Multi-connectivity for URLLC: Performance Comparison of Different Architectures

Ultra reliable low latency communication (URLLC), a use case of 5G, requires high reliability and low end-to-end latency simultaneously. While 5G physical layer enablers like short packet communication and flexible numerology along with one-shot transmission can achieve low latency, multi-connectivity based on macrodiversity is a potential solution for achieving high reliability in single transmission. This paper discusses the various architectures available for implementing macrodiversity based multi-connectivity for achieving URLLC. 3C based packet duplication architecture, diversity combining architecture using maximal ratio combining (MRC) and Coordinated multi-point (CoMP) architecture for interference suppression at cell edge are considered in this paper. Monte-carlo simulations prove that 3C and MRC architecture perform best in terms of reliability and radio resource usage efficiency, respectively.