Method to Handle BWP Inactivity Timer to Reduce Latency and to Improve Throughput in 5G Devices

5G New Radio (NR) is the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) radio access technology for the next generation mobile communications network. A major evolution of 5G constitutes the integration of non-terrestrial networks including geostationary and low Earth orbit satellites. The seamless integration of satellites in the terrestrial mobile network requires significant adaptations within the radio access network and the development of new features in the core network to cope with the specific satellite channel characteristics. To date, the 5G control and data plane has been standardized to handle only continuous backhaul communication between the network components. However, a mobile satellite enabled next generation Node B (gNB) located in a vehicle or in a moving aerial platform needs to be able to handle frequent backhaul outages of various duration as well as longer signal delays as opposed to short terrestrial connections via fiber. In this paper, we report the results of an over-the-air (OTA) field trial comprising a mobile edge node connected to the 5G standalone core network components over a geostationary satellite. We analyze Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) acceleration and GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP)/TCP/Internet Protocol (IP) header compression features through the GTP. Moreover, the influence of short and long interruptions in the communication between the edge node and the central components on the entire system performance is investigated. The header compression and TCP acceleration modules were implemented on the satellite modems and are now part of the protocol stack of these devices. The results show up to 12% higher data rates for the 5G user equipment (UE), on a 1.5 MHz single carrier return link compared to deactivated TCP acceleration and header compression. We increased the data rate by 20% on the 4.5 MHz DVB-S2X forward link between the UE and 5G core. Moreover, our measurements reveal that even satellite-enabled gNB mobility is possible with the current Release 15 standard. After a short outage of the satellite connection due to shadowing, the UE can successfully re-establish the user plane connection to the core network. Our results will facilitate the full integration of satellite components in 5G through open and standard solutions.

The 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) has recently specified the non-standalone 5G New Radio (NR), in which the dual connectivity (DC) feature plays an essential role. A User Equipment (UE) with DC is able to concurrently connect to an evolved NodeB (eNB) (e.g., using LTE in a macro cell) and a next generation NodeB (gNB) (e.g., using 5G NR in a small cell) aiming to satisfy the 5G's required Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). In this work, we focus on the issue of concurrent transmissions on the 5G small cell, which potentially exploit the benefits of DC. With DC, an application is able to spread its traffic over different two paths (via eNB and gNB) between the UE and the LTE core network. The traffic over diverse paths may experience different delay since the conditions are generally different (e.g., due to wireless channel, background traffic). Therefore, one of the most important problems in efficient operation with DC is minimizing the end-to-end delay considering all the connections. To address that problem, we adopt the deterministic network calculus to first characterize the delay experienced by each connection; then to model the overall end-to- end delay in the 5G small cell. We then formulate an optimization problem that attempts to find the optimal traffic splitting over the connections while minimizing the delay. We derive the solution for the problem, as well as, present the numerical results.

Purpose of software-defined radio (SDR) network positioning technology design is substantiation and experimental validation of new technical solutions for user equipment (UE) location estimation improvement, using infrastructure of existing 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and emerging 5G New Radio (NR) networks, which is highly relevant in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denied urban environments. Approach for experimental validation is prototyping of eNodeB (eNB) reference signals transmission and UE reception procedures using SDR testbed with Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) hardware and Matlab software. Generation and transmission of reference signals, performed by eNB on the physical layer, is defined by 3GPP technical specification 36.211, and receiver processing procedures, performed by UE, and strongly affecting the accuracy of primary measurements, can be designed as a proprietary solution. Findings of current research include formalization, software realization and results of experimental validation of a sequence of procedures for receiving and processing LTE reference signals in order to collect primary range-difference measurements on the UE side for observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) positioning with developed SDR testbed. Research and development campaign on the current stage has limitation of SDR testbed validation only in laboratory conditions. Practical implications of developed UE SDR testbed allow to proceed campaign to the field conditions and test proposed technical solution with ambient LTE signals.

The recommended bit rate (RBR) is assigned by gNodeB to the user equipment (UE) using MAC control element (CE) entity to provide bit rate information in 5G New Radio (NR). At the UE, the bit rate information is passed on to the upper layers; i.e., transport or application, for a specific logical channel either in uplink or downlink. However, based on specific application rate of target, UE does not know how to efficiently utilize and distribute RBR/throughput in lower and upper layer, respectively considering the specific logical channel. To address these problems, we propose a cross layer rate adaptation (CLRA) mechanism for UE. CLRA consists of two parts. In the first part, CLRA utilizes RBR received from gNodeB to compute throughput at lower layer. In the second part, CLRA distributes the throughput in upper layer received from lower layer based on specific applications rate of target. CLRA provides an intelligent mechanism to distribute throughput among foreground/ background applications and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) application considering a learning based codec adaptation. We conduct experiments with Samsung Galaxy S8 device and simulations to validate CLRA mechanism for applications in 5G NR.

The emerging 5G New Radio (NR) networks will provide large improvements in mobile radio access in terms of peak data rates, latency, reliability and network capacity. One of the new technical elements compared to LTE-based networks is the support for millimeter-wave (mmW) frequencies, facilitating carrier bandwidths up to 400 MHz at the currently specified operating bands between 24–40 GHz. Such large bandwidths enable highly-accurate time-based measurements and hence ranging. Thus, in time-division duplexing (TDD) based networks, base-stations and possibly also user equipment can pursue high-accuracy radio sensing by observing the transmit signal reflections, assuming that the direct transmitter-receiver leakage or self-interference can be sufficiently suppressed. In this article, we address, analyze and demonstrate the prospects of OFDM-waveform based radio sensing in 5G NR base-stations with particular emphasis on the mmW use cases. First, basic target range and velocity estimation resolution analysis is provided for different carrier bandwidths and observation time windows, showing that close to centimeter-level ranging accuracy can basically be obtained. Then, specific emphasis is put on the analysis and suppression of the direct self-interference when executing the receiver simultaneously to transmitting. Finally, concrete RF measurements at 28 GHz operating band are provided and analyzed comprising self-interference cancellation and radar processing solutions. The obtained results demonstrate that direct self-interference cancellation can be successfully carried out, and that targets can be accurately sensed and tracked.

The Dual connectivity (DC) technology is a robust solution for Internet service providers (ISP) to evolve their legacy infrastructures with less cost to speed up the progress of fifth-generation (5G) services coverage. DC enables the traditional network to connect to multiple New Radio (NR) Node B (gNBs). A well-known scheme is the non-standalone (NSA) NR. In this case, the user equipment (UEs) could access the network via both the evolved Node B (eNB) and the gNB. However, some research has indicated that the UEs in such a configuration suffer from power consumption problems. UEs are typically configured with discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism to save power. However, most current systems do not investigate and optimize the DRX parameters. To the authors’ best knowledge, this work is the first to combine DRX with traffic steering for the UEs in the NSA NR system. A traffic steering algorithm is proposed to improve the coordination between the eNB and the gNB. We used a semi-Markov chain model to analyze power consumption and average delay. Compared with standard DRX operated in LTE, NR, and DC, we verified that the proposed model achieves power-saving gains without incurring an additional delay. The results indicated that the UE could save considerable power with an optimized system configuration.

This paper proposes an evaluation of the performance of 5G communication between a user equipment (UE), which can be a car, and a 5G base station (gNB), under the influence of different numbers of UEs connected to that base station. There are two approaches to this communication evaluation: i) simulated mode, using Simu5G, which is a simulator for 5G New Radio (NR) networks; ii) a practical way using a hardware setup defined on the basis of a SIM8200EA-M2 module in order to test a real-life scenario. Various performance indicators are tracked and also compared, such as Signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), Channel Quality Indicator (CQI), and End-to-End (E2E) Delay in order to analyze the effect of network load on 5G communication between the UE and gNB.

The first phase of new radio (NR) standard, which was finalized in December 2017, is called a non‐standalone (NSA) NR as it is based on dual connectivity between an LTE radio access technology (RAT) and the NR RAT, known also as E‐UTRA – NR Dual Connectivity(EN‐DC). This chapter presents an overview of 5G core (5GC) network and functionalities by presenting the specified logical network nodes which are the standardized building blocks for the 5GC and by giving an example of a signaling flow between the nodes for connection establishment. It discusses the different dual connectivity options and related terminology. Two different protocol stacks exist in NR system: control plane protocol stack, carrying control information between user equipment (UE) and gNB or Core Network, and user plane protocol stack, carrying data between different applications in the UE and in the network.

As antenna arrays are being deployed in both 5G base-stations and user equipment, phase-shifters have received great attention. This work reviews the requirements for phase-shifters in 5G user equipment and presents ultra-broadband phase-shifting solutions capable of complete coverage of 5G millimeter-wave spectrum.

The high throughput with low latency, massively connected devices, and effective utilization of spectrum for current wireless communication systems can be realized by adopting the fifth-generation (5G) new radio (NR) air interface. The key remarkable features that 5G NR presents are Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC), enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), and massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC). To meet thereof features, 5G NR exerts different multiple access and modulation techniques. This paper addresses the physical layer of 5G NR and more explicitly explores the transmission of 5G NR over the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) considering several parameters. For example, different sub-carrier spacings (SCSs) are taken into account for analyzing the performance of PUSCH in terms of throughput versus Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). Moreover, the effect of the well-known modulation techniques such as Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), different order of Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) (i.e., 16, 64, and 256) on throughput is studied. Later on, the number of base station (BS) and user equipment (UE) antennas are varied. Lastly, the performance of PUSCH over different propagation channel models (clustered delay line (CDL) and tap delay line (TDL)) is also investigated in this paper. The extensive simulation studies have proved that QPSK exhibits finer outcomes in low SNR regions while 256-QAM shows remarkable results in high SNR regions. The maximum throughput can be realized even in low SNR regime if the number of BS antennas is increased. In addition, high throughput value can be attained by increasing SCS.

Integrating efficient connectivity, positioning and sensing functionalities into 5G New Radio (NR) and beyond mobile cellular systems is one timely research paradigm, especially at mm-wave and sub-THz bands. In this article, we address the radio-based sensing and environment mapping prospects with specific emphasis on the user equipment (UE) side. We first describe an efficient <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\ell _1$</tex-math></inline-formula>-regularized least-squares (LS) approach to obtain sparse range&#x2013;angle charts at individual measurement or sensing locations. For the subsequent environment mapping, we then introduce a novel state model for mapping diffuse and specular scattering, which allows efficient tracking of individual scatterers over time using interacting multiple model (IMM) extended Kalman filter and smoother. Also the related measurement selection and data association problems are addressed. We provide extensive numerical indoor mapping results at the 28 GHz band deploying OFDM-based 5G NR uplink waveform with 400 MHz channel bandwidth, covering both accurate ray-tracing based as well as actual RF measurement results. The results illustrate the superiority of the dynamic tracking-based solutions, compared to static reference methods, while overall demonstrate the excellent prospects of radio-based mobile environment sensing and mapping in future mm-wave networks.

Dividing the transmission power statically among Long Term Evolution (LTE) and New Radio (NR) carriers during dual connectivity may result in a great deal of unused power, which may lower the throughput and user experience. RAN4 has mandated the need for Dynamic Power Sharing (DPS) for all the User Equipments (UEs) supporting LTE-NR dual connectivity. DPS allows the UE to distribute the transmit power among carriers. However, optimizing the power distribution among the LTE and NR carriers during dual connectivity efficiently and effectively is still an open problem. In this paper, we propose a novel distributed Q-learning assisted DPS scheme to learn the distribution of transmission powers for LTE and NR carriers for dual connectivity. Extensive simulations and analysis reveal that our proposed scheme improves the network performance by allocating transmission powers optimistically considering channel fluctuations.

The evolution of communication networks has witnessed a remarkable transformation with the advent of 5G technology. As the latest generation of cellular networks, 5G promises to revolutionize the way we connect, communicate, and interact with the digital world. This paper explores the architecture, management, and implications of 5G communication networks, shedding light on the key features, challenges, and opportunities presented by this transformative technology. At the core of 5G networks lies a sophisticated architecture designed to deliver unprecedented levels of speed, reliability, and connectivity. The 5G New Radio (NR) architecture encompasses three primary components: the User Equipment (UE), the Radio Access Network (RAN), and the Core Network (CN). These components work in tandem to facilitate seamless communication between user devices and the broader network infrastructure. One of the defining features of 5G networks is their ability to support significantly higher data speeds and lower latency compared to previous generations. With the potential to deliver data rates of several gigabits per second and latency as low as a few milliseconds, 5G opens the door to a plethora of innovative applications and services, ranging from immersive virtual reality experiences to real-time remote surgeries. Effective management of 5G networks is paramount to ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and security. Network management systems employ advanced algorithms for dynamic resource allocation, quality of service (QoS) optimization, and network slicing. Network slicing, in particular, enables operators to create virtual networks tailored to specific use cases, such as enhanced mobile broadband, massive IoT deployments, and mission-critical communications. However, the deployment and management of 5G networks pose several challenges and considerations. Infrastructure deployment requires substantial investment and coordination, while ensuring interoperability between different vendors' equipment and standards remains a pressing issue. Spectrum availability and allocation also play a critical role in determining the performance and capacity of 5G networks, necessitating careful regulatory oversight and spectrum management strategies. Despite these challenges, the implications of 5G technology are far-reaching and profound. From empowering smart cities and autonomous vehicles to enabling the widespread adoption of IoT devices and applications, 5G networks have the potential to reshape industries, drive innovation, and enhance the quality of life for billions of people around the world. 5G communication networks represent a paradigm shift in the way we connect and communicate. With their advanced architecture, dynamic management capabilities, and transformative potential, 5G networks are poised to unlock new opportunities, accelerate digital transformation, and usher in a new era of connectivity and innovation.

Time-varying channel is an important characteristic of a mobile communication system, which will cause random fluctuations of the quality of received signal at the user equipment (UE). Link adaptation is one of the key technologies to deal with the variant channel condition. It maximizes the data transmission rate over a limited bandwidth. In this paper, we design and implement an end-to-end link-adaptive system based on the 5G New Radio (NR) standard, adopting software defined radio (SDR) equipment as the baseband processing module. In the designed system, the selection of channel quality information (CQI) and the link-adaptive module are implemented at the base station (BS). The design and implementation of the physical layer according to 5G NR standard, including system parameters, synchronization scheme and duplex mode, are provided. Further, the over-the-air (OTA) results validate the feasibility of the system design, and show that link adaptation module can significantly improve the quality of the received signal.

The evolution of communication networks has witnessed a remarkable transformation with the advent of 5G technology. As the latest generation of cellular networks, 5G promises to revolutionize the way we connect, communicate, and interact with the digital world. This paper explores the architecture, management, and implications of 5G communication networks, shedding light on the key features, challenges, and opportunities presented by this transformative technology. At the core of 5G networks lies a sophisticated architecture designed to deliver unprecedented levels of speed, reliability, and connectivity. The 5G New Radio (NR) architecture encompasses three primary components: the User Equipment (UE), the Radio Access Network (RAN), and the Core Network (CN). These components work in tandem to facilitate seamless communication between user devices and the broader network infrastructure. One of the defining features of 5G networks is their ability to support significantly higher data speeds and lower latency compared to previous generations. With the potential to deliver data rates of several gigabits per second and latency as low as a few milliseconds, 5G opens the door to a plethora of innovative applications and services, ranging from immersive virtual reality experiences to real-time remote surgeries. Effective management of 5G networks is paramount to ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and security. Network management systems employ advanced algorithms for dynamic resource allocation, quality of service (QoS) optimization, and network slicing. Network slicing, in particular, enables operators to create virtual networks tailored to specific use cases, such as enhanced mobile broadband, massive IoT deployments, and mission-critical communications. However, the deployment and management of 5G networks pose several challenges and considerations. Infrastructure deployment requires substantial investment and coordination, while ensuring interoperability between different vendors' equipment and standards remains a pressing issue. Spectrum availability and allocation also play a critical role in determining the performance and capacity of 5G networks, necessitating careful regulatory oversight and spectrum management strategies. Despite these challenges, the implications of 5G technology are far-reaching and profound. From empowering smart cities and autonomous vehicles to enabling the widespread adoption of IoT devices and applications, 5G networks have the potential to reshape industries, drive innovation, and enhance the quality of life for billions of people around the world. 5G communication networks represent a paradigm shift in the way we connect and communicate. With their advanced architecture, dynamic management capabilities, and transformative potential, 5G networks are poised to unlock new opportunities, accelerate digital transformation, and usher in a new era of connectivity and innovation.