# US 2021/0243048 A1 · Method for operating a first network device, first network device, and method for operating a communications network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243048 A1 - Document ID: US20210243048A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/160,592 - Filed: 2021-01-28 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-31 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Christoph Thein; Hugues Narcisse Tchouankem; Marie-Theres Suer; Oscar Dario Ramos Cantor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243048A1 ## CPC - H04L 12/40071: {Packet processing; Packet format (adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific network H04N21/2381, H04N21/4363, H04N21/4381; packet switches H04L49/00; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90)} - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04L 12/40013: {Details regarding a bus controller} - H04L 12/40065: {Bandwidth and channel allocation (home automation networks H04L12/2803; flow control H04L47/10)} - H04L 47/41: by acting on aggregated flows or links - H04L 47/626: {channel conditions} - H04L 47/6295: using multiple queues, one for each individual QoS, connection, flow or priority - H04W 28/0236: {radio quality, e.g. interference, losses or delay} - H04W 28/065: {using assembly or disassembly of packets} - H04W 28/08: Load balancing or load distribution (transferring a connection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12) - H04L 47/24: Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS - H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup - 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 for operating a first network device of a communications network, wherein the method comprises: determining or receiving, by means of an ingress interface, an ingress data stream comprising payload data to be transmitted towards a second network device; determining or receiving, by means of a correlation observer, at least one correlation value for a plurality of communication paths between the first network device and the second network device, wherein each of the plurality of communication paths comprises a different one of a plurality of physical channels; determining, by means of a multi-connectivity controller, a plurality of egress data streams in dependence on the at least one correlation value and in dependence on the ingress data stream; and transmitting, via a respective one of a plurality of egress queues, wherein each egress data stream is associated with a different one of the plurality of paths. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a first network device (100; UE; BU) of a communications network (300), the method comprises: ascertaining (102), by means of an ingress interface (ii), an ingress data stream (isA) comprising payload data to be transmitted towards a second network device (200; BU; UE); ascertaining (104), by means of a correlation observer (CO), at least one correlation value (CC) for a plurality of communication paths (P1, P2) between the first network device (100; UE; BU) and the second network device (200; BU; UE), wherein each of the plurality of communication paths (P1, P2) comprises a different one of a plurality of physical channels (pCH1, pCH2); determining (106), by means of a multi-connectivity controller (MCC), a plurality of egress data streams (es1, es2) in dependence on the at least one correlation value (CC) and in dependence on the ingress data stream (isA); and transmitting (108), via a respective one of a plurality of egress queues (eq1, eq2, the plurality of egress data streams (es1, es2), wherein each egress data stream (es1; es2) is associated with a different one of the plurality of paths (P1, P2). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination of the plurality of egress data streams (eq1, eq2) comprises: selecting (402), by means of the multi-connectivity controller (MCC), dividing or duplicating the payload data, wherein the dividing comprises a determination of mutually different segments of the payload data, wherein the mutually different segments are distributed between the plurality of egress streams (eq1, eq2), wherein the duplicating comprises a determination of duplicate segments of the payload data, wherein the duplicate segments are fed into each one of the plurality of egress data streams (eq1, eq2). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the determination of the plurality of egress data streams (eq1, eq2) comprises: selecting the division of payload data if the correlation value (CC) indicates that the plurality of communication paths (P1, P2) are correlated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the determination of the plurality of egress data streams (eq1, eq2) comprises: selecting the duplication of payload data if the correlation value (CC) indicates that the plurality of communication paths (P1, P2) are uncorrelated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: ascertaining a QoS-requirement (QoS) for the payload data; and determining the plurality of egress data streams (es1, es2) in dependence on the QoS-requirement (QoS). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one correlation indicator (CC) is determined based on latency measurements for the plurality of physical channels (pCH1, pCH2). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: ascertaining a QoS-requirement (QoS) for the payload data; and determining and applying, by means of the multi-connectivity controller (MCC), at least one configuration parameter (cP1, cP2) for each communication path (P1, P2) in dependence on the QoS-requirement (QoS) and in dependence on the correlation value (CC). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: determining a QoS fulfillment indicator (QoSi) in dependence on a/the QoS-requirement (QoSi) and in dependence on the correlation value (CC), wherein the QoS fulfillment indicator (QoSi) indicates whether the available communication paths (P1, P2) are capable to fulfill the QoS-requirement (QoS). ### Claim 9 A first network device (100; UE; BU) of a communications network (300), wherein the first network device (100; UE; BU) is configured to: ascertain (102), by means of an ingress queue (iqA), an ingress data stream (isA) comprising payload data to be transmitted towards a second network device (200; BU; UE); determine (104), by means of a correlation observer (CO), at least one correlation value (CC) for a plurality of communication paths (P1, P2) between the first network device (100; UE; BU) and the second network device (200; BU; UE), wherein each of the plurality of communication paths (P1, P2) comprises a different one of a plurality of physical channels (pCH1, pCH2); determine (106), by means of a multi-connectivity controller (MCC), a plurality of egress data streams (es1, es2) in dependence on the at least one correlation value (CC) and in dependence on the ingress data stream (isA); and transmit (108), via a respective one of a plurality of egress queues (eq1, eq2), the plurality of egress data streams (es1, es2), wherein each egress data stream (es1; es2) is associated with a different one of the plurality of paths (P1, P2).