User equipment and method for providing communication services to user equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing a communication service to a user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with a mobile communication network, wherein the user equipment is able or has a high likelihood of being able to be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network when the user equipment is located in or in the vicinity of a first geographical area, and wherein the user equipment is not able or has a low likelihood of being able to be connected to or served by any base station entity of the access network and / or by any base station entity of another access network when the user equipment is located in or in the vicinity of a second geographical area, wherein the first geographical area and / or the second geographical area can be indicated or referred to by a coverage information which is at least partly able to be transmitted to the user equipment and received by the user equipment, such that the coverage information indicates - or can be derived from - that different sets of location dependent connection parameters are to be used at different locations of the first and / or second geographical area (250, 260) in order for the user equipment to obtain or be provided with radio coverage when located at such different locations, wherein the user equipment comprises location detection means or capabilities for determining at least an indication of a current location of the user equipment or an approximation thereof, wherein, in order to provide the communication service for the user equipment, the method comprises the following steps: - in a first step, the user equipment receives a coverage information piece at a first point in time or during a first time interval, the coverage information piece being at least a part of or corresponding to the coverage information, - in a second step, the user equipment determines an indication of a current location of the user equipment or an approximation thereof at a second point in time and using the location detection means or capabilities of the user equipment, and the user equipment further determines, based on the indication of the current location of the user equipment or the approximation thereof and based on the coverage information piece or its content, a set of location dependent connection parameters corresponding to the determined current location and to be used in order to obtain or be provided with radio coverage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for providing communication services to a user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with a mobile communication network, wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a first geographic area, the user equipment is able or highly likely to be served by or connected to at least one base station entity of the access network, and wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a second geographic area, the user equipment is unable or highly unlikely to be served by or connected to any base station entity of the access network and / or by or connected to any base station entity of the access network and / or by any base station entity of another access network.

[0002] Additionally, the present invention relates to a user equipment for providing communication services to a user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with a mobile communication network, wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a first geographic area, the user equipment is able or highly likely to be served by or connected to at least one base station entity of the access network, and wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a second geographic area, the user equipment is unable or highly unlikely to be served by or connected to any base station entity of the access network and / or by or connected to any base station entity of the access network and / or by any base station entity of another access network.

[0003] Additionally, the present invention relates to a system or mobile communication network for providing communication services to a user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with a mobile communication network, wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a first geographic area, the user equipment is able or highly likely to be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network, and wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a second geographic area, the user equipment is unable or highly unlikely to be connected to or served by any base station entity of the access network and / or by any base station entity of another access network.

[0004] In addition, the present invention relates to a coverage database or coverage information entity or functionality that is part of or assigned to or can be accessed by a system or mobile communication network according to the present invention.

[0005] Additionally, the present invention relates to a program and computer-readable medium for providing communication services to user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with a mobile communication network, according to the present invention. Background Technology

[0006] Mobile communication networks, such as public terrestrial mobile networks, are typically implemented as cellular mobile communication networks, which consist of radio cells (or use, are associated with, or are assigned to a radio access network that includes radio cells). Such cellular systems are considered to conform to different mobile communication standards or radio access technologies, such as 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G radio access technologies (referring to different generations of radio access technologies), and typically consist of one or more cells (or radio cells) of the corresponding radio access technology (or are composed of them). Such mobile communication networks, primarily or entirely based on terrestrial infrastructure (and therefore also referred to as terrestrial networks or TN networks) of radio access networks, are typically organized in a repeating pattern within a country (or a part or region of a country), and typically consist of stationary (radio) cells (and associated base station entities) that typically belong to a mobile network operator (MNO) (or are operated by, used by, associated with, or assigned to an MNO).

[0007] In a known cellular telecommunications network—or in a geographic area or region where a cellular telecommunications network operates—there are typically some (geographical) sections or locations where (at least on average, i.e., measured using multiple user equipment), user equipment generally experiences good radio coverage, while other (geographical) sections or locations have poor radio coverage. That is, user equipment—when located in or near a first geographic area—is able to (usually) or is highly likely to be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of a (radio) access network, and similarly, user equipment—when located in or near a second geographic area—is (usually) unable to or is less likely to be served by any base station entity of a (radio) access network or by any base station entity of a (radio) access network and / or any base station entity of another access network.

[0008] Any cellular network or radio access technology currently defined by 3GPP that provides user equipment with access to a telecommunications network (e.g., a Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN) (i.e., provides radio coverage) is designed to initially select a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN selection procedure) and then attempt to connect to obtain service. Once a Public Land Mobile Network is selected (i.e., selecting one from multiple available Public Land Mobile Networks at a given location, or when the user equipment is at its current location), the process of selecting a suitable (radio) cell for the selected Public Land Mobile Network begins. This is defined for different radio technologies in 3GPP technical specifications TS 25 / 36 / 38.304. After successfully registering to the selected Public Land Mobile Network via the selected suitable cell, a cell reselection process is performed, which ensures that the user equipment is always brought to the optimal cell from the perspective of radio environment / quality of service (QoS). Throughout the movement of the equipment (i.e., the user equipment under consideration), it measures (its radio environment, and therefore also) neighboring (radio) cells, and performs cell reselection when a better cell (or a radio cell providing enhanced radio coverage) is found. If the coverage of a registered public land mobile network (RPLMN) ends (e.g., because the mobile operator does not provide radio coverage in a particular geographic area), the user equipment under consideration is either out of service or performs RPLMN selection to find another RPLMN providing alternative coverage. This also occurs in border areas between telecommunications networks (operating in different countries), typically near national borders. Therefore, the triggering factors for selecting a new RPLMN are often provided by the attributes and / or characteristics of the radio environment of the user equipment under consideration (particularly measured by the user equipment itself), such as a degradation in RPLMN cell quality. In cases of coverage loss within a public terrestrial mobile network, particularly at arbitrary locations, the user equipment typically has no prior knowledge, other than measurements of the radio environment (radio frequency attributes) in the vicinity of the user equipment, that coverage is about to end (or will soon end), nor any prior knowledge that coverage of the registered public terrestrial mobile network can or may be regained. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The objective of this invention is to provide a technically simple, efficient, and cost-effective solution for providing communication services to user equipment using an access network or an access network associated with a mobile communication network. This solution utilizes coverage information, at least partially transmittable to and received by the user equipment, to indicate or reference a first geographic region and / or a second geographic region such that the coverage information indicates—or can be derived from—different sets of location-related connectivity parameters are required at different locations within the first and / or second geographic regions, enabling the user equipment to obtain or be provided with radio coverage when located at such different locations. A further objective of this invention is to provide corresponding user equipment, systems, or mobile communication networks, coverage databases or coverage information entities or functionalities, and corresponding programs and computer-readable media.

[0010] The objective of this invention is achieved through a method for providing communication services to user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with a mobile communication network, wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a first geographic area, the user equipment can or has a high probability of being connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network, and wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a second geographic area, the user equipment cannot or has a very low probability of being connected to or served by any base station entity of the access network and / or by any base station entity of the access network and / or by any base station entity of another access network. A base station entity service, wherein coverage information, at least partially transmittable to and received by a user equipment, can indicate or reference a first geographic region and / or a second geographic region such that the coverage information indicates—or can be derived from—different sets of location-related connectivity parameters to be used at different locations in the first and / or second geographic regions, so that the user equipment can obtain or be provided with radio coverage when located at such different locations, wherein the user equipment includes indication or approximate location detection means or capabilities for at least determining the current location of the user equipment, wherein, in order to provide communication services to the user equipment, the method includes the following steps:

[0011] --In the first step, the user equipment receives a coverage information segment at a first time point or during a first time interval, the coverage information segment being at least a portion of or corresponding to the coverage information.

[0012] --In the second step, the user equipment determines an indication or approximation of its current location at a second time point using its location detection means or capabilities, and the user equipment further determines a set of location-related connectivity parameters corresponding to the determined current location and to be used based on the indication or approximation of its current location and based on the coverage information fragment or its content, in order to obtain or be provided with radio coverage.

[0013] In particular, by providing the user equipment with a coverage information fragment (at least a portion of the coverage information), according to the invention, not only can the user equipment be provided with information on whether there is a high probability, at its current location, that it can be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network, but also with information on which set of connection parameters is most likely to obtain such radio coverage. Therefore, according to the invention, the user equipment under consideration can be provided with further information sources, thereby enabling more efficient access to the radio access network (or the provision of radio coverage), particularly faster and / or more energy-efficient. Further information sources regarding the availability of service or coverage from the radio access network of the telecommunications network can be provided to the user equipment largely independent of the time and place in which such information sources are actually used. According to the invention, it is particularly advantageous that the coverage information fragment provides the user equipment with information regarding the possibility or likelihood (at certain locations) of radio coverage provided by the access network (i.e., at least one base station entity of the access network), relating not only to the mobile communication network to which the user equipment is connected, but also to other mobile communication networks (providing coverage at or near the considered location). Therefore, it is proposed that user equipment (UE) be provided with coverage information (via a coverage information fragment) to enable UE to obtain geographical knowledge of the coverage areas of the currently registered network (RPLMN) and possible alternative public land mobile networks (PLMNs) (and optionally include radio access technologies, and, where multiple frequency bands are provided in a geographic area, optionally include coverage information for each band), particularly by using a coverage database that provides large-scale coverage information of the public land mobile network (e.g., coverage of the entire PLMN), or selectively provides only partial coverage information of the network, such as information related to the UE at a specific point in time under consideration (e.g., depending on the movement of the UE in different regional granularities (e.g., for stationary or slowly moving UE, the coverage information fragment corresponds to a smaller area, while for UE moving quickly in a car or train, it corresponds to a larger area).

[0014] As already mentioned, conventional known mobile communication networks (cellular 3GPP systems) do not employ this approach; instead, in these known networks, mobility and user equipment's understanding of radio coverage are always based on performing radio frequency measurements. With the widespread availability of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers even on the cheapest user equipment, and the reduction in data volume limitations transmitted over cellular networks, according to the present invention, transmitting coverage information fragments to user equipment can particularly help improve the user experience while maintaining mobility control based on network parameters and information provided by the network. Furthermore, in conventional known mobile communication networks, and for conventional known user equipment with functionality conforming to applicable communication standards (or 3GPP standards), in the event of coverage loss within a public terrestrial mobile network, apart from measurements of the nearby radio environment around the user equipment, the user equipment typically has no prior knowledge indicating that coverage is about to end (or will soon end), nor any prior knowledge indicating where or how registered public terrestrial mobile network coverage can be regained. The uncertainty about where coverage might be restored and the use of radio measurements is primarily due to historical reasons, because—perhaps 10 years ago—most equipment (i.e., user equipment) did not (or efficiently) have the possibility of determining an approximate location of its current position, especially since these user equipment were not equipped with GNSS receivers by which user equipment could obtain knowledge about the location of the equipment; therefore, due to sheer necessity, the corresponding or applicable communication standards, even today, stipulate that if user equipment is located outside the coverage area of ​​a public terrestrial mobile network (or its home / equivalent network or home / equivalent public terrestrial mobile network), in order to regain access to that public terrestrial mobile network when the cellular network becomes available again, the user equipment must perform periodic power-consuming radio frequency measurements (particularly through periodic network selection attempts (e.g., "background public terrestrial mobile network search"), i.e., attempts to find a higher priority network, usually a public terrestrial mobile network—although this usually requires relatively more energy and thus involves relatively high battery consumption, especially for battery-powered user equipment). Any attempt to minimize the power consumption of user equipment will result in additional latency in regaining public terrestrial mobile network coverage (e.g., if measurements are only performed relatively occasionally and the intervals between attempts increase over time, which is the current technological implementation for user equipment).

[0015] According to the present invention, it is assumed that within the geographical area of ​​a mobile communication network (having or associated with a radio access network), there exist some areas with good radio coverage and some areas with poor radio coverage. In the context of the present invention, the areas with good radio coverage are also referred to as first geographical areas, and the areas with poor radio coverage are also referred to as second geographical areas. In other words, when a user equipment is located in or near a first geographical area, due to the good radio coverage in the first geographical area, the user equipment can, or has a high probability, be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network; and—symmetrically—when a user equipment is located in or near a second geographical area, due to the poor radio coverage in the second geographical area, the user equipment cannot, or has a low probability, be connected to or served by any base station entity of the access network and / or any base station entity of another access network. Of course, the first and / or second geographical areas do not necessarily correspond to a continuous (or connected or joined) area or surface; each term is used only to refer to multiple (or a group of) points, locations, or places (or areas) where user equipment typically has good or poor connectivity or coverage with the mobile communication network. According to the invention, in order to provide communication services to user equipment using the mobile communication network and its access network, coverage information that can be at least partially transmitted to and received by the user equipment is used. The information actually transmitted to the user equipment is also referred to below as coverage information fragments, which indicate—at least in most cases—that this typically does not correspond to “all” coverage information (i.e., information covering the entire network or its entire geographical area). Coverage information specifically includes at least two types of information, particularly regarding multiple different locations: first, information about the level of coverage that the user equipment may expect to “see” or may experience; and second, information about the set of connection parameters to be used to obtain or be provided with corresponding radio coverage. Therefore, from the coverage information, the first geographic region and / or the second geographic region (or: multiple first geographic regions and / or second geographic regions) can be indicated or referenced in a way that the coverage information indicates—or can be derived from the coverage information—that different sets of location-related connectivity parameters should be used at different locations in the first and / or second geographic regions, so that the user equipment can obtain or be provided with radio coverage when located at these different locations. Furthermore, according to the invention, in order for the user equipment to effectively use the coverage information (especially when located in locations with little or no radio coverage), the user equipment requires—that is, the user equipment includes—an indication or approximate location detection means or capability for at least determining the current location of the user equipment.Therefore, according to the present invention, – in the first step of the method of the present invention – the user equipment receives a coverage information segment at a first time point or during a first time interval, the coverage information segment being at least a part of or corresponding to the coverage information. In the second step of the method of the present invention, the user equipment uses its location detection means or capabilities at a (subsequent) second time point (typically located at a different location compared to the first time point or first time interval) to determine an indication or approximation of its current location, and the user equipment further determines a set of location-related connectivity parameters corresponding to the determined current location based on the indication or approximation of its current location and based on the coverage information segment or its content, in order to obtain or be provided with radio coverage. Therefore, according to the present invention, the user equipment can be provided with additional information (or auxiliary information, i.e., coverage information segments that are at least a part of the coverage information) regarding the coverage area of ​​public terrestrial mobile networks (or even multiple public terrestrial mobile networks) available to the user equipment (at its current location or within a larger or smaller area around it), and thus allows the use of this additional information to obtain a better user experience. According to the present invention, this is possible because the vast majority of modern (or currently used) user equipment is equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) functionality (if not, at least one location detection means or capability (different from GNSS) for determining at least one indication or approximation of its current location; such other procedures for acquiring or determining the location of user equipment or its approximation particularly include networks based on positioning (enhanced cell ID, AoA, OTDOA, etc.) or "RF fingerprinting technology"). Furthermore, the transmission of such supplementary information (or auxiliary information or coverage information fragments) does not place an excessive burden on currently used mobile communication networks: the connectivity of radio access technologies such as LTE and 5G allows for the efficient transmission of such supplementary auxiliary information (or coverage information fragments) to mobile devices for use in cell reselection processes (either as a substitute for or in addition to classical methods based on radio frequency measurements).

[0016] According to the present invention, the location-dependent connection parameter set may correspond to or include at least one of the following:

[0017] —Information regarding or indicating the frequency bands to be used and / or information regarding or indicating the frequencies to be used, particularly the frequencies to be used per frequency band, especially for mobile communication networks that are currently registered as public terrestrial mobile networks for user equipment.

[0018] —Information regarding or indicating the radio access technology to be used, particularly for currently registered public terrestrial mobile networks.

[0019] —Information about an alternative mobile communication network to public terrestrial mobile networks.

[0020] Therefore, it is advantageous that the coverage information fragments indicate the connection parameters in a flexible manner, i.e., the coverage information includes (or indicates, or can be derived from) a set of connection parameters (or multiple sets of connection parameters) regarding the current location of the user equipment (in particular, but not limited to, since the coverage information fragments typically include corresponding information content regarding multiple locations or areas), so that the user equipment can flexibly obtain or be provided with radio coverage (whether by a registered public terrestrial mobile network or by an alternative public terrestrial mobile network) by using these connection parameters, providing only the frequency band to be used, and / or the frequency within the frequency band, and / or the radio access technology (and corresponding indications regarding, for example, the frequency), and / or an indication regarding another (alternative) mobile communication network.

[0021] According to the invention, it is further advantageous and preferred that the mobile communication network includes a coverage database or a coverage information entity or function having a coverage database, or a coverage database accessible via the mobile communication network, wherein the coverage database includes coverage information or coverage information retrievable using the coverage database, and wherein access to the coverage database by the coverage database and / or user equipment is specifically implemented as follows:

[0022] —Using the Open-RAN architecture, particularly allowing user equipment to directly access the coverage database, especially through the user plane bearer and / or an enhanced version of the control plane, to access the Radio Intelligent Controller (RIC) that provides the runtime environment for xapps, and / or

[0023] —Using the Service Infrastructure (SBA) framework defined in 3GPP, specifically by implementing the overlay database as a network function accessible to user equipment for overlay service provision, wherein the defined database provides overlay information fragments to user equipment through the Overlay Data Network Function (CDNF).

[0024] This invention can be implemented conveniently and efficiently, particularly by providing (and being received by user equipment) coverage information in a relatively simple and efficient manner through a coverage database. In particular, the coverage information database or coverage information entity or functionality corresponds to or exposes an interface to network functions or services within a mobile communication network (particularly its core network). The coverage information entity or functionality exposes its functionality or service through a service-based interface (SBI)—particularly to provide coverage information fragments upon receipt of a request (e.g., a request from a user equipment). This service-based interface specifically employs a well-defined REST interface, such as using HTTP / 2.

[0025] According to the invention, it is further advantageous and preferred that the coverage information corresponds to a fairly large geographical area, particularly covering a mobile communication network or even multiple mobile communication networks across countries, nations, or regions, wherein the coverage information segments transmitted to and received by the user equipment correspond to at least a portion of the geographical coverage of the coverage information, particularly with respect to the geographical area currently or generally relevant to the user equipment, particularly depending on the current and / or past movement of the user equipment, wherein the definition of the coverage information segments, and particularly their geographical extent, is performed taking into account possible subsequent movements of the user equipment during a predetermined future time interval (e.g., in minutes, hours, or several hours), wherein the coverage information segments, and particularly their geographical extent, are defined by the user equipment and / or by the mobile communication network, wherein the coverage information segments are requested by the user equipment to be transmitted to the user equipment, wherein the user equipment determines a set of location-related connectivity parameters at a second time point in a manner independent of the mobile communication network, and particularly at multiple time points, repeatedly determining a corresponding set of location-related connectivity parameters for a corresponding location.

[0026] Therefore, according to the present invention, the method of the present invention can be implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0027] Furthermore, according to the invention, it is advantageous and preferred that the coverage information segment be transmitted to the user equipment by the mobile communication network, in particular the corresponding radio cell of the currently serving user equipment, using the following methods:

[0028] —Control plane signaling, particularly radio access technologies as defined in 3GPP, especially radio resource control signaling in LTE, NR, or 6G, particularly during initial connection establishment or at other times, and / or

[0029] —System information broadcast,

[0030] In particular, the coverage information segments include local definitions of portions of a first geographic region and / or a second geographic region, particularly using polygons or polygon information—particularly using one or more polygons—to describe the corresponding portions of the first and / or second geographic regions, and preferably describing the corresponding or associated desired coverage level, particularly the desired coverage level per frequency or per frequency band and / or per radio access technology and / or per public terrestrial mobile network and / or per radio quality level, particularly in steps of 5 dB or 10 dB or 20 dB or greater.

[0031] Therefore, coverage information segments can be flexibly transmitted to user equipment, and coverage information segments with different content can also be flexibly provided (especially depending on the location (or geographical area) involved in the coverage information segment).

[0032] According to the invention, it is further advantageous and preferred that the coverage information and / or coverage information segments include location-related information associated with the desired radio quality level and / or desired coverage holes or white spots, wherein in particular the coverage information and / or coverage information segments are defined or acquired using artificial intelligence or machine learning algorithms, particularly as part of the Coverage Data Network Function (CDNF) to optimize the values ​​or relevance of database content, wherein in particular the coverage information and the resulting coverage information segments are defined and / or generated using at least in part measurements previously performed or previously reported by multiple user equipment, particularly using Minimized Drive Test (MDT) techniques.

[0033] Therefore, according to the present invention, the method of the present invention can be implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0034] Furthermore, according to the invention, it is advantageous and preferred that the location-related information regarding the desired radio quality level contained in the coverage information and / or coverage information segments corresponds to the standardization or normalization of typical user equipment, or to one or more different typical or standardized use scenarios of the user equipment, particularly corresponding to indoor use, or outdoor use, or use on vehicles or transmission devices, wherein the location-related information relating to the desired radio quality level differs in consideration of different use scenarios, wherein, in particular, the user equipment assesses the current actual radio quality level based on a comparison of the desired radio quality level and the actual radio quality level experienced or measured by the user equipment, thereby resulting in a reduction in the public terrestrial mobile network selection and / or cell selection procedures.

[0035] Therefore, according to the present invention, the method of the present invention can be implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0036] According to the present invention, it is further advantageous and preferred that the first time point or the first time interval and the second time point occur almost simultaneously or are at least separated by several seconds, several minutes, several hours, several days or even several weeks.

[0037] Therefore, coverage information segments transmitted to user equipment—and typically stored in the user equipment or in a storage device or storage section associated with or accessible by the user equipment or mobile device—can be advantageously used to provide background information for the user equipment, particularly periodically updated background information, in order to determine—instead of or supplementing—classical methods based on radio frequency measurements—which connection parameters to use, for example, for receiving broadcast channel information (particularly system information block information elements) or for contacting mobile communication networks or for providing radio coverage. Where coverage information segments are more often used as background information (e.g., in a more continuous or daily manner), the time difference between the first and second time points may, on average, be longer, for example, reaching several hours, days, or weeks. However, alternatively or cumulatively, when the user equipment is moving or traveling (especially at a relatively fast pace) toward a relatively uncommon geographical area (for the user equipment under consideration), and / or toward a geographical area known to include (e.g., particularly along traffic axes that allow relatively high speeds, such as highways or railway lines) poor coverage or coverage gaps, the coverage information fragments transmitted to the user equipment may also be used or applied by both the user equipment and the mobile communication network in a more ad hoc manner. For example, the user equipment may receive coverage information fragments (or supplementary coverage information fragments—in addition to their background coverage information) to be used for a short period of time (approximately a few seconds or minutes) after transmission.

[0038] Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous and preferred that the location detection means or capability of the user equipment be able to determine an indication or approximation of the current location of the user equipment by at least one of the following:

[0039] —Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) capabilities, particularly Auxiliary Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS) capabilities, which include location detection methods or capabilities.

[0040] —Location detection capabilities based on the observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) and / or enhanced cellular ID (ECID).

[0041] —Location detection capability based on radio frequency fingerprint recognition

[0042] —Position detection capability based on inertial sensors of user equipment and, in particular, sporadic position information transmitted to user equipment from mobile communication networks.

[0043] Therefore, according to the present invention, the method of the present invention can be implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0044] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a user equipment for providing communication services to a user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with a mobile communication network, wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a first geographic area, the user equipment is able or highly likely to be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network, and wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a second geographic area, the user equipment is unable or highly unlikely to be connected to or served by any base station entity of the access network and / or served by any base station entity of the access network and / or by any base station entity of another access network. A base station entity service, wherein coverage information, at least partially transmittable to and received by a user equipment, can indicate or reference a first geographic area and / or a second geographic area, such that the coverage information indicates—or can be derived from—different sets of location-related connectivity parameters to be used at different locations in the first and / or second geographic areas, so that the user equipment can obtain or be provided with radio coverage when located at such different locations, wherein the user equipment includes indication or approximate location detection means or capabilities for at least determining the current location of the user equipment, wherein, in order to provide communication services to the user equipment, the method includes the following steps:

[0045] --In the first step, the user equipment receives a coverage information segment at a first time point or during a first time interval, the coverage information segment being at least a portion of or corresponding to the coverage information.

[0046] --In the second step, the user equipment determines an indication or approximation of its current location at a second time point using its location detection means or capabilities, and the user equipment further determines a set of location-related connectivity parameters corresponding to the determined current location based on the indication or approximation of its current location and based on the coverage information fragment or its content, in order to obtain or be provided with radio coverage.

[0047] Therefore, the present invention can be advantageously implemented using corresponding user equipment.

[0048] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system or mobile communication network for providing communication services to user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with a mobile communication network, wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a first geographical area, the user equipment is able or highly likely to be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network, and wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a second geographical area, the user equipment is unable or highly unlikely to be connected to or served by any base station entity of the access network. / or served by any base station entity of another access network, wherein coverage information that can be at least partially transmitted to the user equipment via the mobile communication network is capable of indicating or referencing a first geographic area and / or a second geographic area, such that the coverage information indicates—or can be derived from—different sets of location-related connectivity parameters are to be used at different locations in the first and / or second geographic areas so that the user equipment is provided with radio coverage when located at such different locations, wherein the user equipment has the capability to at least determine an indication or approximation of the current location of the user equipment, wherein, in order to provide communication services to the user equipment, the system of the mobile communication network is configured such that:

[0049] --At a first time point or during a first time interval, the mobile communication network transmits and the user equipment receives coverage information segments, which are at least a portion of or correspond to at least a portion of the coverage information.

[0050] --At a second time point, the system or mobile communication network receives a connection request from the user equipment and provides radio coverage, wherein the connection request corresponds to or uses a location-related connection parameter set, which the user equipment can determine based on the determination of its current location and based on coverage information fragments or their content.

[0051] Furthermore, the present invention relates to coverage databases or coverage information entities or functionalities, particularly coverage data network functions, that are part of, assigned to, or accessible by, a system or mobile communication network according to the invention, or accessible by user equipment according to the invention. Specifically, coverage information entities or functionalities or coverage databases can be implemented as cloud-based network functions similar to other network functions in the 3GPP Service-Based Architecture (SBA).

[0052] Additionally, the present invention relates to a program comprising computer-readable program code that, when executed on a computer and / or a user equipment and / or a network node of a mobile communication network, or partially executed on a user equipment and / or partially on a network node of a mobile communication network, causes the computer and / or the user equipment and / or the network node of the mobile communication network to perform the method of the present invention.

[0053] Additionally, the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed on a computer and / or a user equipment and / or a network node of a mobile communication network, or partially executed on a user equipment and / or partially on a network node of a mobile communication network, cause the computer and / or the user equipment and / or the network node of the mobile communication network to perform the method of the present invention.

[0054] These and other features, characteristics, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the principles of the invention by way of example. This description is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the scope of the invention. Reference numerals cited below refer to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0055] Figure 1 The illustration depicts the situation of a user equipment in a mobile communication network, wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a first geographic area, the user equipment is able or highly likely to be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of an access network, and wherein when the user equipment is located in or near a second geographic area, the user equipment is unable or highly unlikely to be connected to or served by any base station entity of that access network and / or by any base station entity of another access network.

[0056] Figure 2 This illustration demonstrates how user equipment can determine its location based on the location detection methods or capabilities of the user equipment using a global navigation satellite system. Detailed Implementation

[0057] This invention will be described in conjunction with specific embodiments and with reference to certain accompanying drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto, but only by the claims. The described drawings are merely illustrative and not limiting. In the drawings, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes.

[0058] Use the indefinite or definite article when referring to a singular noun, such as “one,” “a,” or “the,” which includes the plural form of the noun, unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0059] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third, etc., used in the specification and claims are used to distinguish similar elements and are not necessarily used to describe an order or chronological order. It should be understood that these terms are interchangeable where appropriate, and the embodiments described in this invention can operate in orders other than those stated or shown herein.

[0060] exist Figure 1 The diagram schematically illustrates user equipment 20 moving or traveling within mobile communication network 100 along a path indicated by a through (bold) arrow and location indicators (denoted by reference numerals 1, 2, and 3). These location indicators are intended to schematically indicate different locations (or positions) of user equipment 20—a first location or position 1, a second location or position 2, and a third location or position 3—along its movement or travel path. Specifically, user equipment 20 is located at these different locations or positions 1, 2, and 3 at different points in time; the first point in time is when user equipment 20 is located at the first location or position 1; the second point in time is when user equipment 20 is located at the second location or position 2; and the third point in time is when user equipment 20 is located at the third location or position 3. Figure 1 In this diagram, the movement or travel path of user equipment 20 is schematically represented by a straight line (or arrow); however, this representation is chosen merely for simplicity. Of course, user equipment 20 may move along a curved or other non-linear path, which is often the case in practice. In the context of this invention, Figure 1 The user equipment 20 referred to herein may also be referred to as the user equipment under consideration or a particular user equipment; of course, there are usually other user equipment that are connected to (and / or served by) the mobile communication network 100, however, again for simplicity, Figure 1 No other user equipment of this kind was mentioned in the document.

[0061] Figure 1 The description describes the user equipment 20 within a mobile communication network 100, which is typically a terrestrial network and includes an access network 110 and a core network 120. The mobile communication network 100 is preferably a cellular telecommunications network, which typically includes multiple network cells (or radio cells). The access network 110 is part of or associated with the mobile communication network 100. The user equipment 20 can be connected to (or serviced by) a base station entity 111, which is part of the access network 110. Typically, in addition to the (first) base station entity 111, the access network 110 includes other base station entities. Figure 1Only one of them—the second base station entity 112—is shown schematically. Each of the base station entities 111 and 112 of the mobile communication network 100 (or its access network 110) serves a radio coverage area or radio cell, wherein (first) base station entity 111 serves first radio cell 11, and second base station entity 112 serves second radio cell 12. In practice, such radio coverage areas or radio cells 11, 12 provided or generated by the base station entities 111 and 112 of the access network 110 are generally geographically fixed (i.e., they cover almost the same geographical area continuously).

[0062] exist Figure 1 In the exemplary scenario shown, user equipment 20 is shown to be located within or near a first geographic area 250 (for some of the aforementioned locations or positions of user equipment 20, i.e., for the first and third locations or positions 1, 3 of user equipment 20), wherein user equipment 20 is capable of, or highly likely to be, connected to or served by at least one base station entity 111, 112 of access network 110. Additionally, Figure 1 The illustration shows that user equipment 20 is located in or near a second geographic area 260, where user equipment 20 cannot or has a very low probability of being connected to or served by any base station entity of access network 110 or by any base station entity of access network 110 and / or any base station entity of another access network; the only radio coverage that user equipment 20 may obtain within or near the second geographic area 260 may come from (non-terrestrial) base station entity 212. Figure 1 In this context, the base station entity 212 is schematically shown as part of another mobile communication network 200 having another core network 220 and another access network 210. In addition to the (non-terrestrial) base station entity 212, the other access network 210 also includes another base station entity 211 serving another radio cell 11'.

[0063] According to the present invention, access network 110 of mobile communication network 100 or access network 110 associated with mobile communication network 100 is used to provide communication services to user equipment 20. In a typical mobile communication network 100 (i.e., within the geographical area covered by mobile communication network 100), user equipment 20 typically experiences better radio coverage in some geographical areas than in others. This is in Figure 1The illustration is provided exemplarily through a first geographic region 250 and a second geographic region 260. When the user equipment 20 (i.e., a typical user equipment 20) is located within or near the first geographic region 250, the user equipment 20 is able or highly likely to be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network 110; while when the user equipment 20 is located within or near the second geographic region 260, the user equipment 20 is unable or has a very low probability of being connected to or served by any base station entity of the access network 110 and / or any base station entity of another access network (i.e., any other access network). For simplicity, the first geographic region 250 generally corresponds to a combination of a first radio cell 11 and a second radio cell 12 served by a first base station entity 111 and a second base station entity 112 of the access network 110, respectively. Figure 1 In this context, the second geographic region 260 is indicated as being approximately located between the first radio cell 11 and the second radio cell 12.

[0064] According to the present invention, coverage information 650 can be at least partially transmitted to user equipment 20, indicating to user equipment 20 which connection parameters (or sets of connection parameters) are preferred for connection to mobile communication network 100, i.e., one of base station entities 111, 112 connected to mobile communication network 100. In cases where no suitable connection parameters or sets of connection parameters are indicated as part of the coverage information 650 regarding a certain location or geographical area, such location or geographical area is more likely to belong to second geographical area 260. Conversely, in cases where one or more suitable connection parameters or sets of connection parameters are indicated as part of the coverage information regarding another location or geographical area, it can be inferred that such other location or geographical area is more likely to belong to first geographical area 250. Therefore, at least in principle, the first geographic region 250 and / or the second geographic region 260 can be indicated or referenced by the coverage information 650, and in particular, the coverage information 650 indicates—or can be derived from—different sets of location-related connectivity parameters should be used at different locations within the considered geographic region (particularly the first geographic region 250 and / or the second geographic region 260) so that the user equipment can obtain or be provided with radio coverage when located at such different locations. Additionally, according to the invention, the user equipment 20 includes a location detection means or capability 25 for at least determining an indication or approximation of its current location, and the method of the invention includes the steps of: the user equipment 20 receiving a coverage information segment 651; the user equipment 20 determining its current location (or its indication or approximation) and—based on its current location and the coverage information segment 651 or its contents—determining a set of location-related connectivity parameters (which corresponds to the determined current location and is used to obtain or be provided with radio coverage). The coverage information segment 651 is typically only a portion (particularly a geographic subset) of the coverage information 650, which typically covers the entire coverage area of ​​the mobile communication network 100. Additionally, the coverage information segment 651 is transmitted to (and received by) user equipment 20 during the first time point or the first time interval, while the determination of the current location of user equipment 20 (or an indication or approximation of the current location using location detection means or capability 25) and the determination of the set of location-related connection parameters to be applied or used by user equipment 20 at its current location are typically performed at a (different) second time point—and typically, at the second time point, user equipment 20 will be located at a different position or location than during the first time point or the first time interval.

[0065] This is Figure 1 The explanation is schematic. Figure 1The image shows user equipment 20 located at its first location or position 1, which is part of a first radio cellular cell 11 served by a first base station entity 111 (indicated by a (dashed) double-headed arrow between user equipment 20 at its first location or position 1 and the first base station entity 111). Furthermore... Figure 1 The diagram also shows that coverage information segment 651 is transmitted from the first base station entity 111 to the user equipment 20; this is indicated by a (dashed) curved arrow pointing towards the user equipment 20 at its first location or position 1. The first base station entity 111 may have already stored coverage information segment 651 to be sent to the user equipment 20, or—as... Figure 1 As the illustrative representation implies, the first base station entity 111 retrieves coverage information fragment 651 from the coverage database 600 or a coverage information entity or function having the coverage database 600. The coverage database 600 is, in particular, accessible via the mobile communication network 100, and includes coverage information 650, or can be used to retrieve coverage information 650. Figure 1 In this context, coverage database 600 or coverage information entity or functionality is schematically shown as part of the core network 120 of mobile communication network 100, but it may also be located elsewhere (but accessible by mobile communication network 100 and its components, elements, and / or network nodes). Thus, user equipment 20's location at its first position or location 1 schematically represents the transmission of coverage information segment 651 from mobile communication network 100 to user equipment 20, i.e., the first step of the method according to the invention, and it occurs at a first point in time or during a first time interval. The definition of coverage information segment 651—i.e., which portion of coverage information 650 is actually transmitted to user equipment 20—may depend, for example, on which portion of the geographical coverage of coverage information 650 is currently or generally associated with user equipment 20, particularly on the current and / or past movement of user equipment 20. According to another alternative embodiment, when defining the coverage information segment 651 to be transmitted to user equipment 20, possible subsequent movement of user equipment 20 within a predetermined future time interval (e.g., minutes, an hour, or several hours) is taken into account. In particular, the coverage information segment 651 (and especially its geographical range) is defined by the user equipment 20 or by the mobile communication network 100 or both.

[0066] At subsequent points in time, Figure 1The text describes user equipment 20 as being located at its second location or position 2 or its third location or position 3. Specifically, user equipment 20 determines the location-related connectivity parameter set independently of the mobile communication network 100 and / or particularly at multiple time points (after the first time point). In the second step of the method of the invention, performed when user equipment 20 is located at its second location or position 2 (which is part of a second geographical area 260 with poor radio coverage from the mobile communication network 100), user equipment 20 determines its current location and further determines, based on its current location and the coverage information fragment 651 (stored within user equipment 20) or its contents, that there is absolutely no available (terrestrial) mobile communication network (i.e., coverage information fragment 651 does not indicate any suitable connectivity parameter set) or the only possibility is the use of a non-terrestrial base station entity 212 (in...). Figure 1 (Illustratively indicated), that the set of connection parameters corresponding to such a non-terrestrial base station entity 212 may be indicated by coverage information fragment 651. In the case where the second step of the method of the invention is performed when the user equipment 20 is located at its third location or position 3 (again as part of the first geographic area 250), the user equipment 20 determines its current location and further determines, based on both its current location and coverage information fragment 651 or its content, that coverage can be obtained from the second base station entity 112 of the mobile communication network 100 by applying the set of connection parameters corresponding to the second base station entity 112 (in... Figure 1 In the diagram, the service provided by the second base station entity 112 to the user equipment 20 is again schematically represented by a (dashed) bidirectional arrow between the user equipment 20 and the second base station entity 112 at its third location or position 3.

[0067] According to the invention, coverage information segment 651 is transmitted, in particular, by the corresponding radio cell (or base station entity 111, 112) currently serving user equipment 20, and particularly using system information broadcasting and / or control plane signaling, especially radio resource control signaling in 3GPP-defined radio access technologies (especially LTE, NR, or 6G), particularly at the time of initial connection establishment or at another point in time. In particular, coverage information segment 651 may include local definitions of portions of a first geographic area 250 and / or a second geographic area 260, particularly using polygons or polygon information—particularly using one or more polygons—to describe the corresponding portions of the first and / or second geographic areas 250, 260, and preferably describes the corresponding or associated desired coverage level, particularly the desired coverage level per frequency or per band and / or per radio access technology and / or per public terrestrial mobile network and / or per radio quality level, particularly in steps of 5 dB or 10 dB or 20 dB or greater.

[0068] exist Figure 2 In the diagram, user equipment 20 is schematically shown to have its position detection means or capability 25—in particular a global navigation satellite system receiver—for determining its own (current) position or location: user equipment 20 determines its position or location based on the use of a global navigation satellite system; Figure 2 The image schematically shows three of the satellites.

[0069] According to an embodiment of the invention, it is assumed that user equipment 20 is allowed to access a specific coverage database, namely coverage database 600 with coverage information 650, and download relevant coverage information (i.e., coverage information fragment 651) to user equipment 20 for further use. Coverage database 600 not only contains information about the coverage area provided by a specific PLMN (i.e., mobile communication network 100), but may also contain detailed information about the desired frequencies, radio technologies, or detailed radio quality levels within that coverage area. In particular, (coverage) database 600 can be implemented in an O-RAN (OpenRAN) architecture by allowing user equipment 20 to directly access the Radio Intelligent Controller (RIC) via a user plane bearer or an enhanced version of the control plane. This Radio Intelligent Controller (RIC) is designed to provide a runtime environment for so-called xApps; these xApps are, in particular, third-party applications that can run in an open RIC environment and provide specific services to different entities. Alternatively, the (coverage) database 600 can be implemented by extending the Service Architecture (SBA) framework defined by 3GPP for 5G to User Equipment 20. In doing so, User Equipment 20 (e.g., via User Equipment request) can access network functions (NFs) for coverage service provisioning (i.e., coverage information entities or functionalities), and the defined database (coverage database 600) can provide relevant coverage information (i.e., coverage information fragments 651) to User Equipment 20 via Coverage Data Network Function (CDNF) (i.e., coverage information entities or functionalities). This concept can also be integrated into an Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI / ML) framework, currently being defined within 3GPP and O-RAN. For example, (measured) coverage information reports based on well-known Minimum Drive Test (MDT) characteristics can utilize crowdsourced data to train AI / ML algorithms in the CDNF to obtain more realistic coverage information over time based on such algorithms. In alternative or further embodiments, the AI / ML algorithm may also predict the movement of a particular user equipment 20 and take appropriate measurements on the user equipment itself (i.e., to notify of an impending coverage interruption) or within the mobile communication network 100, such as allowing a proactive change of connection to an alternative PLMN or other network (i.e., in the case of entering indoors, proactively switching the user equipment 20 to WLAN or using a satellite-based connection).

[0070] According to another embodiment of the invention, control plane signaling is assumed to be used, namely radio resource control (RRC) signaling in radio technologies (such as LTE, NR, or 6G) defined in 3GPP. At the time of initial connection establishment or at any other connection, radio access network 110 provides user equipment 20 with specific coverage information (i.e., coverage information fragment 651 related to user equipment 20 in a specific geographical area). This information contains coverage information about the expected radio coverage in the area or corresponding areas (particularly in the form of polygons described by geographic reference points, such as GNSS coordinates). Coverage information fragment 651 can be, for example, per frequency, per radio access technology, or per public terrestrial mobile network. Furthermore, this information does not need to provide a continuous large polygon of the coverage area at each cell level; it can also contain multiple polygons describing dispersed coverage areas. For example, discontinuous (or separated) polygons refer to accessible coverage areas or different coverage levels. Such coverage information can also be differentiated with respect to desired radio quality (i.e., with regard to specific radio parameters, such as received RSSI / RSRP / RSCP), for example, providing different coverage maps / polygons to user equipment 20 at each quality level (e.g., in steps of 10 or 20 dB). In particular, the coverage information (or coverage information fragment 651) can be provided to user equipment 20 using system information broadcasts, which are themselves necessary for configuring user equipment 20 for channel access, cell level quality parameters, and neighbor cell information.

[0071] The following is an example of adding ASN.1 for same-frequency coverage information—the same applies to different frequencies and cross-RAT cases: SIB3START ASN:1 CODE

[0072] : Caries NR Intrafrequency Neighbor cell list and Reselection Critera

[0073] SIB3 ::= SEQUENCE {

[0074] intraFreqNeighCellList IntraFreqNeighCellList OPTIONAL,

[0075] intraFreqBlackCellList IntraFreqBlackCellList OPTIONAL,

[0076] lateNonCriticalExtension OCTET STRING OPTIONAL,

[0077] intraFreqCoveragePolygon IntraFreqCoveragePolygonList OPTIONAL, ...

[0079] }

[0080] IntraFreqNeighCellList ::= SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxCellIntra)) OFIntraFreqNeighCellInfo

[0081] IntraFreqNeighCellInfo ::= SEQUENCE {

[0082] physCellId PhysCellId,

[0083] q-OffsetCell Q-OffsetRange,

[0084] q-RxLevMinOffsetCell INTEGER (1..8) OPTIONAL,

[0085] q-RxLevMinOffsetCellSUL INTEGER (1..8) OPTIONAL,

[0086] q-QualMinOffsetCell INTEGER (1..8) OPTIONAL, ...

[0088] }

[0089] IntraFreqBlackCellList ::= SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxCellBlack)) OF PCI-Range

[0090] IntraFreqCoveragePolygoneList ::= SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxIntraCoveragePolygon)) OF IntraFreqCoveragePolgonInfo

[0091] IntraFreqCoveragePolgonInfo ::= SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxNrOfPoints)) OFSEQUENCE

[0092] {geographicalCoordinates[0] GeographicalCoordinates, ...

[0094] } ...

[0096] }

[0097] GeographicalCoordinates ::= SEQUENCE

[0098] {

[0099] latitudeSign[0] ENUMERATED

[0100] {

[0101] north(0),

[0102] south(1)

[0103] },

[0104] latitude[1] INTEGER (0..8388607),

[0105] longitude[2] INTEGER (-8388608..8388607), ...

[0107] }

[0108] END ASN:1 CODE

[0109] In order to provide multiple coverage map levels depending on the desired cell quality (in the form of received RSSI / RSRP / RSCP), ASN.1 needs to be adjusted to reflect these multiple maps.

[0110] According to a further embodiment of the invention, in addition to providing an actual coverage map (i.e., a map or polygon indicating the availability of cellular coverage) as part of coverage information fragment 651, the invention may also indicate desired coverage holes ("white spots," i.e., "negative" coverage (or lack of "positive" coverage) according to similar principles described above (instead of providing "positive" coverage information or cumulatively with providing "positive" coverage information). Specifically, the provision of the coverage map (i.e., coverage information 650 or coverage information fragment 651) may be based on 3GPP-defined MDT (Minimum Drive Test) technology, which builds and updates coverage maps based on customer crowdsourced measurements (these maps may initially be built based on network planning data). Selective map provision for the user equipment 20 under consideration may be based on ML / AI processes that customize the content (i.e., the content of coverage information fragment 651) according to the mobility / mobility profile of the specific device (i.e., the user equipment 20 under consideration).

Claims

1. A method for providing communication services to a user equipment (20) using an access network (110) of a mobile communication network (100) or an access network (110) associated with the mobile communication network (100), wherein when the user equipment (20) is located in or near a first geographic area (250), the user equipment (20) is able or highly likely to be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network (110), and wherein when the user equipment (20) is located in or near a second geographic area (260), the user equipment (20) is unable or highly unlikely to be connected to or served by any base station entity of the access network (110) and / or by any base station entity of another access network. Coverage information (650), which can be at least partially transmitted to and received by the user equipment (20), can indicate or reference the first geographic area (250) and / or the second geographic area (260) such that the coverage information (650) indicates—or can be derived from the coverage information (650)—that different sets of location-related connectivity parameters should be used at different locations in the first and / or second geographic areas (250, 260), so that the user equipment (20) can obtain or be provided with radio coverage when located at such different locations. The user equipment (20) includes a means or capability (25) for at least determining the current position of the user equipment (20) or an approximate position detection means. Its features are, In order to provide communication services for the user equipment (20), the method includes the following steps: --In the first step, the user equipment (20) receives a coverage information segment (651) at a first time point or during a first time interval, the coverage information segment (651) being a part of or corresponding to the coverage information (650), wherein the coverage information (650) corresponds to a fairly large geographical area, and the coverage information segment (651) corresponds to a part of the geographical area of ​​the coverage information (650), the geographical area currently associated with the user equipment (20) depending on the current and / or past movement of the user equipment (20). --In the second step, the user equipment (20) determines an indication or approximation of the current location of the user equipment (20) at a second time point and using the location detection means or capability (25) of the user equipment (20), and the user equipment (20) further determines the set of location-related connectivity parameters corresponding to the determined current location and to be used based on the indication or approximation of the current location of the user equipment (20) and based on the coverage information fragment (651) or its content, in order to obtain or be provided with radio coverage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-related connection parameter set corresponds to or includes at least one of the following: —Information about or indicating the frequency band to be used and / or information about or indicating the frequency to be used. —Information regarding or indicating the radio access technology to be used. —Information regarding another mobile communication network (200) as an alternative to the public terrestrial mobile network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication network (100) includes a coverage database (600) or a coverage information entity or function having a coverage database (600), or the coverage database (600) is accessible via the mobile communication network (100), wherein the coverage database (600) includes the coverage information (650) or the coverage information (650) retrievable using the coverage database (600). The access of the coverage database (600) and / or the user equipment (20) to the coverage database (600) is achieved using the following: —Use the Open-RAN architecture for Open Radio Access Network, and / or —Using the Service Infrastructure (SBA) framework defined in 3GPP, wherein the defined database provides the overlay information fragment (651) to the user equipment (20) through the overlay data network function (CDNF).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the definition of the coverage information segment (651) and its geographical extent are performed taking into account possible subsequent movements of the user equipment (20) during a predetermined future time interval. The coverage information segment (651) and its geographical range are defined by the user equipment (20) and / or by the mobile communication network (100).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the coverage information segment (651) is requested by the user equipment (20) to be transmitted to the user equipment (20).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the coverage information segment (651) is transmitted by the mobile communication network (100) to the user equipment (20) using the following methods: —Control plane signaling, and / or —System information broadcast.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the coverage information segment (651) includes local definitions of portions of the first geographic region (250) and / or portions of the second geographic region (260).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the coverage information (650) and / or the coverage information fragment (651) includes location-related information associated with the desired radio quality level and / or the desired coverage hole or white spot. The coverage information (650) and / or the coverage information fragment (651) are defined or obtained using artificial intelligence or machine learning algorithms in order to optimize the values ​​or relevance of the database content. The coverage information (650), and the subsequent coverage information segments (651), are defined and / or generated at least in part using coverage information previously performed or previously reported by multiple user equipment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-related information regarding the desired radio quality level in the coverage information (650) and / or the coverage information segment (651) corresponds to one or more different typical or standardized use cases of the user equipment (20), The location-related information relating to the desired radio quality level varies depending on the specific use case. The user equipment assesses the current actual radio quality level based on a comparison between the desired radio quality level and the actual radio quality level experienced or measured by the user equipment (20).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first time point or the first time interval and the second time point occur almost simultaneously or are at least separated by several seconds, several minutes, several hours, several days or several weeks.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the position detection means or capability (25) of the user equipment (20) is capable of determining at least an indication or approximation of the current position of the user equipment (20) by at least one of the following: —The location detection means or capability (25) of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) capability, —Location detection capabilities based on the observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) and / or enhanced cellular ID (ECID). —Location detection capability based on radio frequency fingerprint recognition —Position detection capability based on the inertial sensors of the user equipment (20).

12. A user equipment (20) for receiving communication services using an access network (110) of a mobile communication network (100) or an access network (110) associated with the mobile communication network (100), wherein when the user equipment (20) is located in or near a first geographic area (250), the user equipment (20) is able or highly likely to be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network (110), and wherein when the user equipment (20) is located in or near a second geographic area (260), the user equipment (20) is unable or highly unlikely to be connected to or served by any base station entity of the access network (110) and / or by any base station entity of another access network. Coverage information (650), which can be at least partially transmitted to and received by the user equipment (20), can indicate or reference the first geographic area (250) and / or the second geographic area (260) such that the coverage information (650) indicates—or can be derived from the coverage information (650)—that different sets of location-related connectivity parameters should be used at different locations in the first and / or second geographic areas (250, 260), so that the user equipment (20) can obtain or be provided with radio coverage when located at such different locations. The user equipment (20) includes a means or capability (25) for at least determining the current position of the user equipment (20) or an approximate position detection means. Its features are, In order to provide communication services for the user equipment (20), the user equipment (20) is configured such that: --In the first step, the user equipment (20) receives a coverage information segment (651) at a first time point or during a first time interval, the coverage information segment (651) being a part of or corresponding to the coverage information (650), wherein the coverage information (650) corresponds to a fairly large geographical area, and the coverage information segment (651) corresponds to a part of the geographical area of ​​the coverage information (650), the geographical area currently associated with the user equipment (20) depending on the current and / or past movement of the user equipment (20). --In the second step, the user equipment (20) determines an indication or approximation of the current location of the user equipment (20) at a second time point and using the location detection means or capability (25) of the user equipment (20), and the user equipment (20) further determines the set of location-related connectivity parameters corresponding to the determined current location and to be used based on the indication or approximation of the current location of the user equipment (20) and based on the coverage information fragment (651) or its content, in order to obtain or be provided with radio coverage.

13. A system for providing communication services to a user equipment (20) using an access network (110) of a mobile communication network (100) or an access network (110) associated with the mobile communication network (100), wherein the system comprises the mobile communication network (100) and the user equipment (20), wherein when the user equipment (20) is located in or near a first geographic area (250), the user equipment (20) is able or highly likely to be connected to or served by at least one base station entity of the access network (110), and wherein when the user equipment (20) is located in or near a second geographic area (260), the user equipment (20) is unable or highly unlikely to be connected to or served by any base station entity of the access network (110) and / or by any base station entity of another access network. Coverage information (650) that can be transmitted at least partially to the user equipment (20) via the mobile communication network (100) can indicate or reference the first geographic area (250) and the second geographic area (260) such that the coverage information (650) indicates—or can be derived from the coverage information (650)—that different sets of location-related connectivity parameters should be used at different locations in the first and second geographic areas (250, 260) so that the user equipment (20) is provided with radio coverage when located in such locations. The user equipment (20) has means or capability for at least determining an indication or approximate position of the current position of the user equipment (20). Its features are, In order to provide communication services for the user equipment (20), the system is configured such that: --At a first time point or during a first time interval, the mobile communication network (100) transmits and the user equipment (20) receives a coverage information segment (651), the coverage information segment (651) being a part of or corresponding to the coverage information (650), wherein the coverage information (650) corresponds to a fairly large geographical area, and the coverage information segment (651) corresponds to a part of the geographical area of ​​the coverage information (650), the geographical area currently associated with the user equipment (20) depending on the current and / or past movement of the user equipment (20). --At a second time point, the system or mobile communication network (100) receives a connection request from the user equipment (20) and provides radio coverage, wherein the connection request corresponds to or uses the location-related connection parameter set, and the user equipment (20) can determine the location-related connection parameter set based on the determination of the current location of the user equipment (20) and based on the coverage information fragment (651) or its content.

14. A program product comprising computer-readable program code, which, when executed in a system comprising a mobile communication network (100) and user equipment (20), causes the system to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed in a system comprising a mobile communication network (100) and user equipment (20), cause the system to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

Images