Enhancing communication efficiency
There is provided a method in a device of a cellular network, the method comprising: receiving a user plane data from a source network node of the cellular network; detecting that at least one quality condition with respect to the user plane data transfer is met; and in response to the detecting that the at least one quality condition is met, causing a transmission of an indication for a data forwarding or duplication to a target network node of the cellular network or to the source network node, the data forwarding or duplication causing the source network node to forward or duplicate a user plane data of the device to the target network node.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause a source network node of a cellular network at least to perform:
receiving a request associated with a user plane data of a device of the cellular network; and
initiating, based at least on the request, duplicating the user plane data to a target network node of the cellular network,
wherein the duplicating is initiated in response to receiving the request or in response to detecting, by the source network node, that a connection between the device and the source network node deteriorates or has deteriorated,
wherein the request comprises a data duplication request received from the target network node,
wherein the request comprises an indication for data duplication received from the device,
wherein the target and source network nodes each comprise a base station (gNB) having a wired connection to a core network of the cellular network, and
wherein in response to a quality of the connection to the device exceeding a threshold, duplicating the user plane data by transmitting the user plane data to the device and to the target network node.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the target and source network nodes each comprise a relay node having a wireless backhaul connection to a network node of the cellular network.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the source network node to perform:
transmitting a configuration message to the device, wherein the configuration message indicates at least one quality condition with respect to user plane data transfer between the source network node and the device, and wherein the configuration message causes the device to transmit an indication for the data duplication to the target network node or to the source network node in response to detecting that the at least one quality condition with respect to the user plane data transfer is met.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the source network node to perform:
stopping transmitting the user plane data to the target network node in response to detecting that at least one predetermined criterion is met.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the duplicating is initiated in response to detecting that the connection between the device and the source network node deteriorates, and wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the source network node to perform:
performing a quality check on the connection after receiving the request, wherein the detecting whether or not the connection deteriorates is based on the quality check.
6. A method performed by a source network node of a cellular network comprises:
receiving a request associated with a user plane data of a device of the cellular network; and
initiating, based at least on the request, duplicating the user plane data to a target network node of the cellular network,
wherein the duplicating is initiated in response to receiving the request or in response to detecting, by the source network node, that a connection between the device and the source network node deteriorates or has deteriorated,
wherein the request comprises a data duplication request received from the target network node,
wherein the request comprises an indication for data duplication received from the device,
wherein the target and source network nodes each comprise a base station (gNB) having a wired connection to a core network of the cellular network,
wherein in response to a quality of the connection to the device exceeding a threshold, duplicating the user plane data by transmitting the user plane data to the device and to the target network node.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the target and source network nodes each comprise a relay node having a wireless backhaul connection to a network node of the cellular network.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
the source network node transmitting a configuration message to the device, wherein the configuration message indicates at least one quality condition with respect to user plane data transfer between the source network node and the device, and wherein the configuration message causes the device to transmit an indication for the data duplication to the target network node or to the source network node in response to detecting that the at least one quality condition with respect to the user plane data transfer is met.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
stopping transmitting the user plane data to the target network node in response to detecting that at least one predetermined criterion is met.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
performing a quality check on the connection after receiving the request, wherein the detecting whether or not the connection deteriorates is based on the quality check.