Invented by Rui Wang, Mingzeng Dai, Hongzhuo ZHANG, Xudong Yang, Qinghai Zeng, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd

The market for Radio Access Network (RAN) systems, communication methods, and network nodes is witnessing significant growth and innovation in recent years. With the increasing demand for high-speed and reliable connectivity, the telecommunications industry is constantly evolving to meet the needs of consumers and businesses alike. RAN systems play a crucial role in enabling wireless communication between mobile devices and the core network infrastructure. These systems consist of various components, including base stations, antennas, and other equipment that facilitate the transmission and reception of signals. The market for RAN systems is driven by the growing adoption of smartphones, the proliferation of data-intensive applications, and the need for seamless connectivity in both urban and rural areas. One of the key factors driving the market growth is the deployment of 5G networks. 5G technology promises faster speeds, lower latency, and higher capacity compared to its predecessors. To support the increasing demand for 5G services, telecom operators are investing heavily in upgrading their RAN systems. This includes the deployment of small cells, massive MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology, and advanced beamforming techniques to enhance network coverage and capacity. Communication methods also play a vital role in the overall performance of RAN systems. Traditionally, communication between base stations and network nodes was based on wired connections. However, with the advent of wireless backhaul solutions, operators can now deploy RAN systems more flexibly and cost-effectively. Wireless backhaul eliminates the need for physical cables, reducing installation and maintenance costs while providing high-speed connectivity. Moreover, the market for network nodes, such as baseband units and remote radio heads, is also witnessing significant growth. Network nodes are responsible for processing and transmitting data between the RAN and the core network. As operators transition towards virtualized and cloud-based network architectures, the demand for software-defined network nodes is increasing. These nodes offer greater flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency compared to traditional hardware-based solutions. The market for RAN systems, communication methods, and network nodes is highly competitive, with several major players dominating the industry. Companies like Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, and Samsung are at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the telecommunications market. These companies are investing heavily in research and development to enhance the performance, efficiency, and security of RAN systems. In conclusion, the market for RAN systems, communication methods, and network nodes is experiencing rapid growth and innovation. The deployment of 5G networks, the adoption of wireless backhaul solutions, and the transition towards virtualized network architectures are driving the demand for advanced RAN systems. As the telecommunications industry continues to evolve, companies are focused on developing cutting-edge solutions to provide seamless connectivity and meet the increasing demands of consumers and businesses.

The Huawei Technologies Co Ltd invention works as follows

Examples of communication apparatus and methods are described.” In one example, a network node will receive first configuration information via a second node. The first configuration includes a cell set configured to serve a terminal device and indicates the status of a second cell. “The first network node transmits first configuration information, first indication information, and at least one second cell to the terminal device. The first indication includes information about the status of at lease one secondary cell and the secondary cell is part of the serving cell set.

Background for Radio Access Network System, Communication Method, and Network Node

To increase the transmission bandwidth of long-term evolution advanced (LTE A) system, carrier aggregation technology (CA) is introduced. The main idea of carrier aggregation involves combining a number of component carriers (CC), into one carrier that has a larger bandwidth to support high-speed transmission of data. “In the prior art, the base station can configure carrier aggregation and determine the active/inactive status of a second cell. It may also notify the terminal device by signaling the active/inactive status of the secondary cells.

However the development of 5G communications networks changes network architecture. The concepts of a centralized (CU) unit and a divided unit (DU), which are separated from each other, are introduced. A radio access network (for instance, a base-station) is divided into two parts, the CU and the DU. In the CU as well as the DU, different protocol layers are used. In the CU for example, a layer called radio resource control is used. The DU uses a layer of media access control, a layer of physical (PHY), and other layers. In the 5G network another example is a technology that has been developed for a relay node. In the relay node for example, only a protocol layer architecture consisting of a layer 2 (for instance, a radio-link control (RLC), layer and a MAC, layer) as well as a Layer 1 (for instance, including the PHY layer) are deployed. A protocol stack above layer 2, like an RRC, is not deployed. The relay node must forward data or signals generated by the host base station to a terminal.

The original carrier aggregation method is not applicable to the new architecture. “How to configure carrier-aggregation in the new network is a problem that must be resolved urgently.

This application provides a method of communication, a node network, and a system for radio access networks, allowing a terminal to be configured with carrier aggregation in a new architecture.

A communication method is described in a first aspect. The method applies to a radio-access network system that includes a network node with a communication interface and another network node.

The first network node receives first configuration data from the second node. This first configuration data includes a set of serving cells configured for a device terminal, which includes at least one second cell. It also indicates a secondary cell’s status, whether it is in an active or an unactive state.

sending the first configuration information from the first node of the network to the terminal device

sending by the network node to the terminal device first indication data, which includes information about the status of at lease one secondary cell. The at least secondary cell is part of the serving cell set.

The at the least one second cell included in first indication information can be a subset from the serving cell group in the initial configuration information or it may be all the secondary cells of the serving-cell set. This is not limited to this application.

In one possible design, first indication information could include all secondary cells within the serving cell set and be used to indicate the status of each secondary. In another design, first indication information could include some secondary cell in the serving set and be used to show the status of those secondary cells. In another design, first indication information can include secondary cells within the serving cell set. The secondary cells may be determined by either the first or second network node, and they are then set to active or inactive states.

The first network node creates first indications at the second protocol level and sends them to the terminal to inform it of at least one secondary cell which is in an active/inactive status. This allows the terminal to update the status of at least one secondary cell upon receiving the information. In a new network, the terminal device is configured with carrier aggregation, which increases the transmission bandwidth.

In this embodiment, the first or second network node may determine the at least first secondary cell of the serving cell set.

Optionally, if the second network node determines that at least one primary secondary cell is in a state of “nodal status”, the method may include:

Receiving by the first node of the network, second indication data sent by the other node of the network, where the second information information includes at least one second secondary cell or includes at least the one second secondary cell and its status.

In other words after determining at least one primary cell, the network node transmits second indication to inform the first node about the at most one secondary cell. The first node then generates first indication based on second indication to notify terminal device the active/inactive status of at least one secondary cell.

Optionally, the method may include: “If the first node of the network determines the status at least one secondary cell, then the method includes:

determining by the first node of the network the status of at least one secondary cell of the serving cell set, based on the measurement result”, where the measurement results include at least one of:

A first measurement result from the terminal device of the first protocol layer;

a second result of measurement from a third protocol layer on the terminal device

a third measurement of an uplink that is obtained by measuring by the first node on the basis of a signal sent from the terminal device.

The first node of the network determines the state of at least one secondary cell in the serving cell set. This allows the first indication to be generated directly based on the result of the determining. It is a simple and convenient method.

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