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User-assisted bearer split control for dual connectivity in multi-RAT 5G networks

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Abstract

One of the most important functionalities for the dual connectivity (DC) technology in non-stand-alone (NSA) fifth generation (5G) networks is the flow control algorithm (FCA), which has the role of correctly splitting the data traffic of users in DC. However, delays in backhaul links and the time between two executions of the FCA may limit the effectiveness of the split ratios computed by the FCA in situations where unexpected channel variations or an increase in the traffic load happen. In this context, we propose a heuristic mechanism where the user assists the FCA in performing a faster and finer adjustment of the bearer split ratios. The proposed mechanism works based on a single scalar value and can be combined with any existing FCA. Besides the adjustment of the bearer split ratios, the proposed mechanism may also trigger handover/disconnection when it detects problems in one of the user connections, which is a novel feature that is not present in existing solutions. Simulations demonstrate the gains provided by the proposed mechanism in terms of user satisfaction, total system rate and user throughput.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Ericsson Research, Technical Cooperation contract UFC.47. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. The authors would like to acknowledge FUNCAP, CNPq (Proc. 151004/2017-0) and CAPES (Proc. 88881.188039/2018-01) for their scholarship support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wireless Telecommunications Research Group (GTEL), Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Av. Mister Hull, Postal Mail 3225, Fortaleza, CE, 60416-200, Brazil

    Roberto P. Antonioli, Igor M. Guerreiro, Diego Aguiar Sousa, Emanuel Bezerra Rodrigues, Carlos F. M. e Silva, Tarcísio Ferreira Maciel & Francisco Rodrigo Porto Cavalcanti

  2. Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Ceará, Paracuru, CE, Brazil

    Diego Aguiar Sousa

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  1. Roberto P. Antonioli
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  2. Igor M. Guerreiro
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  3. Diego Aguiar Sousa
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  4. Emanuel Bezerra Rodrigues
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  5. Carlos F. M. e Silva
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  6. Tarcísio Ferreira Maciel
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  7. Francisco Rodrigo Porto Cavalcanti
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Correspondence to Roberto P. Antonioli.

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Antonioli, R.P., Guerreiro, I.M., Sousa, D.A. et al. User-assisted bearer split control for dual connectivity in multi-RAT 5G networks. Wireless Netw 26, 3675–3685 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11276-020-02283-6

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