes. The eNBs are interconnected with each other by means of an X2 interface. Further, the eNB is transferred to the EPC by the means of the S1 interface, more specifically, to the MME by the means of the S1-MME interface.
And connected to the SGW by means of the S1-U interface.

The main parts of the EPC control plane and user plane architecture are shown in Figures 3 and 4.
It is shown in each.

[Overview of LTE (Long Term Evolution)]
LTE uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) on the downlink (DL) and discrete Fourier transform (DFT) -diffuse OFDM on the uplink (UL). Therefore, the basic LTE DL physical resources can be grasped as a time-frequency grid as illustrated in FIG. 5, and each resource element corresponds to one OFDM subcarrier during the period of one OFDM symbol interval. To do.

In the time domain, LTE DL transmissions are organized into 10 ms radio frames.
Each radio frame consists of _{10 subframes of equal length T frame} = 1 ms (see FIG. 6). In addition, resource allocation in LTE is typically described in terms of resource blocks (RBs), where the RB is one slot (0.5) in the time domain.
It corresponds to ms) and corresponds to 12 adjacent subcarriers in the frequency domain. A pair of two adjacent RBs in the time direction (1.0 ms) is known as an RB pair. RB
Are numbered in the frequency domain starting at zero from one end of the system bandwidth. L
In TE, the concept of virtual RB (VRB) and physical RB (PRB) is adopted. The actual resource allocation to the UE is made in terms of VRB pairs. There are two types of resource allocation, localized and distributed. In local resource allocation, VRB pairs are mapped directly to PRB pairs, so that two consecutive local VRBs are also arranged as continuous PRBs in the frequency domain. Distributed VRBs, on the other hand, are not mapped to contiguous PRBs in the frequency domain, thereby providing frequency diversity for data channels transmitted using such distributed VRBs.

DL transmissions are dynamically scheduled, i.e., in each subframe, the base station
Control information regarding to which terminal the data is transmitted and on which RB in the DL subframe at that time the data is transmitted is transmitted. This control signaling is typically transmitted at the first 1, 2, 3 or 4 OFDM symbols in each subframe, where the number n = 1, 2, 3 or 4 is known as the Control Format Indicator (CFI). Be done. The DL subframe also includes a common reference symbol (CRS) that is known to the receiver and is used, for example, for coherent demodulation of control information. A DL system with CFI = 3 is illustrated in FIG.

[LTE control and user plane architecture]
Conventional control and user plane protocol architectures focused on the eNB side radio interface are shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b. The control and user plane consists of the following protocol layers and key functionality:

− Radio resource control (RRC) (control plane only)
-Broadcast of system information for both NAS (Non-Access stratum) and AS (Access stratum) -Paging-RRC connection handling-Assignment of temporary identifier for UE-Configuration of signaling radio bearer for RRC connection-Wireless bearer Handling ・ QoS management function ・ Security function including key management ・ Mobility function including the following:
-UE measurement reporting and reporting control-Handover-UE cell selection and reselection, and cell selection and reselection control-NAS direct message transfer to and from the UE

-Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP)
-There is one PDCP entity for each wireless bearer for the UE. PDCP is used for both the control plane (RRC) and the user plane-Key features of the control plane, including encryption / decryption and integrity protection-Encryption / decryption, robust header compression (ROHC) Key features of the user plane, including header compression and decompression used, as well as in-sequence delivery, redundancy detection and retransmission (mainly used during handover).

-Wireless link control (RLC)
The RLC layer provides services for the PDCP layer and there is one RLC entity per radio bearer for the UE. • Segmentation or concatenation, retransmission handling (using automatic repeat request (ARQ)), redundancy detection, and Key features for both control and user planes, including in-sequence delivery to higher layers

− Media Access Control (MAC)
-MAC provides services to the RLC layer in the form of logical channels and maps between those logical channels and transport channels.-Main functions: UL and DL scheduling, scheduling information reporting, hybrid ARQ retransmission, and Multiple components for carrier aggregation Multiplexing / demultiplexing data across carriers

-Physical layer (PHY)
-PHY provides services to the MAC layer in the form of transport channels and handles the mapping of transport channels to physical channels-Key features (OFDM) for DL performed by the eNB:
-Transmission of DL reference signal-Detailed steps ("top to bottom"): CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) insertion, code block segmentation, and CRC insertion by code block; channel coding (turbo coding); rate matching And physical layer hybrid ARQ processing; bit level scrambling; data modulation (QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), 16QA
M (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) or 64QAM; antenna mapping and multi-antenna processing; resulting in inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) resulting in time domain data sometimes referred to as IQ data or digitized radio frequency (RF) data. ) And OFDM processing including cyclic prefix (CP) insertion; digital-analog conversion; power amplifier; and transmission to the antenna ・ Main functions for UL performed by eNB (DFT-diffusion OFDM) :.
-Random access support-Detailed steps ("top to bottom"): CRC removal, code block desegmentation,
Channel decoding, rate matching and physical layer hybrid ARQ processing; bit level inverse scrambling; data demodulation; inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT); antenna mapping and multi-antenna processing; Fast Fourier transform (FFT) and OFDM including CP removal
Processing; analog-to-digital conversion; power amplifier; as well as reception from the antenna

The functionality of the eNB described can be deployed in various ways. In one example, all protocol layers and associated functionality are deployed within the same physical node, including the antenna. One example of this is pico or femto eNodeB. Another example of deployment is the so-called main-remote split. In this case, the eNodeB is divided into a main unit and a remote unit, each of which is a digital unit (DU).
And also called a remote radio unit (RRU). The main unit or DU is P
It includes all protocol layers except the lower part of the HY layer, and the lower part of the PHY layer is instead placed in the remote unit or RRU. Separation within the PHY layer is made at the level of time domain data (IQ data, i.e., after / before IFFT / FFT and after / before CP insertion / removal). IQ data is transferred from the main unit to the remote unit over the so-called Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI). CPRI is a fast and low latency data interface. The remote unit then performs the required digital-to-analog conversion to generate analog RF data, power-amplifies the analog RF data, and transfers the analog RF data to the antenna. In another deployment option, the RRU and antenna are co-installed, so-called AIR (An).
tenna Integrated Radio) is generated.

[Carrier Aggregation]
The LTE Release 10 specification is standardized to support component carrier (CC) bandwidth up to 20 MHz, which is the maximum carrier bandwidth for LTE Release 8. It is possible to operate LTE Release 10 wider than 20MHz, which is LTE.
It looks like multiple LTE CCs to the E-Release 10 terminal. A simple method for obtaining bandwidth wider than 20 MHz is by carrier aggregation (CA) means. The CA suggests that the LTE Release 10 terminal is capable of receiving multiple CCs, where the CCs may have, or at least, have the same structure as the Release 8 carriers. CA is illustrated in FIG. The Release 10 standard supports up to 5 CCs to be integrated, and each CC is restricted to having one of 6 bandwidths in the RF specification, specifically, they are 1 It is 6, 15, 25, 50, 75 or 100 RB corresponding to 4, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz, respectively. Number of CCs to be integrated and individual Cs
The bandwidth of C may be different for UL and DL. The symmetric configuration refers to the case where the number of CCs in DL and UL is the same, while the asymmetric configuration refers to the case where the number of CCs in DL and UL is different. It is important to note that the number of CCs configured in the network may differ from the number of CCs seen by the terminal. For example, U with the same number of networks
The terminal may support more DL CCs than UL CCs, even if it provides L CCs and DL CCs.

CC is also referred to as a cell or serving cell. More specifically, in the LTE network, the cell integrated by the terminal is the primary serving cell (PCell).
) And the secondary serving cell (SCell). The term serving cell includes both PCell and one or more SCells. All UEs are one PCell
Have. Which cell is the PCell of the UE is terminal-specific. This PCell is
It is considered "more important", i.e., critical control signaling and other important signaling are typically handled via the PCell. UL control signaling is always transmitted on the UE's PCell. The component carrier configured as a PCell is the primary CC, while all other CCs are SCells. U
E can send and receive data on both PCell and SCell. Control signaling, such as scheduling commands, may be configured to be transmitted or received only on the PCell. However, these commands are also valid for SCell, and may be configured to send and receive those commands on both PCell and SCell. Regardless of the mode of operation, the UE will only need to read the broadcast channel to get the system information parameters on the primary component carrier (PCC). System information about the secondary component carrier (SCC) may be provided to the UE in a dedicated RCC message. During the initial access period, the LTE release 10 terminals behave similarly to the LTE release 8 terminals. However, after a successful connection to the network, the Release 10 terminal may be configured with additional serving cells in UL and DL-depending on its own capabilities and network. The composition is based on RRC. Due to the heavy signaling and rather the slow speed of RRC signaling, it is recalled that the terminal can be configured with the plurality of serving cells, even if not all of the plurality of serving cells have been used most recently. In short, LTE CA supports the efficient use of multiple carriers and allows data to be sent and received on all carriers. Cross-carrier scheduling is supported to avoid requiring the UE to listen on all carrier scheduling channels at all times. The solution relies on tight time synchronization between carriers.

[LTE Release 12 Dual Connectivity]
Dual connectivity (DC) is a solution currently being standardized by 3GPP to support UEs connecting to multiple carriers and transmitting and receiving data on multiple carriers at the same time. The following is a schematic description of DCs based on the current 3GPP standard. The E-UTRAN supports DC operation so that UEs in RRC_CONNECTED mode with multiple receivers and transmitters are interconnected via a non-ideal backhaul on the X2 within two eNBs. It is configured to utilize the radio resources provided by two separate schedulers located. EN involved in DC for a UE
B can assume two different roles. The eNB can operate as either a master eNB (MeNB) or a secondary eNB (SeNB). In DC, UE is one M
Connect to eNB and one SeNB. The radio protocol architecture used by a particular bearer depends on how the bearer is set up. Master cell group (M
There are three means: a CG) bearer, a secondary cell group (SCG) bearer, and a split bearer. These three means are depicted in FIG. Signal radio bearer (
The SRB) is always associated with the MCG bearer and therefore only uses the radio resources provided by the MeNB. It should be noted that DC can also be described as having at least one bearer configured to use the radio resources provided by SeNB.

Inter-eNB control plane signaling for DC is performed by means of X2 interface signaling. Control plane signaling towards the MME is performed by means of S1 interface signaling. There is only one S1-MME connection per UE between MeNB and MME. Each eNB is allowed to handle UEs independently, i.e., providing PCells for some UEs while S for SCGs.
Cell can be provided. Each eNB involved in the DC for a UE owns its own radio resources and is primarily responsible for allocating the radio resources for that cell. M
Coordination between the eNB and the SeNB is performed by means of X2 interface signaling. FIG. 11 shows a control plane (C-plane) of an eNB involved in DC for a UE.
Shows connectivity. The MeNB is connected to the MME via S1-MME by a C-plane, and the MeNB and SeNB are interconnected via X2-C. FIG. 12 shows the eNB's user plane (U-plane) connectivity involved in DC for a UE. U-
Plain connectivity depends on the bearer options configured. For MCG bearers,
The MeNB is connected to the S-GW via the S1-U on a U-plane, and the SeNB is not involved in the transport of user plane data. For split bearers, MeN
B is connected to S-GW via S1-U by a U-plane, and in addition, MeNB and Se.
The NBs are interconnected via X2-U. For SCG bearers, SeNB is S1-
It is directly connected to S-GW via U.

[Centralized radio access network (E-UTRAN) functionality]
Possible future evolutions of current radio access network (RAN) architectures have been discussed. From the beginning in macrosite-based topologies, to give some examples, low power cell adoption, evolution of trustport networks between different radio base station sites, evolution of radio base station hardware, and processing power. Increased needs have created new challenges and opportunities. Several strategies have been proposed for the RAN architecture, which sometimes go in different directions. Several strategies, such as coordinated gains, hardware pooling gains, energy-saving gains, and the evolution of backhaul / fronthaul networks, work with a focus on more intensive deployments. At the same time, other strategies, such as very low latency requirements for some 5G use cases, such as mission-critical machine-type communications (MTC) applications, are working towards decentralization. The terms fronthaul and backhaul are used in connection with base stations. The definition for a traditional front hole is a CPRI-based fiber link between a baseband domain unit and a remote unit. The backhaul is S1
/ Refers to the transport network used for the X2 interface.

Recent evolutions in backhaul / fronthaul technology have just opened up the possibility of centralizing baseband, which is often referred to as C-RAN. C-RA
N is a term that can be interpreted in various ways. For some, it means a "baseband hotel" -like solution in which basebands from multiple sites are co-located to the central site, but with tight connectivity and fast data between baseband units. There is no exchange. Perhaps the most common interpretation of C-RAN is a "centralized RAN" in which there is at least some kind of coordination between basebands. A potentially attractive solution is a smaller centralized RAN based on macro base stations and the low power nodes covered by them. In such configurations, close coordination between macros and low power nodes can often provide considerable gain. The term "coordinated RAN" is a commonly used interpretation of C-RAN that focuses on the coordinated gain of centralization. Another more futuristic interpretation of C-RAN is a "cloud" based solution in which the functionality of a wireless network is supported on general purpose hardware such as general purpose processors, and perhaps as virtual machines. And includes "virtualized" RAN solutions.

Centralized deployment can be driven by one or more forces, such as the expected manageability of maintenance, upgrades, and less site needs, as well as the acquisition of coordinated gains. A common misconception is that centralization should result in large pooling gains and corresponding hardware savings. The pooling gain is large relative to the number of cells initially pooled, but then decreases rapidly. One important advantage of having basebands from multiple co-located and interconnected sites is the close coordination that is possible. Examples are UL Cooperative Multipoint (CoMP), as well as the combination of multiple sectors and / or carriers into a cell. The gains of these features are sometimes noticeable in relation to the gains of slower coordination schemes, such as extended cell-to-cell interference coordination (eICIC), which can be done on a standard interface (X2) without baseband co-operation. Can be.

An attractive C-RAN deployment from a coordinated gain perspective is the construction of C-RAN around a larger macrosite, usually several frequency bands, and multiples covered by the macrosite. Built with low power radios, they are tightly integrated into macros on high speed interconnects. Greater gains are expected to be seen in deployment scenarios such as for stadiums and malls. Important considerations for any C-RAN deployment are:
The transport on the front hall, the connection between the centralized baseband portion and the radio, which is sometimes referred to as the "first mile". The cost of the front hall is rather very variable depending on the market, and it is necessary to balance the benefits.

For UEs connected to a DC RAN architecture with a radio protocol architecture as shown in FIG. 10 and further described in the background column, there is no known procedure on how to send uplink signaling messages to the network. When a wireless device is connected to a network on two or more wireless links, the wireless device needs to know, for example, on which wireless link the uplink signaling message should be sent.

The purpose is to at least mitigate or mitigate one or more of the problems mentioned above, and to provide procedures for sending uplink signaling messages in multi-connectivity scenarios. The above and other objectives are achieved by the method of the independent claim, the wireless device and the network element, and by the embodiment of the dependent claim.

According to the first aspect, a method for transmitting an uplink signaling message in a wireless communication network is provided. The above method is performed on a wireless device. The wireless device includes at least a first wireless link and a second.
It is connected to the first network element on the wireless link of. The method includes determining a transmission mode among a plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting the uplink signaling message. The plurality of candidate transmission modes include transmission on the first wireless link, transmission on the second wireless link, and both the first wireless link and the second wireless link. Including transmission. The method also includes transmitting the uplink signaling message according to the determined transmission mode.

A second aspect provides a method for allowing a wireless device to send an uplink signaling message in a wireless communication network.
The above method is performed in the first network element. The wireless device is connected to the first network element on at least the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The method is performed in the first network element. The method includes determining at least one transmission mode among a plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting the uplink signaling message. The plurality of candidate transmission modes include transmission on the first wireless link, transmission on the second wireless link, and both the first wireless link and the second wireless link. Including transmission. The above determination is based on the criteria for determining the transmission mode. The method also includes transmitting information to the wireless device that allows the wireless device to determine a transmission mode for transmitting the uplink signaling message. The information includes the determined at least one transmission mode indicator.

According to a third aspect, a wireless device configured to transmit an uplink signaling message in a wireless communication network is provided. The wireless device is the first on at least the first wireless link and the second wireless link.
It is possible to connect to the network element of. The wireless device is further configured to determine a transmission mode among a plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting the uplink signaling message. The plurality of candidate transmission modes include transmission on the first wireless link, transmission on the second wireless link, and both the first wireless link and the second wireless link. Including transmission. The wireless device is also configured to transmit the uplink signaling message according to the determined transmission mode.

According to a fourth aspect, a first network element configured to allow a wireless device to send an uplink signaling message in a wireless communication network is provided. The wireless device can connect to a first network element on at least a first wireless link and a second wireless link. The first network element is further configured to determine at least one transmission mode among the plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting the uplink signaling message. The plurality of candidate transmission modes include transmission on the first wireless link, transmission on the second wireless link, and both the first wireless link and the second wireless link. Including transmission. The above determination is based on the criteria for determining the transmission mode. The first network element is also configured to transmit information to the wireless device that allows the wireless device to determine a transmission mode for transmitting the uplink signaling message. , Includes at least one transmission mode indicator determined.

According to a further aspect, computer programs and computer program products corresponding to the above viewpoints are provided.

One advantage of the embodiment is that it provides a procedure for how a wireless device sends an uplink signaling message in a multi-connectivity scenario. Another advantage is that the transmit mode for transmitting the uplink signaling message can be adapted to the current situation, such as the capabilities or load conditions of the wireless device.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the embodiments will be described in the detailed description below. In doing so, it will be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the claims.

Various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, including their specific features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing a non-roaming EPC architecture for 3GPP access. It is a block diagram which shows the architecture of the whole E-UTRAN roughly. The protocol architecture of the EPC control plane is outlined. The protocol architecture of the EPC user plane is outlined. The basic LTE DL physical resources are outlined. The time domain structure of LTE is shown schematically. The DL subframe is shown schematically. The control plane protocol layer for a conventional eNB radio interface is outlined. The user plane protocol layer for a conventional eNB radio interface is shown schematically. The CAs of the five CCs are shown schematically. The radio protocol architecture for DC is outlined. It is a block diagram which shows schematic C-plane connectivity of eNB involved in DC. It is a block diagram which shows schematic U-plane connectivity of eNB involved in DC. An example of functional separation between network elements is shown schematically. The separation of eNB into eNB-a and eNB-s is shown schematically. The separation of eNB into eNB-a and eNB-s is shown schematically. A DC with a functional separation established for a wireless device is shown schematically. The multi-RAT DCs established for wireless devices are outlined. It is a signaling diagram which shows the signaling between a UE and a network which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the embodiment of the method for the wireless device which concerns on various embodiments. It is a flowchart which shows the embodiment of the method for the wireless device which concerns on various embodiments. It is a flowchart which shows the embodiment of the method for the wireless device which concerns on various embodiments. It is a flowchart which shows the embodiment of the method for the wireless device which concerns on various embodiments. It is a flowchart which shows the embodiment of the method for the wireless device which concerns on various embodiments. It is a flowchart which shows the embodiment of the method for a network element which concerns on various embodiments. It is a block diagram which shows schematic the embodiment of the wireless device and the network element which concerns on various embodiments. It is a block diagram which shows schematic the embodiment of the wireless device and the network element which concerns on various embodiments. It is a block diagram which shows schematic the embodiment of the wireless device and the network element which concerns on various embodiments.

From now on, various viewpoints will be described in more detail with reference to some embodiments and accompanying drawings. Specific details, such as specific scenarios and techniques, are provided to provide an in-depth understanding of the various embodiments, for purposes of explanation rather than limitation. However, there may also be other embodiments that deviate from those particular details.

Ongoing discussions in the wireless industry in various forums should allow the functional architecture of 5G radio access networks to be designed flexibly enough to deploy to different hardware platforms and possibly different sites within the network. It seems that it is moving in the direction of. Functional separation as shown in FIG. 13 has been proposed. In this example, RAN functions are classified into synchronous functions (SF) and asynchronous functions (AF). Asynchronous features are those with slow timing constraints, and synchronous features typically perform time-critical functionality. Synchronous network capabilities have processing timing requirements that are strictly dependent on the timing of the wireless link used to communicate with the wireless device. Strict dependence means that the timing of the wireless link determines whether the synchronous network function works as intended. Asynchronous network functions have processing timing requirements that are not strictly dependent on the timing of the wireless link or may even be independent of the timing of the wireless link. Synchronous functions are located in logical nodes called eNB-s, and asynchronous functions are eNB-a.
It can be placed in a logical node called. Instances of the function associated with the eNB-s, i.e. the synchronous function, may be located on a network element near the air interface. Synchronous functions will form what is called a synchronous function group (SFG). The instance of the asynchronous function associated with the eNB-a is either a network element near the air interface, that is, the same network element as the eNB-s function, or in another network element such as a fixed network node (FNN). Can be flexibly instantiated in. Assuming that those functions are E-UTRAN functions, the separation of functions can lead to the functional architecture for the control and user planes shown in FIGS. 14a and 14b. Among them, one new interface will be required.

Synchronize instances of asynchronous features to support DC or multi-connectivity features such as user plane integration for integrated data rates, or control / user plane diversity for reliable and fast packet switching, for example. Can be common to multiple instances of a feature. In other words, the same instance of the function associated with the eNB-a can control multiple instances of the function associated with the eNB-s. In the case of current LTE functionality (see section [LTE Control and User Plane Architecture] above), this is RLC / MAC / PH.
A common instance for RRC and PDCP associated with N multiple instances of Y can be derived. N is the number of links that the UE can connect to at the same time. One exemplary scenario is shown in FIG. 15, where the UE is the network element eNB.
It is connected to the network element eNB-a on two links via both −s1 and the network element eNB-s2. The network element eNB-a is
In general, it includes asynchronous functions, that is, common protocols for both the control plane (RRC and PDCP) and the user plane (PDCP).

Recall that 5G radio access will consist of multiple air interfaces, for example air interfaces for multiple heterogeneous or different RATs of the air interface. The multiple air interfaces may be tightly integrated, which means that they may have a common functional instance for the multiple air interfaces. It is also recalled that one of the air interfaces in a 5G scenario can be LTE compliant, such as an evolution of LTE, while the other one is non-LTE compliant. Therefore, in order to address such a multi-RAT integrated architecture, the multi-connection scenario must support network elements or logical nodes from different access technologies. Non-LTE compliant network elements differ from those supported by LTE compliant network elements, for example due to the high frequencies that 5G networks are expected to operate and new use cases that need to be addressed. May support lower layer protocols. Therefore, standardized CA may not be possible between LTE and the new 5G radio access. Standardized DC solutions include various levels of user plane integration, but between two different LTE carriers, or LTE.
Does not include means for dual control planes between E-compliant and non-LTE compliant carriers.

Thus, the functional separation previously described between eNB-a and eNB-s can be extended so that the same instance of asynchronous functionality is defined for multiple air interfaces. Within, UEs can be connected on multiple air interfaces simultaneously or during the mobility procedure. In that case, the plurality of air interfaces will have different synchronous function groups for each air interface, for example, for LTE compliant and non-LTE compliant parts of 5G radio access.

The separation shown in FIG. 13 may be applied to DCs between different RATs, for example one LTE RAT and one 5G RAT. In this case, the eNB-a may include common support for both the control plane and the user plane for asynchronous functionality. The eNB-s for each RAT includes a synchronous function, and thus the synchronous function is RAT-specific (RAT-specific).
For example, LTE RAT and 5G RAT can be set separately). Such a scenario is shown in FIG. 16, where the eNB-a is "5G & LTE eNB-a".
The eNB-s are called "LTE eNB-s1" and "5G eNB-s2", respectively.
Is called.

Functional isolation and RAN architecture, such as those described above with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, or any other RAN functional isolation in which a group of functions is instantiated in separate network elements is a plurality of networks. It suggests the possibility of having a common functional instance associated with the element and / or links from the same or multiple air interfaces.

In the exemplary scenario shown in FIG. 15, embodiments are described in a non-limiting general context relating to the transmission of measurement reports by the UE, which is an uplink signaling message. The UE is eNB-on the first wireless link and the second wireless link.
Connected to a. The network function that services the UE over the first wireless link is
In this exemplary scenario, eNB-a and eNB-s1 are separated and each is the first.
Can be referred to as a network element and a second network element. Second
The network functions that serve the UE on the wireless link of are eNB-a and eNB-
Separated from s2, eNB-s2 can be referred to as a third network element. Some or all of these network elements may be part of the same physical network node, or they may each be separate physical network elements. The network functions are eNB-a and eNB-s1 / eNB-based on whether they are asynchronous or synchronous in the above exemplary scenario.
Separated from s2. The same instance eNB-a of asynchronous function may be defined for multiple air interfaces, allowing the UE to connect on multiple air interfaces corresponding to two wireless links at the same time. In that case, the plurality of air interfaces will be associated with different synchronous function groups for each air interface. The eNB-s1 and eNB-s2 in FIG. 15 may be derived from the same RAT.
It may be owned by the same operator or by different operators. Alternatively, eNB-
As shown in FIG. 16, s1 and eNB-s2 may be derived from different RATs such as LTE-compliant and non-LTE-compliant 5G access. Also in this second case
They may be owned by the same operator or by different operators. The embodiments described herein are primarily given in the context of multiple RATs, such as LTE RAT and 5G RAT. However, the embodiment described is a single R.
It may be applied to the case of AT, particularly the case where a single eNB-s is connected to a plurality of different operator networks. This is because in those cases a single RAT can be used for both the first and second wireless links.

Although the functions in the above exemplary scenarios are distinguished based on whether they are synchronous or not, it should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention have some criteria other than whether the functions are synchronous or not. It may be applied to any other network function architecture in which the network function is separated into two network elements based on. One example is multi-RA
In the T scenario, separating functions based on whether the functions are common to multiple RATs or unique to one of the RATs.

Further, the embodiments described may be applied to pure DC scenarios where there is no separation of network function into two network elements. In that case, the wireless device is directly connected to the first network element via the two links without the involvement of the second network element and the third network element.

Further, although embodiments are described in connection with DC scenarios, those embodiments are different access layers or RAs from the same access layer or RAT or other links.
By adding another link that can be derived from T, it may be applied to scenarios where the UE transitions to multi-connectivity, where "multi" means more than dual, i.e. more than two. .. The procedure for transmitting the uplink signaling message in the multi-connectivity scenario is the same as the transmission of the uplink signaling message in the DC scenario described above, and embodiments of the present invention are thus readily applicable to the multi-connectivity scenario. It can be possible.

[Send mode]
In the DC scenario, the problem that there is no procedure for sending the measurement report to the network with isolation functionality, such as the example scenario shown in FIG. 16, is the measurement report on any one or more wireless links. Is addressed by a solution in which the UE determines whether to send. The UE determines the transmission mode among a plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting the measurement report. These candidate send modes include:
-Transmission on the first wireless link-Transmission on the second wireless link-Transmission on both wireless links And the determined transmission mode is used when transmitting the measurement report. The transmission mode of transmitting on both wireless links is such as event-triggered measurement report.
It is especially useful for measurement reports that should be sent only once and / or measurement reports that should not be lost. In addition, if a non-acknowledged uplink signaling procedure is adopted, the transmit mode of transmitting over both wireless links may be appropriate for non-acknowledged measurement reports. The transmit mode of transmitting over one of the wireless links, on the other hand, is particularly useful for periodic measurement reports. The transmission mode has the advantage of reducing the amount of measurement report transmission. As further explained below, which wireless link should be selected includes, for example, channel conditions, the nature of the signaling procedure, expected latency, required transmit power, and user-specific or UE-specific policies. It may be determined by various methods, such as by using a rule or method that can be determined in advance, taking into consideration a plurality of viewpoints. In one example, the choice of wireless link for transmission is based on the type of uplink signaling message or measurement report. In another example, each time a measurement report is sent, the UE autonomously selects one link, either randomly or based on, for example, a round-robin rule.

In embodiments, the UE may also determine how retransmissions should be performed as part of the transmission mode determination. In one exemplary embodiment, the UE determines to transmit the measurement report on both links. In addition, the UE iteratively resends the measurement report on both links to obtain an acknowledgment (ACK) or a response confirming that the measurement report was received by the network on one of the links. If so, the decision is made to stop the retransmission. In another exemplary embodiment, the UE sends a measurement report on one of the wireless links and resends the measurement report on the other wireless link in the absence of an ACK or response. These embodiments improve the robustness of the measurement report by incorporating diversity into the measurement report transmitted by the UE.

FIG. 17 shows an embodiment in which the UE iteratively transmits a measurement report on both links and stops transmission when an ACK is obtained on one of those links.
It is a signaling diagram which shows one example of signaling between UE 1750 and a network. In S1a and S1b, the UE 1750 sends a measurement report over each of the links. Both of these messages are lost (indicated by the dashed signal arrows), that is, the network never receives measurement reports. In S2a and S2b, UE1
The 750 resends the measurement report on both links. Retransmission of measurement report S2a is received and transferred by LTE eNB-s1 1720 on the first link and received by 5G & LTE eNB-a1 1700 in S2c. Then 5G & LTE
The eNB-a1 1700 is a UE 175 on two links in S3a and S3b.
Send the measurement report ACK to 0. In the above example, only the measurement report ACK transmitted on the second link by the 5G eNB-s2 1730 is the UE 175 in S3d.
Received by 0. The measurement report ACK transmitted on the first link in S3c is lost. The UE 1750 may have already started a second retransmission (not shown) of the measurement report before receiving the measurement report ACK in S3d. However, when the measurement report ACK message is received via the 5G eNB-s2 1730 (S3).
d) Retransmission is stopped at 171. The transmission mode described above with retransmission requires that the measurement report have an appropriate downlink acknowledgment message, such as measurement report ACK in this example, which message is transmitted over the network upon receipt of the measurement report. The transmission mode with retransmissions is particularly useful in situations where channel conditions are poor for both wireless links.

[Determine transmission mode]
In one embodiment of the invention, the transmission mode is determined autonomously by the UE. In an alternative embodiment, the above decision is made by the network, followed by
The network is a U using a configuration message, for example an RRC connection reconfiguration message.
The determined transmission mode is notified to the UE through the configuration of E. On the other hand, in another embodiment, the determination of the transmission mode is a combination of the above two embodiments, determining a set of possible transmission modes for the network, and configuring or notifying the UE accordingly. , Thereby the UE makes the final decision on which transmit mode to use.

The wireless device may determine the transmission mode after the measurement report is generated.
However, it may be done in the reverse order, i.e. the measurement report is generated after the transmission mode is determined. The transmit mode may be signaled to the UE by the network, for example, in an uplink grant message or scheduling command. In such cases, it may be possible to signal the transmission mode prior to each measurement report generation. In other embodiments, the UE may receive a configuration rule as part of an RRC message, which allows the UE to determine the transmit mode, thus the transmit mode is the generation of the measurement report. It will be decided by the UE before. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the measurement report may be generated, for example by the RRC layer, queued by a lower layer, and the lower layer may determine the transmission mode just before the measurement report is delivered. Good.

In the embodiments described above, the determination of the transmission mode may be based on one or more criteria for determining the transmission mode. The criteria are listed below. For embodiments in which the UE autonomously determines the transmission mode, it is the UE that utilizes the criteria for determining the transmission mode. If it is the network that determines the transmission mode, the network uses the criteria for the determination in a corresponding manner. In some embodiments, both the network and the UE
Take advantage of those criteria, which can be the same or different criteria. The criteria used by the network and UE, respectively, may differ because the network and UE may not have access to the same information. In the list of criteria below, each criterion is applicable to both UE and network, unless otherwise stated.

[List of criteria for determining the transmission mode]
Channel Quality The channel quality of the wireless link to which the UE is connected to the network may be used as a criterion for determining the transmit mode. The UE and / or network can measure the channel quality of either a subset or all of the wireless links. If the network measures channel quality, the UE may receive a channel quality report or indicator from the network. The UE or network may use the channel quality to determine the transmission mode, which increases the probability that the measurement report transmitted will reach the network. In one exemplary embodiment, the UE is when the channel quality of the first wireless link is better than the channel quality of the second wireless link, and the channel quality of the first wireless link exceeds the quality threshold. In some cases, it may be decided to send the measurement report over the first wireless link. In other embodiments, the UE performs when the channel quality of the first wireless link is comparable to the channel quality of the second wireless link, and when the channel quality of the first and second wireless links is less than or equal to the quality threshold. In some cases, it may be decided to send the measurement report over both the first and second wireless links. Channel qualities may be determined to be equivalent, for example, if the difference in channel qualities is less than a given value. In this latter embodiment, the UE may optionally decide to resend the measurement report on both links until an acknowledgment message is received from the network on one of the links. Good. this is,
For example, it may be determined when the measurement report to be sent is classified as "important", which can be done depending on the type and situation of the measurement report (eg, in the later "uplink signaling message". Type ”See the list of criteria below). One example of such an "important" measurement report is an event-triggered measurement report, which will probably trigger a handover due to the poor channel quality of both wireless links. Therefore, it is important in terms of performance.

Load The load on the wireless link to which the UE is connected to the network may be used as a criterion for determining the transmit mode. The UE and / or network may use the load of both or one of the links when selecting the transmit mode. This makes it possible to reduce the impact of the load on the system for sending measurement reports. The load of a given link can be obtained, for example, by measuring the received signal power over the uplink frequency band. Alternatively, the load can be obtained by checking the throughput or the size of the scheduling queue.

UE Capabilities UE capabilities may be used as a criterion for determining the transmit mode. UE
May determine, for example, that the first wireless link is available but the second wireless link is not available, thus transmitting the measurement report only on the first wireless link. As an example, this is an LTE compliant RAT with two links on one side.
There may be cases where the other corresponds to two different RATs, such as a non-LTE compliant RAT, and the UE is only LTE capable.

Resiliency / Redundancy / Robustness Resiliency, redundancy or robustness requirements may be used as criteria for determining the transmission mode. The UE decides to send the measurement report on one of the links, for example, and, for robust reasons, decides to resend the measurement report on the other link if no acknowledgment is received. May be good.

Service requirements / QoS
Bearer's active service or QoS requirements, which may be the only way the RAN recognizes service requirements, may influence the determination of transmission mode. For example, if the service requires robustness and / or low latency and therefore retransmissions should be avoided, it may be chosen to send the same packet on both wireless links at the same time.
Another example is sending different packets on different wireless links to improve throughput. This may be particularly applicable in cases where different QoS can be signaled for signaling bearers of different plurality of UEs.

Latency The latency of the wireless link to which the UE is connected to the network may be used as a criterion for determining the transmit mode. In one example, the measurement report is transmitted over the lowest latency wireless link. U for the purpose of getting the latency of the link
E is IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) on two links in one example.
) You may send a ping and compare the ping responses. Another example of how latency values should be obtained for a link is pre-configured (eg, hash-encoded) in the expected latency ranking order for the different links, where the two links use different RATs, respectively. To use the value.

Types of uplink signaling messages The type of uplink signaling message to be sent / received can be used as input to determine the transmission mode. In one example, the transmit mode for measurement reports is determined to transmit on one of the wireless links, while the transmit mode for all other uplink signaling messages is both. Determined to transmit over the wireless link. In general, the choice of transmission mode may depend on the importance or urgency of the uplink signaling message, or on whether an acknowledgment is expected for the uplink signaling message.

In the case where the uplink signaling message is a measurement report, the transmission mode may be determined based on the type of measurement report. In one example, the transmit mode for periodic measurement reports is determined to transmit on one of the links, while the transmit mode for event-triggered measurement reports is on both links. Is determined to send.

Transmission Mode of Corresponding Downlink Signaling Message In cases where the uplink signaling message is a response to the downlink message, the transmission mode may be determined based on the transmission mode used for the downlink. For example, the uplink message may be transmitted on the same one or more wireless links that the downlink message was received. Alternatively, the UE may be configured to send an uplink signaling message on a link other than the link on which the downlink message was received (uplink-downlink isolation). The network implicitly configures the UE in that transmit mode by determining the transmit mode when the downlink signaling message is about to be transmitted and transmitting the downlink signaling message over a given wireless link. May be good.

Uplink Signaling Message Acknowledgment Another alternative embodiment determines the transmit mode based on whether a receiver in the network acknowledges or responds to an uplink signaling message according to a particular signaling protocol. That is. For example, the UE may send an uplink signaling message on which an acknowledgment should take place on one wireless link, while an uplink signaling message that is not expected to be acknowledged is sent on both wireless links.

Carrier Aggregation (CA)
The use of each uplink of the wireless link may be the criterion to be used to determine the transmission mode. Uplink applications may be, for example, using LTE and 5G CA, or dual connectivity. For example, in addition to the dual connectivity between LTE and 5G, if CA is applied on the LTE side, the message can only be sent via LTE. CA has a positive impact on LTE link performance,
Therefore, LTE links are suitable.

Backhaul quality 5G eNB-s2 to eNB-a1 backhaul quality, and LTE eNB-s
The backhaul quality from 1 to eNB-a1 may be used as a criterion for determining the transmission mode. The principle is that backhaul with better quality takes precedence over backhaul with lower quality. eNB-a1 is different eNB-s1 and e
The link to NB-s2 can be measured and the UE can be informed of the backhaul quality of the specific link, for example via broadcast or dedicated signaling.

UE Mobility / Speed UE mobility or speed may be used as a criterion for determining the transmit mode. Of multiple different links, if the UE is moving at high speed, for example if the UE is measured to exceed certain limits, or if the UE is identified as in a particular mobility state. Wireless links that support the widest coverage area are preferred. For example, in the case where LTE is deployed on a frequency band lower than the frequency band of the 5G link, the LTE link may be suitable.

QoS
Agreed or expected QoS on various links may be used as a criterion for determining the transmission mode. Different links have different QoS through explicit signaling
May be associated with. Alternatively, QoS may be measured for different links.

Predetermined rules Predetermined rules, such as round-robin rules, may be used to determine the transmission mode. One example of a pre-determined rule is to determine that the UE alternately sends measurement reports on the first wireless link and on the second wireless link every second.

Random selection The criterion for determining the transmission mode may be to randomly select one wireless link among the wireless links available for transmission of the measurement report.

[Embodiments of the method described with reference to FIGS. 18a-18e and 19]
FIG. 18a is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a method for transmitting an uplink signaling message in a wireless communication network. The wireless device is connected to the first network element on at least the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The wireless device can be any type of device such as a UE, mobile terminal, sensor or laptop. The method is performed on a wireless device and includes:
-1810: Determines the transmission mode among a plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting an uplink signaling message. The plurality of candidate transmission modes include transmission on the first wireless link, transmission on the second wireless link, and transmission on both the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The advantages of the various transmission modes are further explained in the section above [Transmission Modes]. In the embodiment, the above determination of the transmission mode is based on the criteria for determining the transmission mode.
-1820: An uplink signaling message is transmitted according to the determined transmission mode.

In the section above [Determining Transmission Mode], various embodiments related to how the above determination is made are described. The above decision may be made, for example, autonomously by the wireless device, may be made solely by the network, and then configured by the network in a corresponding manner, or may be combined with both the network and the wireless device. May be made by. Networks have better knowledge than wireless devices about some criteria for determining transmission mode, and vice versa. The embodiments described below with reference to FIGS. 18b-18c describe some of these alternative embodiments.

FIG. 18b is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the method in a wireless device, wherein the network transmits information to the wireless device that allows the wireless device to determine a transmission mode based on certain criteria. The network sends two transmit mode indicators to the wireless device, which then determines one of those transmit modes indicated, based on some criteria for determining the transmit mode. Or you can choose. In this embodiment, the method may include:
-1800: Received information from the first network element indicating at least one of the plurality of candidate transmission modes. Although the first network element is involved in transmitting the information to the wireless device, the source of the information may be another network node of the wireless communication network.
-1810: The transmission mode is determined based on the received information. In the embodiment, the determination of the transmission mode is based on the criteria for determining the transmission mode. The criterion may be, for example, the channel quality measured by the wireless device.
-1820: Send an uplink signaling message according to the determined transmission mode.

FIG. 18c is a flow chart illustrating another embodiment of the method in a wireless device, in which the network transmits both a transmit mode indicator and a criterion for determining the transmit mode. This allows the wireless device to determine the transmit mode based on information from the network. The network may, for example, transmit load values for those two links, along with two candidate transmit modes, and the wireless device should transmit uplink signaling based on the information received from the network. Given the type of message, the best mode of transmission can be determined. Therefore, the method can include:
-1800: Received information from the first network element indicating at least one of the plurality of candidate transmission modes.
-1805: Receives a criterion for determining the transmission mode from the first network element.
-1810: The transmission mode is determined based on the received information and the received criteria for determining the transmission mode. The decision may also be based on criteria for transmission mode determination known to the wireless device, such as the type of uplink signaling message to be sent.
-1820: Send an uplink signaling message according to the determined transmission mode.

As described in the section [Transmission Mode] above, determining the transmission mode may include determining on which link the uplink signaling message should be retransmitted. FIG. 18d is a flow chart illustrating one such embodiment of the method in a wireless device, which may be combined with any of the embodiments described above. In this embodiment, the transmission mode determination 1810 may include:
-1811: Determined to send uplink signaling messages over both the first and second wireless links.
-1812: Iteratively resends the uplink signaling message on both wireless links until an acknowledgment of the uplink signaling message is received on at least one of the first and second wireless links. Then decided.

Further, the method may include sending an uplink signaling message according to a determined transmission mode, 1820, i.e., first making the transmission on both links.
Then, if no acknowledgment is received for the first transmission, resend on both links.

FIG. 18e is a flow chart illustrating other such embodiments of the method in a wireless device, which may be combined with any of the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 18a-18c. In this embodiment, the transmission mode determination 1810 may include:
-1815: Determined to send an uplink signaling message over the first wireless link.
-1816: Determined to resend the uplink signaling message on the second wireless link if no acknowledgment is received for the uplink signaling message transmitted on the first wireless link.

Further, the method may include transmission 1820 of an uplink signaling message according to a determined transmission mode, i.e., first transmitting on one link and then the other if no acknowledgment is received for the first transmission. Resend on the link.

In any of the embodiments of the method in wireless devices described with reference to FIGS. 18a-18e, the criteria for determining the transmission mode may relate to at least one of the following:
-At least one channel quality of the first and second wireless links-At least one load of the first and second wireless links-At least one of the first and second wireless links Capabilities of wireless devices using one ・ Quality of service of bearers associated with uplink signaling messages ・ Latency of at least one of the first and second wireless links ・ Types of uplink signaling messages ・ Response of uplink signaling messages Transmission mode of the target downlink signaling message-Whether the uplink signaling message is acknowledged or not-Use of carrier aggregation on at least one of the first and second wireless links-Speed of the wireless device- Quality of service associated with at least one of the first and second wireless links-Predetermined rules for determining the transmission mode-At least one random of the first and second wireless links Choice

Further, in any of the embodiments described above, the transmission mode determination 1810 is based on acquiring the channel quality of at least one of the first wireless link and the second wireless link and the acquired channel quality. It may include determining the transmission mode. Obtaining the channel quality may include at least one of measuring the channel quality and receiving the channel quality from the first network element.

In one embodiment, the channel quality of both the first and second wireless links is acquired. Then, the determination of the transmission mode based on the acquired channel quality 1810 determines that the uplink signaling message is transmitted on the wireless link with the acquired highest channel quality when the acquired highest channel quality is equal to or higher than the threshold value. May include: On the other hand, when the highest channel quality obtained is below the above threshold,
The transmission mode determination 1810 may include determining to transmit an uplink signaling message over both the first and second wireless links.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a method for allowing a wireless device to transmit an uplink signaling message in a wireless communication network. The wireless device is connected to the first network element on at least the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The method is performed in the first network element and includes:
-1910: Determines at least one transmission mode among a plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting an uplink signaling message. The plurality of candidate transmission modes include transmission on the first wireless link, transmission on the second wireless link, and transmission on both the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The determination of at least one transmission mode is based on the criteria for determining the transmission mode.
-1920: Sends information to the wireless device that allows the wireless device to determine the transmission mode for transmitting the uplink signaling message, the information including at least one determined transmission mode indicator. The information to be transmitted may further include a criterion for determining the transmission mode.
The method may include, in an embodiment, receiving an uplink signaling message from a wireless device according to one of the candidate transmission modes.

Criteria for determining the transmission mode may relate to at least one of the following:
-At least one channel quality of the first and second wireless links-At least one load of the first and second wireless links-At least one of the first and second wireless links Capabilities of wireless devices using one ・ Quality of service of bearers associated with uplink signaling messages ・ Latency of at least one of the first and second wireless links ・ Types of uplink signaling messages ・ Response of uplink signaling messages Transmission mode of the target downlink signaling message-Whether the uplink signaling message is acknowledged or not-Use of carrier aggregation on at least one of the first and second wireless links-Speed of the wireless device- Quality of service associated with at least one of the first and second wireless links-Predetermined rules for determining the transmission mode-At least one random of the first and second wireless links Choice

As already mentioned, in any of the embodiments described above, the uplink signaling message may be a measurement report. Further, the first and second wireless links may both be associated with one RAT, or may be associated with different RATs, respectively, as described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. ..

For example, the functional separation described above with reference to FIG. 13 may be applied in a plurality of embodiments. In such an embodiment, the network function of servicing the wireless device on the first wireless link is separated between the first network element and the second network element. The network function of servicing the wireless device on the second wireless link is separated between the first network element and the third network element. In the exemplary scenarios of FIGS. 15 and 16, the first
The network element of is equivalent to eNB-a, and the second network element is e.
The third network element corresponds to NB-s1 and corresponds to eNB-s2. As described above, the network function of the first network element may be an asynchronous network function, and the network function of the second and third network elements may be an asynchronous network function.
It may be a synchronous network function. The synchronous network function of the second network element may have processing timing requirements that are strictly dependent on the timing of the first wireless link. The synchronous network function of the third network element may have processing timing requirements that are strictly dependent on the timing of the second wireless link. In addition, the asynchronous network function is a first wireless link or a second
There may be processing timing requirements that are not strictly dependent on the timing of any of the wireless links in.

[Embodiments of an apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 20a-20c]
[Wireless device]
An embodiment of the wireless device 2050 is schematically shown in the block diagram of FIG. 20a. Wireless devices are configured to send uplink signaling messages in wireless communication networks. The wireless device 2050 can connect to the first network element 2000 on at least the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The wireless device 2050 determines a transmission mode among a plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting an uplink signaling message.
Further configured. The candidate transmission modes include transmission on the first wireless link, transmission on the second wireless link, and transmission on both the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The wireless device 2050 is also configured to transmit uplink signaling messages according to a determined transmission mode.

In an embodiment, the wireless device 2050 is the first network element 2.
It may be further configured to receive information indicating at least one of a plurality of candidate transmission modes from 000 and determine the transmission mode based on the received information. The wireless device 2050 may be configured to determine the transmission mode based on criteria for determining the transmission mode. As another option, the wireless device 2050 may be configured to receive a criterion for determining the transmission mode from the first network element 2000.

In another embodiment, the wireless device 2050 is configured to acquire at least one channel quality of the first wireless link and the second wireless link and determine the transmission mode based on the acquired channel quality. By doing so, it may be configured to determine the transmission mode. The acquisition may include at least one of measuring the channel quality and receiving the channel quality from the first network element 2000. In an embodiment, the wireless device 2050 is such that it acquires the channel quality of both the first wireless link and the second wireless link.
Also, based on the channel quality acquired by being configured to determine to send an uplink signaling message on the wireless link with the highest acquired channel quality when the acquired highest channel quality is above a threshold. It may be further configured to determine the transmission mode. If the highest channel quality acquired is below the threshold, the wireless device 2050 is configured to determine to send an uplink signaling message over both the first and second wireless links. Thereby, it may be further configured to determine the transmission mode based on the acquired channel quality.

In an embodiment, the wireless device 2050 is a first wireless link and a second.
Until you decide to send an uplink signaling message on both of your wireless links and receive an acknowledgment of the uplink signaling message on at least one of the first and second wireless links. It may be further configured to determine the transmission mode by being configured to determine to iteratively retransmit the uplink signaling message on both wireless links.

As an alternative, if the wireless device 2050 decides to send an uplink signaling message on the first wireless link and no acknowledgment is received for the uplink signaling message sent on the first wireless link, the first 2
It may be further configured to determine the transmit mode by being configured to determine to resend the uplink signaling message on the wireless link.

In any of the above embodiments, the uplink signaling message may be a measurement report. Moreover, the first wireless link and the second wireless link are
Both may be associated with one RAT, or each may be associated with a different RAT.

For example, the functional separation described above with reference to FIG. 13 may be applied in a plurality of embodiments. In such an embodiment, the network function of servicing the wireless device on the first wireless link is separated between the first network element and the second network element. The network function of servicing the wireless device on the second wireless link is separated between the first network element and the third network element. In the exemplary scenarios of FIGS. 15 and 16, the first
The network element of is equivalent to eNB-a, and the second network element is eN.
It corresponds to B-s1 and the third network element corresponds to eNB-s2. As described above, the network function of the first network element may be an asynchronous network function, and the network function of the second and third network elements may be a synchronous network function. The synchronous network function of the second network element may have processing timing requirements that are strictly dependent on the timing of the first wireless link. The synchronous network function of the third network element may have processing timing requirements that are strictly dependent on the timing of the second wireless link.
Moreover, the asynchronous network function may have processing timing requirements that are not strictly dependent on the timing of either the first wireless link or the second wireless link.

As shown in FIG. 20a, the wireless device 2050 may include a processing circuit 2051 and a memory 2052 in an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless device 2050 may also include a communication interface circuit 2053 configured to communicate with the first network element on the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The communication interface circuit 2053 may include, in embodiments, a transmitter / receiver adapted to communicate wirelessly with the network. The memory 2052 may accommodate instructions that can be executed by the processing circuit 2051, whereby the wireless device 2050 may, as described above, be in transmit mode among a plurality of candidate transmit modes for transmitting uplink signaling messages. It can be actuated to determine. Wireless device 205
0 may also be operational to transmit the uplink signaling message via the communication interface circuit 2053 according to the determined transmission mode.

FIG. 20b shows an embodiment of functional separation. In such an embodiment, the network function servicing the wireless device 2050 on the first wireless link is separated between the first network element 2000 and the second network element 2020. The network function of servicing the wireless device 2050 on the second wireless link is separated between the first network element 2000 and the third network element 2030. Moreover, FIG. 20b shows that the first, second and third network elements 2000, 2020, 2030 may be part of one physical network node 2040. However, any other physical deployment or grouping of network elements is possible. For example, they may all be separate physical nodes, or they may be part of a physical network node that is separate from the first network element but has the same second and third network elements. There may be.

In an alternative approach shown in FIG. 20c to illustrate the embodiment of FIG. 20a, the wireless device 2050 determines the transmit mode among a plurality of candidate transmit modes for transmitting an uplink signaling message. The determination module 2055, which is adapted to be used, may be provided. The candidate transmission modes include transmission on the first wireless link, transmission on the second wireless link, and transmission on both the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The wireless device 2050 may also include a transmission module 2056, adapted to transmit uplink signaling messages according to a determined transmission mode.

In an embodiment, the wireless device 2050 is the first network element 2.
A receiving module adapted to receive information pointing to at least one of a plurality of candidate transmission modes from 000 may also be provided. The determination module 2055 may be adapted to determine the transmission mode based on the received information. In a further embodiment, the determination module 2055 may be adapted to determine the transmission mode based on criteria for determining the transmission mode. As another option, the receiving module
It may be adapted to receive a criterion for determining the transmission mode from the first network element 2000.

In other embodiments, the determination module 2055 is a first wireless link and a second.
It may be adapted to determine the transmission mode by acquiring the channel quality of at least one of the wireless links of the and determining the transmission mode based on the acquired channel quality. The acquisition may include at least one of measuring the channel quality and receiving the channel quality from the first network element 2000. In embodiments, the wireless device 2050 may comprise an acquisition module adapted to acquire the channel quality of both the first and second wireless links, the determination module 2055 being the highest acquired. Fits to determine the transmission mode based on the acquired channel quality by deciding to send an uplink signaling message on the wireless link with the highest acquired channel quality when the channel quality of May be done. If the highest channel quality obtained is below the threshold, the decision module 2055 obtained by deciding to send an uplink signaling message over both the first and second wireless links. It may be adapted to determine the transmission mode based on the channel quality.

In an embodiment, the determination module 2055 determines to transmit an uplink signaling message over both the first and second wireless links, and by determining that the first and second wireless links. The transmission mode is determined by deciding to iteratively resend the uplink signaling message on both wireless links until an acknowledgment of the uplink signaling message is received on at least one of them. May be adapted.

As an alternative, the decision module 2055 decides to send the uplink signaling message on the first wireless link and does not receive an acknowledgment for the uplink signaling message sent on the first wireless link. In some cases, it may be adapted to determine the transmission mode by determining to resend the uplink signaling message on the second wireless link.

In any of the above embodiments, the uplink signaling message may be a measurement report. Moreover, the first wireless link and the second wireless link are
Both may be associated with one RAT, or each may be associated with a different RAT.

The modules described above are functional units that may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof. In one embodiment
These modules are implemented as computer programs running on the processor.

In yet another alternative approach illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 20a, the wireless device 2
050 is a CPU (Central Processing) which can be a single unit or a plurality of units.
Unit) may be included. Moreover, the wireless device 2050 is a non-volatile memory (
For example, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory)
, Flash memory or disk drive) may include at least one computer program product (CPP) with a computer-readable medium. CPP
May include computer programs stored on computer-readable media.
The computer program includes code means that, when run on the CPU of the wireless device 2050, cause the wireless device 2050 to perform the methods previously described in connection with FIGS. 18a-18e. In other words, when the code means are executed on the CPU, they correspond to the processing circuit 2051 of the wireless device 2050 in FIG. 20a.

[Network element]
An embodiment of the first network element 2000 is schematically shown in the block diagram of FIG. 20a. The first network element 2000 is configured to allow the wireless device 2050 to transmit uplink signaling messages in a wireless communication network. In embodiments, the first network element 2000 may be included within the eNodeB of the LTE network. The wireless device 2050 can connect to the first network element 2000 on at least the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The first network element 2000 is further configured to determine at least one transmission mode among the plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting the uplink signaling message. The candidate transmission modes include transmission on the first wireless link, transmission on the second wireless link, and transmission on both the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The above determination is based on the criteria for determining the transmission mode. The first network element 2000 provides information that allows the wireless device 2050 to determine the transmission mode for transmitting the uplink signaling message.
It is also configured to send to 0. The information includes at least one transmitted mode indicator determined.

In embodiments, the first network element 2000 may be configured to transmit information to the wireless device 2050, further including criteria for determining the transmission mode.

Moreover, in the embodiment, the first network element 2000 may be configured to receive an uplink signaling message from the wireless device 2050 according to one of the plurality of candidate transmission modes.

In any of the above embodiments, the uplink signaling message may be a measurement report. Moreover, the first wireless link and the second wireless link are
Both may be associated with one RAT, or each may be associated with a different RAT.

For example, the functional separation described above with reference to FIG. 13 may be applied in a plurality of embodiments. In such an embodiment, the network function of servicing the wireless device on the first wireless link is separated between the first network element and the second network element. The network function of servicing the wireless device on the second wireless link is separated between the first network element and the third network element. In the exemplary scenarios of FIGS. 15 and 16, the first
The network element of is equivalent to eNB-a, and the second network element is eN.
It corresponds to B-s1 and the third network element corresponds to eNB-s2. As described above, the network function of the first network element may be an asynchronous network function, and the network function of the second and third network elements may be a synchronous network function. The synchronous network function of the second network element may have processing timing requirements that are strictly dependent on the timing of the first wireless link. The synchronous network function of the third network element may have processing timing requirements that are strictly dependent on the timing of the second wireless link.
Moreover, the asynchronous network function may have processing timing requirements that are not strictly dependent on the timing of either the first wireless link or the second wireless link.

As shown in FIG. 20a, the first network element 2000 may include a processing circuit 2001 and a memory 2002 in the embodiment of the present invention. The first network element 2000 may also include a communication interface circuit 2003 configured to communicate with the wireless device 2050 over the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The communication interface circuit 2003 may include, in embodiments, a transmitter / receiver adapted to communicate wirelessly with the wireless device 2050. The memory 2002 may contain instructions that can be executed by the processing circuit 2001, thereby the first.
Network element 2000 may be operational to determine at least one transmission mode among a plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting an uplink signaling message. The candidate transmission modes are transmission on the first wireless link and second.
Includes transmission over wireless links, as well as transmissions over both first and second wireless links. The above determination is based on the criteria for determining the transmission mode.

The first network element 2000 may be operational such as transmitting information to the wireless device 2050 that allows the wireless device 2050 to determine a transmission mode for transmitting the uplink signaling message. The information includes at least one transmitted mode indicator determined.

In the alternative approach shown in FIG. 20c to illustrate the first network element, the first network element 2000 is at least one of a plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting an uplink signaling message. A determination module 2005, adapted to determine one transmission mode, may be provided. The candidate transmission modes include transmission on the first wireless link, transmission on the second wireless link, and transmission on both the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The above determination is based on the criteria for determining the transmission mode. First network element 200
0 may also include a transmit module 2006, adapted to transmit information to the wireless device 2050, which allows the wireless device 2050 to determine the transmit mode for transmitting the uplink signaling message. .. The information includes at least one transmitted mode indicator determined.

In embodiments, the transmission module 2006 may be adapted to transmit information to the wireless device 2050, further including criteria for determining the transmission mode. In any of the above embodiments, the uplink signaling message may be a measurement report. Moreover, the first wireless link and the second wireless link may both be associated with one RAT, or each may be associated with a different RAT.

The modules described above are functional units that may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof. In one embodiment
These modules are implemented as computer programs running on the processor.

In yet another alternative approach illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 20a, the first network element 2000 is a CPU (Central P) that can be a single unit or multiple units.
rocessing Unit) may be included. Moreover, the first network element 2000
Is a non-volatile memory (eg EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable)
It may include at least one computer program product (CPP) with a computer-readable medium in the form of Read-Only Memory), flash memory or disk drive). The CPP may include a computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer program being the first network element 200.
Includes code means to cause the first network element 2000 to perform the method previously described in connection with FIG. 19 when executed on CPU 0. In other words, when the code means are executed on the CPU, they correspond to the processing circuit 2001 of the first network element 2000 in FIG. 20a.

The embodiments referred to and described above are given merely as non-limiting examples. Other solutions, uses, purposes and functions may be possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (16)

A method performed on a user device (2050) connected to the network on at least the first wireless link and the second wireless link to send an uplink measurement report message in a wireless dual connectivity communication network.
The transmission mode is determined among the plurality of candidate transmission modes for transmitting the uplink measurement report message, and the plurality of candidate transmission modes are transmission on the first wireless link, the first. To determine (1810), including transmission over two wireless links, and transmission over both the first wireless link and the second wireless link.
A method comprising transmitting the uplink measurement report message according to the determined transmission mode (1820). Receiving information from the network that points to at least one of the plurality of candidate transmission modes (1800).
The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the transmission mode based on the received information (1810). The method of claim 2, wherein the information from the network pointing to at least one of the plurality of candidate transmission modes is received via a radio resource control (RRC) message. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the determination (1810) is based on a criterion for determining a transmission mode. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving the criteria for determining a transmission mode from the network (1805). The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the criterion for determining the transmission mode is a type of measurement report. The criteria for determining the transmission mode are:
With the channel quality of at least one of the first wireless link and the second wireless link,
With a load of at least one of the first wireless link and the second wireless link,
The capabilities of the user device using at least one of the first wireless link and the second wireless link, and
The bearer quality of service associated with the uplink measurement report message,
With the latency of at least one of the first wireless link and the second wireless link,
The transmission mode of the downlink signaling message in which the uplink measurement report message is a response, and
Whether or not the uplink measurement report message is acknowledged
With the use of carrier aggregation on at least one of the first wireless link and the second wireless link,
The speed of the user device (2050) and
The quality of service associated with at least one of the first wireless link and the second wireless link.
A predetermined rule for determining the transmission mode and
With a random selection of at least one of the first wireless link and the second wireless link,
The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, which is related to at least one of. The first wireless link and the second wireless link are both associated with one wireless access technology, or each associated with a different wireless access technology, according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Method. A user device (2050) capable of connecting to the network on at least the first and second wireless links configured to send uplink measurement report messages within a wireless dual connectivity communication network.
The uplink measurement, including transmission over the first wireless link, transmission over the second wireless link, and transmission over both the first and second wireless links. Determine the send mode among multiple candidate send modes for sending report messages
A user device (2050) further configured to transmit the uplink measurement report message according to the determined transmission mode. Receive information from the network that points to at least one of the plurality of candidate transmission modes.
The user device (2050) of claim 9, further configured to determine the transmission mode based on the received information. The user equipment (2050) of claim 10, wherein the information from the network pointing to at least one of the plurality of candidate transmission modes is received via a radio resource control (RRC) message. The user device (2050) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, further configured to determine the transmission mode based on criteria for determining the transmission mode. The user device (2050) of claim 12, further configured to receive the criteria for determining a transmission mode from the network. The user device (2050) according to claim 12 or 13, which is the type of measurement report, said criterion for determining the transmission mode. Obtaining the channel quality of at least one of the first wireless link and the second wireless link,
The transmission mode is determined based on the acquired channel quality.
By being further configured to determine the transmission mode,
The user device according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the acquisition comprises measuring the channel quality and receiving the channel quality from the network. (2050). A computer program comprising a computer-readable code that causes the user device (2050) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 when executed on the user device (2050).

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