Techniques to facilitate dual connectivity

• US 9,807,590 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel IP Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Pinheiro, Ana Lucia A., Zhang, Yujian, Yiu, Candy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ebrahim, Anez
• Application Number:
  US14/770,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/56 with provision for simultaneous communication in two directions
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0417 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0452 Multi-user MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0619 using feedback from receiving side feedback signaling for adaptive modulation/coding H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/063 Parameters other than those covered in groups H04B7/0623 - H04B7/0634, e.g. channel matrix rank or transmit mode selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/088 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1864 ARQ related signaling H04L1/1607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2025/03426 transmission using multiple-input and multiple-output channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0204 of multiple channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03305 Joint sequence estimation and interference removal joint detection of several desired signals H04L25/03331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/803 Application aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0051 of dedicated pilots, i.e. pilots destined for a single user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• 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 5/0057 Physical resource allocation for CQI
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0085 : when channel conditions change
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 : using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 : for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 : Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 : Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 : Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 : adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 : adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 : at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 : at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 : according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 : Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 : using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 : Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0226 : based on location or mobility handoff or reselection H04W36/00; mobile application services making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 : Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/082 : among bearers or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 : Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 : for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 : for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0072 : of resource information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 : Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/125 : involving different types of service backbones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 : for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/26 : by agreed or negotiated communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 : based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 : using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 : Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 : the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 : using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 : Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 : Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 : for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 : using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 : adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Examples are disclosed for facilitating dual connectivity for user equipment (UE) in a wireless network. The examples include establishing a backhaul link between base stations serving as primary and secondary cells for separate UE connections to management or gateway entities for the wireless network. The primary base station may provide macro cell coverage for the one or more UEs while the secondary base station may provide small cell coverage. The two base stations may split at least some protocol stack processing for radio bearers associated with the separate UE connections. Control information may be exchanged through the backhaul link to facilitate the split protocol stack processing. Other examples are described and claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor circuit for a small cell evolved Node B (eNB) capable of operating in compliance with one or more 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards including LTE-Advanced (LTE-A);

a backhaul component for execution by the processor circuit to establish a backhaul link with a macro cell eNB via an X2 interface, the backhaul link established for the small cell eNB to serve as a secondary cell for user equipment (UE) while the macro cell eNB serves as a primary cell for the UEs;

a split component for execution by the processor circuit to split protocol stack processing with the macro cell eNB for radio bearers associated with a connection between the UE and an evolved packet core (EPC) such that the small cell eNB is to perform protocol stack processing on a portion of protocol stack layers excluding a protocol data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer; and

a receive component for execution by the processor circuit to receive control information from the macro cell eNB through the backhaul link via the X2 interface to facilitate the protocol stack processing on the portion of protocol stack layers for a first portion of the radio bearers, the control information including a number of PDCP service data units (SDUs) not processed before a re-establishment procedure implemented at the macro cell eNB during a given transmission time interval (TTI).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising the protocol stack layers including the PDCP layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer or a physical (PHY) layer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, comprising the split component to cause the small cell eNB to perform protocol stack processing on the RLC layer, the MAC layer and the PHY layer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising the control information received by the receive component from the macro cell eNB for the first portion of radio bearers for the UE, the control information including a number of PDCP control protocol data units (PDUs) and a number of PDCP PDUs not yet transferred to the RLC layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, comprising the first portion of radio bearers including acknowledgement mode (AM) radio bearers, the PDCP layer protocol stack processing at the macro cell eNB including implementing the re-establishment procedure during the given TTI, the control information also including a number of PDCP PDUs not yet transferred to the RLC layer or not acknowledged as successfully delivered.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, comprising the split component to cause the small cell eNB to perform protocol stack processing on the MAC layer and the PHY layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, comprising the control information received by the receive component from the macro cell eNB for the first portion of radio bearers for the UE, the control information including a number or size of RLC SDUs not yet processed for the RLC layer at the macro cell eNB, an estimate of a number or size of status protocol data units (PDUs) to be transmitted, a number of PDCP control PDUs, a number of PDCP SDUs or a number of PDCP PDUs not yet transferred to the RLC layer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising the first portion of radio bearers including acknowledgement mode (AM) radio bearers, the control information also including a number and size of RLC layer PDUs pending for retransmission.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising the PDCP layer protocol stack processing at the macro cell eNB including implementing the re-establishment procedure during the given TTI, the control information also including a number of PDCP PDUs not yet transferred to the RLC layer or not acknowledged as successfully delivered.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

the backhaul component to establish a second backhaul link with a second macro cell eNB via the X2 interface, the second backhaul link established for the small cell eNB to serve as a secondary cell for a second UE while the second macro cell eNB serves as a primary cell for the second UE;

the split component to cause split protocol stack processing between the small cell eNB and the second macro cell eNB for second radio bearers associated with a second connection between a second UE and the EPC such that the small cell eNB is to perform protocol stack processing on the portion of protocol stack layers that excludes the PDCP layer; and

the receive component to receive second control information from the second macro cell eNB through the second backhaul link via the X2 interface to facilitate the protocol stack processing on the portion of protocol stack layers for a first portion of the second radio bearers.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising the radio bearers associated with the connection between the UE and the EPC include a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) radio bearer, a video streaming radio bearer or a best-effort file transfer radio bearer.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a digital display coupled to the processor circuit to present a user interface view.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing, at a small cell evolved Node B (eNB) capable of operating in compliance with one or more 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards including LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), a backhaul link with a macro cell eNB via an X2 interface, the backhaul link established for the small cell eNB to serve as a secondary cell for one or more user equipment (UEs) while the macro cell eNB serves as a primary cell for the one or more UEs;

splitting protocol stack processing between the small cell eNB and the macro cell eNB for radio bearers associated with a connection between an UE and an evolved packet core (EPC) such that the small cell eNB performs protocol stack processing on a portion of protocol stack layers excluding a protocol data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer; and

receiving control information from the macro cell eNB through the backhaul link via the X2 interface to facilitate the protocol stack processing on the portion of protocol stack layers for a first portion of the radio bearers, the control information including a number of PDCP service data units (SDUs) not processed before a re-establishment procedure implemented at the macro cell eNB during a given transmission time interval (TTI).

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, comprising the protocol stack layers including the PDCP layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, comprising the small cell eNB performs protocol stack processing on the RLC layer, the MAC layer and the PHY layer.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, comprising the small cell eNB performs protocol stack processing on the MAC layer and the PHY layer.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, comprising:

establishing, at the small cell eNB, a second backhaul link with a second macro cell eNB via the X2 interface, the second backhaul link established for the small cell eNB to serve as a secondary cell for at least one UE while the second macro cell eNB serves as a primary cell for the at least one UE;

splitting protocol stack processing between the small cell eNB and the second macro cell eNB for second radio bearers associated with a second connection between a second UE and the EPC such that the small cell eNB performs protocol stack processing on the portion of protocol stack layers that excludes the PDCP layer; and

receiving second control information from the second macro cell eNB through the second backhaul link via the X2 interface to facilitate the protocol stack processing on the portion of protocol stack layers for a first portion of the second radio bearers.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, comprising the radio bearers associated with the connection between the UE and the EPC include a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) radio bearer, a video streaming radio bearer or a best-effort file transfer radio bearer.

19. At least one non-transitory machine readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions that in response to being executed on a system for a macro cell evolved node B (eNB) capable of operating in compliance with one or more or more 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards including LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) causes the system to:

establish a backhaul link with a small cell eNB via an X2 interface, the backhaul link established for the small cell eNB to serve as a secondary cell for one or more user equipment (UEs) while the macro cell eNB serves as a primary cell for the one or more UEs;

split protocol stack processing between the macro cell eNB and the small cell eNB for radio bearers associated with a connection between an UE and an evolved packet core (EPC) such that the macro cell eNB performs protocol stack processing on all protocol stack layers for a first portion of the radio bearers and performs protocol stack processing on a portion of protocol stack layers for a second portion of the radio bearers, the portion of protocol stack layers including a protocol data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer; and

forward control information to the small cell eNB through the backhaul link via the X2 interface to facilitate the small cell eNB performing protocol stack processing on the portion of protocol stack layers for the second portion of radio bearers, the control information including a number of PDCP service data units (SDUs) not processed before a re-establishment procedure implemented during a given transmission time interval (TTI).

20. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 19, comprising the protocol stack layers including the PDCP layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer.

21. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 20, comprising the macro cell eNB to perform protocol stack processing on only the PDCP layer for the second portion of radio bearers.

22. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 21, comprising the control information forwarded to the small cell eNB for the second portion of radio bearers responsive to at least one of a given transmission time interval (TTI), a periodic time period that is static and pre-defined, a periodic time period that is dynamic or an event-based trigger, the control information including a number of PDCP control protocol data units (PDUs), or a number of PDCP PDUs not yet transferred to the RLC layer to be processed at the small cell eNB.

23. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 20, comprising the macro cell eNB to perform protocol stack processing on both the PDCP layer and the RLC layer.

24. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 23, comprising the control information forwarded to the small cell eNB for the second portion of radio bearers responsive to at least one of a given transmission time interval (TTI), a periodic time period that is static and pre-defined, a periodic time period that is dynamic or an event-based trigger, the control information including a number and size of RLC service data units (SDUs) not yet processed by the RLC layer at the macro cell eNB, an estimate of a number and size of status protocol data units (PDUs) to be transmitted, a number of PDCP control PDUs, or a number of PDCP PDUs not yet transferred to the RLC layer.

25. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 19, the instructions to further cause the system to:

split the protocol stack processing between the macro cell eNB and the small cell eNB for second radio bearers associated with a second connection between a second UE and the EPC such that the macro cell eNB performs protocol stack processing on all protocol stack layers for a first portion of the second radio bearers and performs protocol stack processing on a portion of protocol stack layers for a second portion of the second radio bearers, the portion of protocol stack layers including the PDCP layer; and

forward additional control information to the small cell eNB through the backhaul link via the X2 interface to facilitate protocol stack processing by the small cell eNB on the portion of protocol stack layers for the first portion of the second radio bearers.