# US 11,121,801 B2 · Method and apparatus for redundancy improvement in a communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,121,801 B2 - Document ID: US11121801B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/834,980 - Filed: 2020-03-30 - Published: 2020-10-01 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-01 - Assignees: Nokia Technologies Oy - Applicants: Nokia Technologies Oy - Inventors: Devaki Chandramouli; Laurent Thiebaut; Nicolas Drevon; Yannick Lair - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121801B2 ## CPC - H04L 1/0025: {Transmission of mode-switching indication} - H04W 76/34: Selective release of ongoing connections - H04L 1/0017: {where the mode-switching is based on Quality of Service requirement} - H04L 1/0031: {Multiple signaling transmission (H04L1/1664, F15 take precedence)} - H04L 45/24: Multipath - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method, apparatus and computer program product receive a traffic redundancy indication from a user equipment in a communication network or from a policy controller. The method, apparatus and computer program product determine whether traffic redundancy is needed for the radio access network and the user plane function based on the traffic redundancy indication. The method, apparatus and computer program product request the radio access network to not establish redundancy mechanisms in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the radio access network. The method, apparatus and computer program product request the user plane function to not establish redundancy mechanisms in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the user plane function. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving a traffic redundancy indication from a user equipment in a communication network or from a policy controller, wherein the traffic redundancy indication targets a subset of traffic within a protocol data unit session; determining whether traffic redundancy is needed for a radio access network and a user plane function based on the traffic redundancy indication; and in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the radio access network, requesting the radio access network to not establish redundancy mechanisms. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic redundancy indication is part of the protocol data unit session establishment request received from the user equipment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic redundancy indication is part of a protocol data unit session modification request from the user equipment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the radio access network is configured on a per protocol data unit session basis by a Core Network to determine not to perform redundant transmission at: a Packet Data Convergence Protocol level, a general packet radio service tunneling protocol user data tunneling level, or a transport level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the user plane function is configured on a per protocol data unit session basis by a Session Manager of the Core Network to determine not to use redundant tunnels, and wherein the tunnels are general packet radio service tunneling protocol user data tunnels or transport level tunnels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the user plane function, requesting the user plane function to not establish redundancy mechanisms. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: in an instance in which traffic redundancy is not needed for the user plane function, causing the user plane function to not establish redundancy mechanisms. ### Claim 8 An apparatus comprising processing circuitry and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least to: receive a traffic redundancy indication from a user equipment in a communication network or from a policy controller, wherein the traffic redundancy indication targets a subset of traffic within a protocol data unit session; determine whether traffic redundancy is needed for a radio access network and a user plane function based on the traffic redundancy indication; and in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the radio access network, request the radio access network to not establish redundancy mechanisms. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the traffic redundancy indication is part of the protocol data unit session establishment request received from the user equipment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the traffic redundancy indication is part of a protocol data unit session modification request from the user equipment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the radio access network is configured on a per protocol data unit session basis by a Core Network to determine not to perform redundant transmission at: a Packet Data Convergence Protocol level, a general packet radio service tunneling protocol user data tunneling level, or a transport level. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the user plane function is configured on a per protocol data unit session basis by a Session Manager of the Core Network to determine not to use redundant tunnels, and wherein the tunnels are general packet radio service tunneling protocol user data tunnels or transport level tunnels. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least to: in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the user plane function, request the user plane function to not establish redundancy mechanisms. ### Claim 14 A method comprising: transmitting a traffic redundancy indication to a core network, wherein the traffic redundancy indication targets a subset of traffic within a protocol data unit session; determining, by the core network, whether traffic redundancy is needed for a radio access network and a user plane function based on the traffic redundancy indication; and in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the radio access network, requesting the radio access network to not establish redundancy mechanisms. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the traffic redundancy indication is part of the protocol data unit session establishment request received from a user equipment. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the traffic redundancy indication is part of a protocol data unit session modification request from a user equipment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the radio access network is configured on a per protocol data unit session basis by the core network to determine not to perform redundant transmission at: a packet data convergence protocol level, a general packet radio service tunneling protocol user data tunneling level, or a transport level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the user plane function is configured on a per protocol data unit session basis by a session manager of the core network to determine not to use redundant tunnels, and wherein the tunnels are general packet radio service tunneling protocol user data tunnels or transport level tunnels.