U.S. patent application number 17/314489 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-26 for inter-distributed unit beam switch triggered by radio link interruption.
The applicant listed for this patent is AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.. Invention is credited to Milap Majmundar, Thomas Novlan.
Application Number | 20210266796 17/314489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005568243 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210266796 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Majmundar; Milap ; et
al. |
August 26, 2021 |
INTER-DISTRIBUTED UNIT BEAM SWITCH TRIGGERED BY RADIO LINK
INTERRUPTION
Abstract
The described technology is generally directed towards
overcoming a radio link interruption event, for example caused in
the mmWave spectrum by a physical blockage between user equipment
and a communications network distributed unit. Described is
executing an inter-distributed unit beam switch in response to a
radio link interruption trigger when no beams are available to
support the user equipment from the distributed unit currently
serving the user equipment. The inter-distributed unit beam switch
may be performed by notifying a flow control process of the radio
link interruption, which can switch to a different distributed unit
such as selected by beam quality measurements.
Inventors: |
Majmundar; Milap; (Austin,
TX) ; Novlan; Thomas; (Austin, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005568243 |
Appl. No.: |
17/314489 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15587388 |
May 4, 2017 |
11032744 |
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17314489 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/0617 20130101;
H04B 7/0602 20130101; H04W 36/06 20130101; H04W 36/305 20180801;
H04W 36/0011 20130101; H04B 7/022 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 36/00 20060101
H04W036/00; H04B 7/022 20060101 H04B007/022; H04B 7/06 20060101
H04B007/06; H04W 36/30 20060101 H04W036/30 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: facilitating, by first network equipment
comprising a processor, establishing a connection with second
network equipment, wherein a user equipment has established dual
connectivity with the first network equipment and the second
network equipment, wherein the connection enables a data flow of
packets to the user equipment via the first network equipment; in
response to detection of a first change in signal strength, as
compared to a threshold, of a signal of the data flow of packets,
generating, by the first network equipment, a report comprising a
first indication that the first change in signal strength is
predicted to be temporary, according to a defined likelihood
criterion; and receiving, by the first network equipment, a second
indication that the second network equipment was selected to
maintain the data flow of packets to the user equipment instead of
the first network equipment.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the report comprises a beam
measurement report communicated to third network equipment.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving of the second
indication comprises, based on the report, receiving the second
indication from the third network equipment, and wherein the third
network equipment selected the second network equipment based on
the report.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the detection of a first change
in signal strength, as compared to the threshold comprises the
detection of a reduction in the signal strength below a threshold
strength value.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the reduction in the signal
strength below the threshold strength value results from an
interruption of the data flow of packets.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal of the data flow of
packets comprises a millimeter wave signal defined in accordance
with a fifth generation network radio access network protocol.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network equipment was
selected based on a number of previous radio link interruptions of
communication between the user equipment and the second network
equipment and a current load being handled by the second network
equipment.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to a
second change in the signal strength, as compared to the threshold,
of the signal of the data flow of packets, receiving, by the first
network equipment, a third indication that the data flow of packets
to the user equipment, via the first network equipment, has been
restored.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second indication is received
by utilizing a data link layer control protocol.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second indication comprises
radio link interruption indication, and wherein the data link layer
control protocol comprises a multiple connectivity data link layer
flow control protocol.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network equipment
comprises master next generation node B equipment.
12. First network equipment, comprising: a processor; and a memory
that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the
processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
establishing a connection with second network equipment, wherein a
user equipment has established dual connectivity with the first
network equipment and the second network equipment, resulting in a
data flow of packets to the user equipment via the second network
equipment, and receiving an indication that the first network
equipment was selected to maintain the data flow of packets to the
user equipment after a change in signal strength, as compared to a
threshold, of a signal of the data flow of packets, wherein the
change in signal strength was predicted to revert to the signal
strength before the change according to a defined likelihood
criterion.
13. The first network equipment of claim 12, wherein the indication
is received from third network equipment, and wherein the first
network equipment was selected to maintain the data flow of packets
by the third network equipment based on a beam measurement report
generated by the second network equipment in response to the change
in signal strength.
14. The first network equipment of claim 12, wherein the first
network equipment was selected to maintain the data flow of packets
based on a number of previous radio link interruptions of
communication between the user equipment and the first network
equipment.
15. The first network equipment of claim 12, wherein the signal of
the data flow of packets comprises a millimeter wave signal
generated in accordance with a fifth generation network radio
access network protocol.
16. The first network equipment of claim 12, wherein the data flow
of packets to the user equipment is maintained by the first network
equipment by utilizing a data link layer control protocol.
17. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable
instructions that, when executed by a first secondary node device,
facilitate performance of operations, comprising: establishing a
connection with a second secondary node device, wherein a network
device has established dual connectivity with the first secondary
node device and the second secondary node device, resulting in a
data flow to the network device via the first secondary node
device; generating a beam measurement report comprising an
indication that a change in signal strength of a signal of the data
flow, as compared to a threshold value, is predicted not to last
longer than a defined period of time according to a defined
likelihood criterion; and based on a second indication received
according to a flow control protocol, that the second secondary
node device was selected to maintain the data flow to the network
device, stopping the data flow to the network device, wherein the
second secondary node device was selected based on the beam
measurement report.
18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein
the flow control protocol comprises a data link layer flow control
protocol.
19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein
the signal of the data flow comprises a millimeter wave signal.
20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein
the second secondary node device was selected to maintain the data
flow based on previous radio link signal changes of communication
with the network device.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The subject patent application is a continuation of, and
claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/587,388,
filed May 4, 2017, and entitled "INTER-DISTRIBUTED UNIT BEAM SWITCH
PROCEDURE TRIGGERED BY RADIO LINK INTERRUPTION," the entirety of
which application is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] New radio (NR) networks such as fifth generation (5G) NR
networks are designed for deployment in the radio frequency
spectrum between 30 GHz and 300 GHz, referred to as the millimeter
wave (mmWave) spectrum. Unlike other mobile communication frequency
ranges, in the mmWave spectrum, the beam pair between the network
(via a distributed unit) and the user equipment may experience a
blockage, such as due to a physical obstruction, which interrupts
their communication. Such an interruption is typically temporary,
and is referred to herein as a radio link interruption.
[0003] Contemporary procedures switch from one distributed unit to
another via a full radio resource control level (layer 3) handoff
(also referred to as a handover). Such procedures do not take into
account the relatively newly observed phenomenon of radio link
interruptions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The technology described herein is illustrated by way of
example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like
reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is an example block diagram representation of a user
equipment communicating with a distributed unit of a group of
distributed units coupled to a central unit of a core
communications network, according to one or more example
implementations.
[0006] FIG. 2 is an example block diagram representation of a radio
link interruption blocking communication between the user equipment
and a distributed unit, according to one or more example
implementations.
[0007] FIG. 3 is an example graphical representation representing a
drop in signal level as a result of a radio link interruption,
according to one or more example implementations.
[0008] FIG. 4 is an example block diagram representation of a user
equipment communicating with a switched to beam of a selected
target distributed unit, to avoid the radio link interruption,
according to one or more example implementations.
[0009] FIGS. 5 and 6 are example block diagram representations
showing other aspects of inter-distributed unit beam switching,
according to one or more example implementations
[0010] FIG. 7A is an example flow diagram representation of
reporting a radio link interruption from a distributed unit to a
central unit, according to one or more example implementations.
[0011] FIG. 7B is an example flow diagram representation of
reporting restoration of a quality beam following a radio link
interruption from a distributed unit to a central unit, according
to one or more example implementations.
[0012] FIG. 8 is an example flow diagram representation of
inter-distributed unit switching procedure in response to a radio
link interruption trigger, according to one or more example
implementations.
[0013] FIG. 9 is an example flow diagram representation of
operations that may be taken in response to restoration from a
radio link interruption event, according to one or more example
implementations.
[0014] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example implementation of a
mobile network platform to implement and exploit various features
or aspects of the subject disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of a computing system
operable to execute the disclosed systems and methods in accordance
with an implementation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Briefly, one or more aspects of the technology described
herein are generally directed towards receiving, by a communication
network device of a communications network and comprising a
processor, information corresponding to a radio link interruption
of a communication of data flow packets between a user equipment
and a first distributed unit of distributed units of the
communications network. In response to the receiving the
information corresponding to the radio link interruption, aspects
include executing, by the communication network device, an
inter-distributed unit beam switch, comprising determining a target
distributed unit of the distributed units based on a selection
criterion, wherein the target distributed unit is different from
the first distributed unit, and facilitating communicating the data
flow packets between the user equipment and the target distributed
unit.
[0017] In this regard, various aspects of the technology described
herein are generally directed towards a mobility solution for
inter-distributed unit switching that takes into account radio link
interruption events that correspond to signal blockages in the
mmWave spectrum. In one or more implementations, the
inter-distributed unit switch solution comprises a procedure which,
in general, operates upon a detected radio link interruption event
being detected by a distributed unit and reported to a central unit
coupled to the distributed unit and other distributed units. The
reported event indicates the request for (that is, the event
triggers) an inter-distributed unit beam switch.
[0018] To switch the beams, the central unit selects a target
distributed unit based on at least one selection criterion, such as
beam measurements reported by the user equipment. After determining
the target distributed unit, the central unit checks whether there
is dual/multi-connectivity (for brevity, generally referred to
herein as "multiple connectivity" or "multi-connectivity"--which
includes dual connectivity as well as more than dual connectivity)
for this user equipment already established with the target
distributed unit. If multiple connectivity is not already
established, then the central unit initiates a standard secondary
node (SgNB) addition procedure (SgNB addition) as specified by 3GPP
standards to establish connectivity with the target distributed
unit. Once multiple connectivity is established with the target
distributed unit, a multiple connectivity flow control process
(e.g., comprising an algorithm) can stop sending packets to the
"old" distributed unit and switch the data flow to the target
distributed unit.
[0019] If instead multiple connectivity is already established
between a set of distributed units, when there is a radio link
interruption event, the inter-distributed unit switch procedure
relies on the multiple connectivity flow control process. As a
result, a distributed unit switch can be potentially much faster
relative to other switching procedures. More particularly, the
operation of a flow control process 106 at the PDCP layer splits
the data bearer across the master node B (MgNB) and secondary gNBs
(SgNBs). Other flow control algorithms for dual/multi connectivity
may require the SgNB to feed back information to the MgNB regarding
SgNB buffer status, SgNB UE throughput, and the like. In
mmWave-based networks, when there is inter-distributed unit
mobility as described herein, the flow control process may consider
one or more of the following additional factors, including the
radio link interruption report sent from the secondary node (SgNB)
to the master node (MgNB), the beam quality of beams measured and
reported by the user equipment for the distributed units in the
multi-connectivity set for the user equipment, and/or beam quality
restoration indications sent from a distributed unit in the
multi-connectivity set.
[0020] As will be understood, the technology described herein
enables a layer-2 based mobility procedure that may be faster than
a traditional layer-3 based mobility procedure. The technology
described herein takes into account radio link interruption events
that are experienced in mmWave spectrum-based mobile networks. The
technology described herein considers the addition or deletion of
distributed units in a user equipment's dual/multi-connectivity set
in response to radio link interruption indication/report and beam
restoration indication. The technology described herein provides
enhancements to conventional dual/multi-connectivity flow control
algorithms by taking into account radio link interruption
indication, beam quality, and beam restoration indication.
[0021] It should be understood that any of the examples herein are
non-limiting. For instance, the examples are based on mmWave
spectrum communications between a user equipment exemplified as a
smartphone or the like and communications network device; however
virtually any communications devices may benefit from the
technology described herein, and/or their use in different
spectrums may likewise benefit. Thus, any of the embodiments,
aspects, concepts, structures, functionalities or examples
described herein are non-limiting, and the technology may be used
in various ways that provide benefits and advantages in radio
communications in general.
[0022] FIG. 1 generally shows a core communications network 102
that is coupled to one or more network devices comprising central
units 104(1)-104(m), also referred to as master nodes. For purposes
of explanation, operations and structure of the central unit 104(1)
are described, and it is understood that other central units may
operate similarly. In FIG. 1, the central unit 104(1) runs a flow
control process 106 (e.g., including a flow control algorithm).
[0023] In FIG. 1, the central unit 104(1) is communicatively
coupled to a group of distributed units 108(1)-108(n), also
referred to as secondary nodes. A user equipment (UE) 110 (e.g., a
smartphone) is shown as communicating data packets 112 with the
communications network via the distributed unit 108(1). The user
equipment 110 also sends beam quality reports 114 to the
distributed unit 108(1), generally including beam quality reports
of other distributed units, including those not being used for data
communication. Copies 116 or the like of these beam quality reports
are sent to the central unit 104(1)/the flow control process
106.
[0024] As generally represented in FIG. 2, a blockage 220 such as a
physical obstruction may cause a radio link interruption event.
When this occurs, the distributed node 108(1), which was actively
communicating with the user equipment 110, detects the radio link
interruption event and sends a radio link interruption report 222
to the central unit 104/flow control process 106.
[0025] More particularly, as generally represented in FIG. 3,
sudden sharp drops in signal strength (E.G., on the order of 30 dB)
may occur, typically due to physical objects blocking the link
between the user equipment-to-transmit receive point (TRP) of a
distributed unit. As is known, a "beam failure event" occurs when
the quality of beam pair link(s) of an associated control channel
(e.g., NR-PDCCH) falls low enough, such as based on a comparison
with a threshold, and/or time-out of an associated timer. When a
radio link related failure event is a blockage-based beam failure
event, this is referred to herein as a radio link interruption
(RLI) event, to represent the fact that in a blockage-based beam
failure event, the beam quality is typically `interrupted` for a
relatively short period of time, and is eventually restored after
the blockage event is over, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0026] An RLI event cannot be detected directly by beam failure
(BF) or traditional radio link failure (RLF) procedures. However,
if fast beam switching mechanisms are in place as part of normal
beam management procedures, a user equipment may not need to
directly detect that it is experiencing a radio link interruption
event. This is generally because at the beginning of a radio link
interruption event, when a user equipment detects beam failure, the
user equipment possibly may trigger an attempt to switch beams.
This can result in a situation in which there is an available beam
from the same TRP, whereby it may be possible to execute an
intra-TRP beam switch. However this is often not the case with a
blockage event. Handover is another possibility, but this is
relatively slow.
[0027] Thus, described herein is a technology to handle beam
failure/radio link interruption events between multiple distributed
units under a multi-connectivity framework involving mobility
faster than handover. The technology described herein provides a
procedure for executing an inter-distributed unit beam switch in
response to a radio link interruption trigger when no beams are
available to support the user equipment from the current serving
distributed unit. To this end, as generally represented in FIGS. 2
and 4, when the serving beam to the distributed unit 108(1) fails
causing a radio link interruption trigger, and no other beam is
available from the distributed unit 108(1), switching to a beam
that is available via a different distributed unit is performed,
shown as the distributed unit 108(2) in FIG. 4, communicating data
packets 412. Note that beam quality reports are similarly sent by
the user equipment 110 to the central unit 104 via the distributed
unit 108(2), but are not shown in FIG. 4 for purposes of
clarity.
[0028] FIGS. 5 and 6 exemplify alternative representation of such a
radio link interruption and switch procedure, showing additional
features such as the RLC, MAC and PHY layers in the distributed
units and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) in the
central unit 104. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the beams are represented by
ovals between the distributed units and the user equipment 110,
with the crossed-out oval representing the radio link interruption
condition.
[0029] In FIG. 6, the user equipment is communicating via the
distributed unit 108(1), that is, being served by secondary node
SgNB1, as represented by the circled numeral one. This results in
secondary node feedback to the central unit represented by numeral
two, and data to the distributed unit represented by numeral three.
When a radio link interruption event occurs, the feedback indicates
this condition, as represented by the circled numeral four; (in
other words, SgNB1 experiences RLI and sends an RLI report to MgNB,
which provides an RLI indication to the flow control process).
[0030] A switch over occurs to the distributed unit 108(2) as
described herein and as represented in FIG. 6 by circled numerals
five through seven. More particularly, the flow control process
stops sending data packets to the blocked secondary node, SgNB1,
selects a new secondary node (e.g., SgNB2 based on measurements) as
the target DU, and diverts data packets to SgNB2. The above
operations can be generalized for a subset of n SgNBs
[0031] FIG. 7A represents example operations of a distributed unit,
exemplified as steps, when a radio link interruption event is
detected, as represented by step 702. When this occurs, step 704
sends a radio link interruption report to the central unit.
[0032] When received, an inter-distributed unit beam switch may be
executed using the operations generally exemplified as steps in
FIG. 8. Step 802 represents receiving the radio link interruption
(RLI) report. Step 804 selects a target distributed unit (DU) based
on selection criterion or criteria. Typically the selection
criterion is based on the reported beam measurements, but may also
include concepts such as previous radio link interruptions, current
load being handled by a distributed unit, and other
considerations.
[0033] After selecting the target distributed unit, the central
unit checks at step 806 whether there is multiple connectivity
(that is, dual/multi-connectivity) for this user equipment already
established with the target distributed unit. If multiple
connectivity is not already established, then at step 808 the
central unit initiates a secondary node addition procedure, such as
the standard SgNB addition as specified by 3GPP standards. Once
multiple connectivity is established with the target distributed
unit, the dual/multi-connectivity flow control process can stop
sending packets to the old distributed unit (step 812) and switch
the data flow to the target distributed unit (step 814).
[0034] If instead at step 806 multiple connectivity is already
established between a set of distributed units, the
inter-distributed unit switch procedure relies on the dual/multi
connectivity flow control process to make the switch. To this end,
to expedite the switch, step 810 provides a radio link interruption
indication to the dual/multi connectivity flow control process,
whereby the process may operate virtually immediately and such a
distributed unit switch is potentially much faster than other
switching procedures.
[0035] Turning to another aspect, beam quality restoration refers
to a situation in which the beam switch has been completed, and
subsequently the radio link interruption event has ended, whereby
the beam quality of the beam from the original distributed unit is
restored. It is possible that the current beam measurements reports
may indicate better beam quality for the beam from the distributed
unit 108(1), for example. Such a restoration of beam quality from a
distributed unit that is in a user equipment's multi-connectivity
set may be indicated by the distributed unit to the central
unit/master node (MgNB) as part of its feedback to the central
unit, as generally represented by steps 712 and 714 of FIG. 7B.
[0036] FIG. 9 represents such a restoration procedure's operations,
beginning at step 902 where the report of restored beam quality is
received. At step 904, a restoration indication is provided to the
multiple connectivity flow control process. Step 906 represents
determining whether to add the restored distributed unit to the
user equipment's multi-connectivity set. If not, step 906 branches
to step 914 where the flow control process operates in a typical
manner to decide and use one or more distributed units for
communicating with the user equipment.
[0037] If instead step 906 decides to add the restored distributed
unit, step 908 evaluates for a situation in which there is a
limited size to the user equipment connectivity set. More
particularly, the user equipment may have certain capability
restrictions related to the number of distributed units with which
it can simultaneously maintain multi-connectivity. Steps 908, 910
and 912 take such user equipment capability into account while
determining whether to add a distributed unit to the
multi-connectivity set. That is, a restored distributed unit may be
added or not (steps 906 and 912), and if to be added and the set is
full, and other distributed may be dropped from the
multi-connectivity set (steps 908 and 910).
[0038] In this way, based on this beam restoration indication from
the original distributed unit, the multi-connectivity flow control
process may dynamically switch the data flow back to the
distributed 108(1). Alternatively, because step 914 allows the flow
control process to operate as configured with respect to
distributed unit selection, the process instead may decide to split
the data flow between distributed units for up to n distributed
units, such as based on any number of criterion including, but not
limited to, relative quality of beams, history of radio link
interruption reports, load and capability of distributed units, and
so forth.
[0039] FIG. 10 presents an example embodiment 1000 of a mobile
network platform 1010 that can implement and exploit one or more
aspects of the disclosed subject matter described herein.
Generally, wireless network platform 1010 can include components,
e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms,
that facilitate both packet-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol
(IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) and
circuit-switched (CS) traffic (e.g., voice and data), as well as
control generation for networked wireless telecommunication. As a
non-limiting example, wireless network platform 1010 can be
included in telecommunications carrier networks, and can be
considered carrier-side components as discussed elsewhere herein.
Mobile network platform 1010 includes CS gateway node(s) 1012 which
can interface CS traffic received from legacy networks like
telephony network(s) 1040 (e.g., public switched telephone network
(PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN)) or a signaling system
#7 (SS7) network 1070. Circuit switched gateway node(s) 1012 can
authorize and authenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from such
networks. Additionally, CS gateway node(s) 1012 can access
mobility, or roaming, data generated through SS7 network 1070; for
instance, mobility data stored in a visited location register
(VLR), which can reside in memory 1030. Moreover, CS gateway
node(s) 1012 interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling and PS
gateway node(s) 1018. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, CS
gateway node(s) 1012 can be realized at least in part in gateway
GPRS support node(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated that
functionality and specific operation of CS gateway node(s) 1012, PS
gateway node(s) 1018, and serving node(s) 1016, is provided and
dictated by radio technology(ies) utilized by mobile network
platform 1010 for telecommunication.
[0040] In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic
and signaling, PS gateway node(s) 1018 can authorize and
authenticate PS-based data sessions with served mobile devices.
Data sessions can include traffic, or content(s), exchanged with
networks external to the wireless network platform 1010, like wide
area network(s) (WANs) 1050, enterprise network(s) 1070, and
service network(s) 1080, which can be embodied in local area
network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced with mobile network
platform 1010 through PS gateway node(s) 1018. It is to be noted
that WANs 1050 and enterprise network(s) 1060 can embody, at least
in part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS).
Based on radio technology layer(s) available in technology
resource(s) 1017, packet-switched gateway node(s) 1018 can generate
packet data protocol contexts when a data session is established;
other data structures that facilitate routing of packetized data
also can be generated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway
node(s) 1018 can include a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel
termination gateway (TTG) in 3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown))
which can facilitate packetized communication with disparate
wireless network(s), such as Wi-Fi networks.
[0041] In embodiment 1000, wireless network platform 1010 also
includes serving node(s) 1016 that, based upon available radio
technology layer(s) within technology resource(s) 1017, convey the
various packetized flows of data streams received through PS
gateway node(s) 1018. It is to be noted that for technology
resource(s) 1017 that rely primarily on CS communication, server
node(s) can deliver traffic without reliance on PS gateway node(s)
1018; for example, server node(s) can embody at least in part a
mobile switching center. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network,
serving node(s) 1016 can be embodied in serving GPRS support
node(s) (SGSN).
[0042] For radio technologies that exploit packetized
communication, server(s) 1014 in wireless network platform 1010 can
execute numerous applications that can generate multiple disparate
packetized data streams or flows, and manage (e.g., schedule,
queue, format . . . ) such flows. Such application(s) can include
add-on features to standard services (for example, provisioning,
billing, customer support . . . ) provided by wireless network
platform 1010. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that are part of a
voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gateway node(s)
1018 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a data
session, and to serving node(s) 1016 for communication thereafter.
In addition to application server, server(s) 1014 can include
utility server(s), a utility server can include a provisioning
server, an operations and maintenance server, a security server
that can implement at least in part a certificate authority and
firewalls as well as other security mechanisms, and the like. In an
aspect, security server(s) secure communication served through
wireless network platform 1010 to ensure network's operation and
data integrity in addition to authorization and authentication
procedures that CS gateway node(s) 1012 and PS gateway node(s) 1018
can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s) can provision services
from external network(s) like networks operated by a disparate
service provider; for instance, WAN 1050 or Global Positioning
System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s) can
also provision coverage through networks associated to wireless
network platform 1010 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same
service provider), such as femto-cell network(s) (not shown) that
enhance wireless service coverage within indoor confined spaces and
offload radio access network resources in order to enhance
subscriber service experience within a home or business environment
by way of UE 1075.
[0043] It is to be noted that server(s) 1014 can include one or
more processors configured to confer at least in part the
functionality of macro network platform 1010. To that end, the one
or more processor can execute code instructions stored in memory
1030, for example. It is should be appreciated that server(s) 1014
can include a content manager 1015, which operates in substantially
the same manner as described hereinbefore.
[0044] In example embodiment 1000, memory 1030 can store
information related to operation of wireless network platform 1010.
Other operational information can include provisioning information
of mobile devices served through wireless platform network 1010,
subscriber databases; application intelligence, pricing schemes,
e.g., promotional rates, flat-rate programs, couponing campaigns;
technical specification(s) consistent with telecommunication
protocols for operation of disparate radio, or wireless, technology
layers; and so forth. Memory 1030 can also store information from
at least one of telephony network(s) 1040, WAN 1050, enterprise
network(s) 1060, or SS7 network 1070. In an aspect, memory 1030 can
be, for example, accessed as part of a data store component or as a
remotely connected memory store.
[0045] The techniques described herein can be applied to any device
or set of devices (machines) capable of running programs and
processes. It can be understood, therefore, that servers including
physical and/or virtual machines, personal computers, laptops,
handheld, portable and other computing devices and computing
objects of all kinds including cell phones, tablet/slate computers,
gaming/entertainment consoles and the like are contemplated for use
in connection with various implementations including those
exemplified herein. Accordingly, the general purpose computing
mechanism described below with reference to FIG. 11 is but one
example of a computing device.
[0046] In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the
disclosed subject matter, FIG. 11 and the following discussion, are
intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable
environment in which the various aspects of the disclosed subject
matter can be implemented. While the subject matter has been
described above in the general context of computer-executable
instructions of a computer program that runs on a computer and/or
computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination
with other program modules. Generally, program modules include
routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform
particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract data
types.
[0047] In the subject specification, terms such as "store,"
"storage," "data store," data storage," "database," and
substantially any other information storage component relevant to
operation and functionality of a component, refer to "memory
components," or entities embodied in a "memory" or components
comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory
components described herein can be either volatile memory or
nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile
memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatile memory
1120 (see below), non-volatile memory 1122 (see below), disk
storage 1124 (see below), and memory storage 1146 (see below).
Further, nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory
(ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM
(EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory.
Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts
as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not
limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM
(SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data
rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM
(SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the
disclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are
intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising, these
and any other suitable types of memory.
[0048] Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter
can be practiced with other computer system configurations,
including single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems,
mini-computing devices, mainframe computers, as well as personal
computers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, watch,
tablet computers, netbook computers, . . . ), microprocessor-based
or programmable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like.
The illustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed
computing environments where tasks are performed by remote
processing devices that are linked through a communications
network; however, some if not all aspects of the subject disclosure
can be practiced on stand-alone computers. In a distributed
computing environment, program modules can be located in both local
and remote memory storage devices.
[0049] FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of a computing system
1100 operable to execute the disclosed systems and methods in
accordance with an embodiment. Computer 1112, which can be, for
example, part of the hardware of system 110, includes a processing
unit 1114, a system memory 1116, and a system bus 1118. System bus
1118 couples system components including, but not limited to,
system memory 1116 to processing unit 1114. Processing unit 1114
can be any of various available processors. Dual microprocessors
and other multiprocessor architectures also can be employed as
processing unit 1114.
[0050] System bus 1118 can be any of several types of bus
structure(s) including a memory bus or a memory controller, a
peripheral bus or an external bus, and/or a local bus using any
variety of available bus architectures including, but not limited
to, Industrial Standard Architecture (ISA), Micro-Channel
Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA (EISA), Intelligent Drive
Electronics, VESA Local Bus (VLB), Peripheral Component
Interconnect (PCI), Card Bus, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Advanced
Graphics Port (AGP), Personal Computer Memory Card International
Association bus (PCMCIA), Firewire (IEEE 1194), and Small Computer
Systems Interface (SCSI).
[0051] System memory 1116 can include volatile memory 1120 and
nonvolatile memory 1122. A basic input/output system (BIOS),
containing routines to transfer information between elements within
computer 1112, such as during start-up, can be stored in
nonvolatile memory 1122. By way of illustration, and not
limitation, nonvolatile memory 1122 can include ROM, PROM, EPROM,
EEPROM, or flash memory. Volatile memory 1120 includes RAM, which
acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not
limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as SRAM, dynamic
RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR
SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), Rambus
direct RAM (RDRAM), direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), and Rambus
dynamic RAM (RDRAM).
[0052] Computer 1112 can also include removable/non-removable,
volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. FIG. 11 illustrates,
for example, disk storage 1124. Disk storage 1124 includes, but is
not limited to, devices like a magnetic disk drive, floppy disk
drive, tape drive, flash memory card, or memory stick. In addition,
disk storage 1124 can include storage media separately or in
combination with other storage media including, but not limited to,
an optical disk drive such as a compact disk ROM device (CD-ROM),
CD recordable drive (CD-R Drive), CD rewritable drive (CD-RW Drive)
or a digital versatile disk ROM drive (DVD-ROM). To facilitate
connection of the disk storage devices 1124 to system bus 1118, a
removable or non-removable interface is typically used, such as
interface 1126.
[0053] Computing devices typically include a variety of media,
which can include computer-readable storage media or communications
media, which two terms are used herein differently from one another
as follows.
[0054] Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage
media that can be accessed by the computer and includes both
volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media.
By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable storage
media can be implemented in connection with any method or
technology for storage of information such as computer-readable
instructions, program modules, structured data, or unstructured
data. Computer-readable storage media can include, but are not
limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory
technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical
disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk
storage or other magnetic storage devices, or other tangible media
which can be used to store desired information. In this regard, the
term "tangible" herein as may be applied to storage, memory or
computer-readable media, is to be understood to exclude only
propagating intangible signals per se as a modifier and does not
relinquish coverage of all standard storage, memory or
computer-readable media that are not only propagating intangible
signals per se. In an aspect, tangible media can include
non-transitory media wherein the term "non-transitory" herein as
may be applied to storage, memory or computer-readable media, is to
be understood to exclude only propagating transitory signals per se
as a modifier and does not relinquish coverage of all standard
storage, memory or computer-readable media that are not only
propagating transitory signals per se. For the avoidance of doubt,
the term "computer-readable storage device" is used and defined
herein to exclude transitory media. Computer-readable storage media
can be accessed by one or more local or remote computing devices,
e.g., via access requests, queries or other data retrieval
protocols, for a variety of operations with respect to the
information stored by the medium.
[0055] Communications media typically embody computer-readable
instructions, data structures, program modules or other structured
or unstructured data in a data signal such as a modulated data
signal, e.g., a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and
includes any information delivery or transport media. The term
"modulated data signal" or signals refers to a signal that has one
or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as
to encode information in one or more signals. By way of example,
and not limitation, communication media include wired media, such
as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media
such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.
[0056] It can be noted that FIG. 11 describes software that acts as
an intermediary between users and computer resources described in
suitable operating environment 1100. Such software includes an
operating system 1128. Operating system 1128, which can be stored
on disk storage 1124, acts to control and allocate resources of
computer system 1112. System applications 1130 take advantage of
the management of resources by operating system 1128 through
program modules 1132 and program data 1134 stored either in system
memory 1116 or on disk storage 1124. It is to be noted that the
disclosed subject matter can be implemented with various operating
systems or combinations of operating systems.
[0057] A user can enter commands or information into computer 1112
through input device(s) 1136. As an example, mobile device 112
and/or portable device 114 can include a user interface embodied in
a touch sensitive display panel allowing a user to interact with
computer 1112. Input devices 1136 include, but are not limited to,
a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad,
keyboard, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner,
TV tuner card, digital camera, digital video camera, web camera,
cell phone, smartphone, tablet computer, etc. These and other input
devices connect to processing unit 1114 through system bus 1118 by
way of interface port(s) 1138. Interface port(s) 1138 include, for
example, a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, a universal
serial bus (USB), an infrared port, a Bluetooth port, an IP port,
or a logical port associated with a wireless service, etc. Output
device(s) 1140 use some of the same type of ports as input
device(s) 1136.
[0058] Thus, for example, a USB port can be used to provide input
to computer 1112 and to output information from computer 1112 to an
output device 1140. Output adapter 1142 is provided to illustrate
that there are some output devices 1140 like monitors, speakers,
and printers, among other output devices 1140, which use special
adapters. Output adapters 1142 include, by way of illustration and
not limitation, video and sound cards that provide means of
connection between output device 1140 and system bus 1118. It
should be noted that other devices and/or systems of devices
provide both input and output capabilities such as remote
computer(s) 1144.
[0059] Computer 1112 can operate in a networked environment using
logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as remote
computer(s) 1144. Remote computer(s) 1144 can be a personal
computer, a server, a router, a network PC, cloud storage, cloud
service, a workstation, a microprocessor based appliance, a peer
device, or other common network node and the like, and typically
includes many or all of the elements described relative to computer
1112.
[0060] For purposes of brevity, only a memory storage device 1146
is illustrated with remote computer(s) 1144. Remote computer(s)
1144 is logically connected to computer 1112 through a network
interface 1148 and then physically connected by way of
communication connection 1150. Network interface 1148 encompasses
wire and/or wireless communication networks such as local-area
networks (LAN) and wide-area networks (WAN). LAN technologies
include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Copper Distributed
Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet, Token Ring and the like. WAN
technologies include, but are not limited to, point-to-point links,
circuit-switching networks like Integrated Services Digital
Networks (ISDN) and variations thereon, packet switching networks,
and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL). As noted below, wireless
technologies may be used in addition to or in place of the
foregoing.
[0061] Communication connection(s) 1150 refer(s) to
hardware/software employed to connect network interface 1148 to bus
1118. While communication connection 1150 is shown for illustrative
clarity inside computer 1112, it can also be external to computer
1112. The hardware/software for connection to network interface
1148 can include, for example, internal and external technologies
such as modems, including regular telephone grade modems, cable
modems and DSL modems, ISDN adapters, and Ethernet cards.
[0062] The above description of illustrated embodiments of the
subject disclosure, including what is described in the Abstract, is
not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments
to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments and
examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various
modifications are possible that are considered within the scope of
such embodiments and examples, as those skilled in the relevant art
can recognize.
[0063] In this regard, while the disclosed subject matter has been
described in connection with various embodiments and corresponding
Figures, where applicable, it is to be understood that other
similar embodiments can be used or modifications and additions can
be made to the described embodiments for performing the same,
similar, alternative, or substitute function of the disclosed
subject matter without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the
disclosed subject matter should not be limited to any single
embodiment described herein, but rather should be construed in
breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims below.
[0064] As it employed in the subject specification, the term
"processor" can refer to substantially any computing processing
unit or device comprising, but not limited to comprising,
single-core processors; single-processors with software multithread
execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-core processors
with software multithread execution capability; multi-core
processors with hardware multithread technology; parallel
platforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory.
Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal
processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a
programmable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic
device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete
hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform
the functions described herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale
architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and
quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to
optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A
processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing
processing units.
[0065] In the subject specification, terms such as "store,"
"storage," "data store," data storage," "database," and
substantially any other information storage component relevant to
operation and functionality of a component, refer to "memory
components," or entities embodied in a "memory" or components
comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory
components described herein can be either volatile memory or
nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile
memory.
[0066] As used in this application, the terms "component,"
"system," "platform," "layer," "selector," "interface," and the
like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity or an
entity related to an operational apparatus with one or more
specific functionalities, wherein the entity can be either
hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or
software in execution. As an example, a component may be, but is
not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a
processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a
program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration and not
limitation, both an application running on a server and the server
can be a component. One or more components may reside within a
process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized
on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers.
In addition, these components can execute from various computer
readable media, device readable storage devices, or machine
readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The
components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such
as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets
(e.g., data from one component interacting with another component
in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such
as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As another
example, a component can be an apparatus with specific
functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric or
electronic circuitry, which is operated by a software or firmware
application executed by a processor, wherein the processor can be
internal or external to the apparatus and executes at least a part
of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, a
component can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality
through electronic components without mechanical parts, the
electronic components can include a processor therein to execute
software or firmware that confers at least in part the
functionality of the electronic components.
[0067] In addition, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive
"or" rather than an exclusive "or." That is, unless specified
otherwise, or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is intended to
mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X
employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then "X employs
A or B" is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances.
Moreover, articles "a" and "an" as used in the subject
specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to
mean "one or more" unless specified otherwise or clear from context
to be directed to a singular form.
[0068] Moreover, terms like "user equipment (UE)," "mobile
station," "mobile," subscriber station," "subscriber equipment,"
"access terminal," "terminal," "handset," and similar terminology,
refer to a wireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a
wireless communication service to receive or convey data, control,
voice, video, sound, gaming, or substantially any data-stream or
signaling-stream. The foregoing terms are utilized interchangeably
in the subject specification and related drawings. Likewise, the
terms "access point (AP)," "base station," "NodeB," "evolved Node B
(eNodeB)," "home Node B (HNB)," "home access point (HAP)," "cell
device," "sector," "cell," and the like, are utilized
interchangeably in the subject application, and refer to a wireless
network component or appliance that serves and receives data,
control, voice, video, sound, gaming, or substantially any
data-stream or signaling-stream to and from a set of subscriber
stations or provider enabled devices. Data and signaling streams
can include packetized or frame-based flows.
[0069] Additionally, the terms "core-network", "core", "core
carrier network", "carrier-side", or similar terms can refer to
components of a telecommunications network that typically provides
some or all of aggregation, authentication, call control and
switching, charging, service invocation, or gateways. Aggregation
can refer to the highest level of aggregation in a service provider
network wherein the next level in the hierarchy under the core
nodes is the distribution networks and then the edge networks. UEs
do not normally connect directly to the core networks of a large
service provider but can be routed to the core by way of a switch
or radio area network. Authentication can refer to determinations
regarding whether the user requesting a service from the telecom
network is authorized to do so within this network or not. Call
control and switching can refer determinations related to the
future course of a call stream across carrier equipment based on
the call signal processing. Charging can be related to the
collation and processing of charging data generated by various
network nodes. Two common types of charging mechanisms found in
present day networks can be prepaid charging and postpaid charging.
Service invocation can occur based on some explicit action (e.g.
call transfer) or implicitly (e.g., call waiting). It is to be
noted that service "execution" may or may not be a core network
functionality as third party network/nodes may take part in actual
service execution. A gateway can be present in the core network to
access other networks. Gateway functionality can be dependent on
the type of the interface with another network.
[0070] Furthermore, the terms "user," "subscriber," "customer,"
"consumer," "prosumer," "agent," and the like are employed
interchangeably throughout the subject specification, unless
context warrants particular distinction(s) among the terms. It
should be appreciated that such terms can refer to human entities
or automated components (e.g., supported through artificial
intelligence, as through a capacity to make inferences based on
complex mathematical formalisms), that can provide simulated
vision, sound recognition and so forth.
[0071] Aspects, features, or advantages of the subject matter can
be exploited in substantially any, or any, wired, broadcast,
wireless telecommunication, radio technology or network, or
combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of such technologies or
networks include Geocast technology; broadcast technologies (e.g.,
sub-Hz, ELF, VLF, LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF, SHF, THz broadcasts, etc.);
Ethernet; X.25; powerline-type networking (e.g., PowerLine AV
Ethernet, etc.); femto-cell technology; Wi-Fi; Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX); Enhanced General
Packet Radio Service (Enhanced GPRS); Third Generation Partnership
Project (3GPP or 3G) Long Term Evolution (LTE); 3GPP Universal
Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or 3GPP UMTS; Third
Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) Ultra Mobile Broadband
(UMB); High Speed Packet Access (HSPA); High Speed Downlink Packet
Access (HSDPA); High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA); GSM
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network
(RAN) or GERAN; UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN); or
LTE Advanced.
[0072] One or more aspects are directed towards receiving, by a
communication network device of a communications network and
comprising a processor, information corresponding to a radio link
interruption of a communication of data flow packets between a user
equipment and a first distributed unit of distributed units of the
communications network, and in response to the receiving the
information corresponding to the radio link interruption,
executing, by the communication network device, an
inter-distributed unit beam switch. The executing comprises
determining a target distributed unit of the distributed units
based on a selection criterion, wherein the target distributed unit
is different from the first distributed unit, and facilitating
communicating the data flow packets between the user equipment and
the target distributed unit.
[0073] Aspects may include stopping, by the communication network
device, the communication of the data flow packets between the user
equipment and the first distributed unit.
[0074] The communication network device may comprise a central unit
communicatively coupled to the distributed units, and receiving the
information corresponding to the radio link interruption may
comprise receiving the information at the central unit from the
first distributed unit based on detection by the first distributed
unit of the radio link interruption. Determining the target
distributed unit based on the selection criterion may comprise
determining the target distributed unit based on a reported beam
measurement.
[0075] Other aspects may include determining, by the communication
network device, whether connectivity is already established with
the target distributed unit based on the user equipment having
multiple connectivity, and, in response to determining that the
connectivity is not already established, establishing, by the
communication network device, connectivity with the target
distributed unit. Establishing the connectivity with the target
distributed unit may comprise initiating a node addition procedure
for the target distributed unit. Aspects may include determining,
by the communication network device, whether connectivity is
already established with the target distributed unit based on the
user equipment having multiple connectivity, and, in response to
determining that the connectivity is already established,
providing, by the communication network device, an indication of
the radio link interruption to a multiple connectivity flow control
process executing on the communication network device.
[0076] Aspects may include determining, by the communication
network device, whether connectivity is already established with
the target distributed unit based on the user equipment having
multiple connectivity, and, in response to determining that the
connectivity is not already established, establishing, by the
communication network device, connectivity with the target
distributed unit, comprising initiating a node addition procedure
for the target distributed unit, and, in response to determining
that the connectivity is already established, providing, by the
communication network device, an indication of the radio link
interruption to a multiple connectivity flow control process
executing on the communication network device.
[0077] Receiving the information corresponding to the radio link
interruption may occur when no transmit receive points of the first
distributed unit have a beam suitable for communication to the user
equipment.
[0078] Aspects may comprise, based on a beam measurement report,
facilitating restoring, by the communication network device, the
communication of the data flow packets between the user equipment
and the first distributed unit, and halting, by the communication
network device, the facilitating of the communicating of the data
flow packets between the user equipment and the target distributed
unit. Based on at least one beam measurement report, facilitating
restoring, by the communication network device, the communication
of the data flow packets between the user equipment and the first
distributed unit may comprise communicating first data packets of
the data flow packets to the first distributed unit and
communicating second data packets of the data flow packets other
than the first data packets to the target distributed unit.
[0079] One or more aspects are directed to a processor and a memory
that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the
processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising, in
connection with executing a multiple connectivity flow control
process, receiving first information from a first secondary node
device of a group of secondary node devices indicating that a radio
link interruption exists between the first secondary node device
and a user equipment. Aspects include selecting a target secondary
node device from the group of secondary node devices based on a
selection criterion and in response to providing information
corresponding to the target secondary node device to the multiple
connectivity flow control process, facilitating switching of
communication with the user equipment from the first secondary node
device to the target secondary node device.
[0080] The processor and memory may be components of a master next
generation node B device. The selection criterion may be based on a
beam quality criterion, and the operations may comprise receiving
quality of beam data, and analyzing the quality of beam data
relative to the selection criterion to determine whether the
selection criterion is satisfied.
[0081] The operations may further comprise determining that
connectivity is not established with the target secondary node
device, and facilitating establishing connectivity with the target
secondary node device, comprising initiating a node addition
procedure for the target secondary node device. The operations
further may comprise determining that connectivity is already
established with the target secondary node device, and providing an
indication corresponding to the radio link interruption to the
multiple connectivity flow control process. The operations further
may comprise restoring communication between the first secondary
node device and the user equipment based on receiving a beam
measurement report.
[0082] One or more aspects are directed to receiving a report from
a first node device of node devices, the report indicating that a
radio link interruption has occurred to a first data flow
communication between the first node device and a user equipment,
and selecting a target node device from the node devices that is
different from the first node device. In response to determining
that connectivity is not already established with the target node
device, described herein is initiating a node addition procedure to
establish connectivity with the target node device, and in response
to determining that multiple connectivity is already established
with the target node device, notifying a flow controller of the
radio link interruption between the first node device and the user
equipment, facilitating the flow controller to establish a second
data flow communication between the target node device and the user
equipment.
[0083] Selecting the target node device may comprise evaluating
first beam quality data of the target node device reported by the
user equipment and second beam quality data of a second node device
reported by the user equipment, and wherein the second node device
is other than the first node device and the target device. The
operations further may comprise restoring the first data flow
communication between the first node device and the user equipment
based on beam restoration information received from the first node
device.
[0084] What has been described above includes examples of systems
and methods illustrative of the disclosed subject matter. It is, of
course, not possible to describe every combination of components or
methods herein. One of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that
many further combinations and permutations of the disclosure are
possible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms "includes,"
"has," "possesses," and the like are used in the detailed
description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms are
intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term
"comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a
transitional word in a claim.
[0085] While the various embodiments are susceptible to various
modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated
implementations thereof are shown in the drawings and have been
described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that
there is no intention to limit the various embodiments to the
specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to
cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents
falling within the spirit and scope of the various embodiments.
[0086] In addition to the various implementations described herein,
it is to be understood that other similar implementations can be
used or modifications and additions can be made to the described
implementation(s) for performing the same or equivalent function of
the corresponding implementation(s) without deviating therefrom.
Still further, multiple processing chips or multiple devices can
share the performance of one or more functions described herein,
and similarly, storage can be effected across a plurality of
devices. Accordingly, the various embodiments are not to be limited
to any single implementation, but rather are to be construed in
breadth, spirit and scope in accordance with the appended
claims.
* * * * *