Bearer split ratios for dual connectivity systems

• US 9,572,185 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel IP Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Sivanesan, Kathiravetpillai, Koc, Ali, Vannithamby, Rath
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US14/496,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20150085800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4856 resumption being on a different machine, e.g. task migration, virtual machine migration G06F9/5088 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0626 Channel coefficients, e.g. channel state information [CSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/12 by using return channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1607 Details of the supervisory signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/122 by diverting traffic away from congested entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 : by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 : Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/38 : triggered by timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 : between access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Technology for communicating data to a user equipment (UE) is disclosed. Effective data rates may be identified, at a master evolved node B (MeNB), for the UE with respect to the MeNB and a secondary evolved node B (SeNB). A downlink split ratio for bearers of the MeNB and the SeNB to the UE may be determined based in part on the effective data rates for the UE. A first portion of data may be sent from the MeNB to the UE according to the downlink split ratio. A remaining portion of data may be sent from the MeNB to the UE via the SeNB according to the downlink split ratio, wherein the UE supports dual connectivity with the MeNB and the SeNB.

Claims

1. A master evolved node B (MeNB) operable to communicate data to a user equipment (UE), the MeNB comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory device including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

identify effective data rates for the UE, the effective data rates including an effective data rate for an MeNB link between the UE and the MeNB and an effective data rate for a secondary evolved node B (SeNB) link between the UE and the SeNB;

determine a downlink split ratio for bearers of the MeNB and the SeNB to the UE based in part on the effective data rates for the UE;

send a first portion of data from the MeNB to the UE according to the downlink split ratio;

send a remaining portion of data from the MeNB to the UE via the SeNB according to the downlink split ratio, wherein the UE supports dual connectivity with the MeNB and the SeNB;

determine that the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm) plus one of the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs) or a data capacity of an X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx) is less than an internet protocol (IP) data rate to the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer in the MeNB (Ri); and

determine the downlink split ratio to include the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm), wherein data is transmitted from the MeNB to the UE over the MeNB link according to the downlink split ratio.

2. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to identify the effective data rates for the UE based on channel quality indicator (CQI) values received from at least one of the UE or the SeNB, the CQI values including a first CQI value indicating a channel quality for the MeNB link and a second CQI value indicating a channel quality for the SeNB link.

3. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to identify the effective data rates for the UE by exchanging information with the SeNB, the information including at least one of:

the effective data rate for the SeNB link, a packet size or transport block size on the SeNB link, a type of traffic, a capacity of an interface between the MeNB and the SeNB, delay constraints for the interface between the MeNB and the SeNB, end-to-end latency between the MeNB and the UE, acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) latency, scheduled internet protocol (IP) traffic, or a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) buffer status at the UE.

4. The MeNB of claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to exchange the information with the SeNB via an X2 interface.

5. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to calculate a proportional fair (PF) metric using a total offered throughput from the MeNB and the SeNB to the UE to achieve load balancing between the MeNB and the SeNB.

6. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

send a first percentage of packet data unit (PDU) packets from the MeNB directly to the UE according to the downlink split ratio; and

send a second percentage of PDU packets from the MeNB to the UE via the SeNB according to the downlink split ratio.

7. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to semi statically or dynamically share resource blocks (RBs) between the MeNB and the SeNB for downlink (DL) or uplink (UL) traffic for the UE in order to achieve load balancing between the MeNB and the SeNB.

8. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to determine the downlink split ratio at a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer in the MeNB.

9. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

determine the downlink split ratio to include the total effective rate for the SeNB link (Rs) when the data capacity of the X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx) is greater than the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs);

or

determine the downlink split ratio to include the data capacity of the X2 link (Rx) when Rx is less than the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs); and

transmit the data to the UE over the SeNB link according to the downlink split ratio.

10. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

determine that the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm) plus one of the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs) or a data capacity of an X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx) is greater than an internet protocol (IP) data rate to the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer in the MeNB (Ri); and

determine the downlink split ratio to include a data rate proportional to the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm) and one of the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs) or a data capacity of an X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx) from the IP data rate to the PDCP layer in the MeNB (Ri).

11. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

calculate the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm);

calculate the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs);

determine a data capacity of an X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx);

determine an internet protocol (IP) data rate to the packet data;

convergence protocol (PDCP) layer in the MeNB (Ri);

calculate a minimum (min) value of (Rx, Rs); and

transmit data over the MeNB link according to Ri*Rm/(Min(Rx,Rs)+Rm);

or

transmit the data over the SeNB link according to Ri*Min(Rx,Rs)/(Min(Rx,Rs)+Rm).

12. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive a notification at the MeNB when an end-to-end latency threshold is not met for the UE; and

increase a priority level for sending the data to the UE when the end-to-end latency threshold is not met for the UE.

13. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to determine the downlink split ratio when an end-to-end latency threshold is not met for the UE in order to readjust the end-to-end latency.

14. The MeNB of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to periodically determine the downlink split ratio depending on network congestion, radio coverage, link condition, user mobility, or loading of cells.

15. A user equipment (UE) that is configured to support dual connectivity, the UE comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory device including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

send information to at least one of a master evolved node B (MeNB) or a secondary evolved node B (SeNB), wherein the MeNB determines an uplink (UL) split ratio for the UE based in part on the information received from the UE;

receive the uplink split ratio from a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer of the MeNB;

communicate data in the uplink from a PDCP layer in the UE to at least one of the MeNB or the SeNB according to the uplink split ratio, wherein the UE is configured to support dual connectivity with the MeNB and the SeNB;

send information to at least one of the MeNB or the SeNB, wherein the MeNB determines that the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm) plus one of the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs) or a data capacity of an X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx) is less than an internet protocol (IP) data rate to the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer in the MeNB (Ri); and

send information to at least one of the MeNB or the SeNB, wherein the MeNB determines the downlink split ratio to include the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm), wherein data is transmitted from the MeNB to the UE over the MeNB link according to the downlink split ratio.

16. The UE of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to send the information to the MeNB or the SeNB that includes at least one of:

a bandwidth request, traffic type information, or packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) buffer status information for the UE.

17. The UE of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

send a first portion of data from the UE to the MeNB according to the uplink split ratio; and

send a remaining portion of data from the UE to the SeNB according to the uplink split ratio.

18. The UE of claim 16, wherein the UE includes an antenna, a touch sensitive display screen, a speaker, a microphone, a graphics processor, an application processor, an internal memory, or a non-volatile memory port.

19. A method for communicating data to a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

identifying, at a master evolved node B (MeNB), effective data rates for the UE with respect to the MeNB and a secondary evolved node B (SeNB);

determining a downlink split ratio for bearers of the MeNB and the SeNB to the UE based in part on the effective data rates for the UE;

sending a first portion of data from the MeNB to the UE according to the downlink split ratio;

sending a remaining portion of data from the MeNB to the UE via the SeNB according to the downlink split ratio, wherein the UE supports dual connectivity with the MeNB and the SeNB;

determining that the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm) plus one of the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs) or a data capacity of an X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx) is less than an internet protocol (IP) data rate to the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer in the MeNB (Ri); and

determining the downlink split ratio to include the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm), wherein data is transmitted from the MeNB to the UE over the MeNB link according to the downlink split ratio.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the effective data rates include an effective data rate for an MeNB link between the UE and the MeNB and an effective data rate for an SeNB link between the UE and the SeNB.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising identifying the effective data rates for the UE based on channel quality indicator (CQI) values received from at least one of the UE or the SeNB, the CQI values including a first CQI value indicating a channel quality for the MeNB link and a second CQI value indicating a channel quality for the SeNB link.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising identifying the effective data rates for the UE by exchanging information with the SeNB, the information including at least one of:

the effective data rate for the SeNB link, a type of traffic, a capacity of an interface between the MeNB and the SeNB, delay constraints for the interface between the MeNB and the SeNB, end-to-end latency between the MeNB and the UE, acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) latency, scheduled internet protocol (IP) traffic, or a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) buffer status at the UE.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising exchanging the information with the SeNB via an X2 interface.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining the downlink split ratio to include the total effective rate for the SeNB link (Rs) when the data capacity of the X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx) is greater than the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs);

or

determining the downlink split ratio to include the data capacity of the X2 link (Rx) when Rx is less than the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs); and

transmitting the data to the UE over the SeNB link according to the downlink split ratio.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining that the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm) plus one of the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs) or a data capacity of an X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx) is greater than an internet protocol (IP) data rate to the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer in the MeNB (Ri); and

determining the downlink split ratio to include a data rate proportional to the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm) and one of the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs) or a data capacity of an X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx) from the IP data rate to the PDCP layer in the MeNB (Ri).

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

calculating the effective data rate for the MeNB link (Rm);

calculating the effective data rate for the SeNB link (Rs);

determining a data capacity of an X2 link between the MeNB and the SeNB (Rx);

determining an internet protocol (IP) data rate to the packet data;

convergence protocol (PDCP) layer in the MeNB (Ri);

calculating a minimum (min) value of (Rx, Rs); and

transmitting data over the MeNB link according to Ri*Rm/(Min(Rx,Rs)+Rm);

or

transmitting the data over the SeNB link according to Ri*Min(Rx,Rs)/(Min(Rx,Rs)+Rm).

27. At least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions adapted to be executed to implement the method of claim 19.