5G NSA Secondary Cell Addition Bandwidth Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G NSA network architecture fails to maximize the total bandwidth of LTE and NR cells, leading to suboptimal user experience due to the sole consideration of signal energy during secondary cell addition.

Innovation Solution

A method where a terminal performs LTE cell search and adds an NR cell based on the bandwidth of both the camped LTE cell and the NR cell, optimizing the selection to maximize the total bandwidth and improve user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If only signal energy is considered for adding the SCell, then the cell addition process is simple, but the total bandwidth of the anchor cell and added SCell is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell addition process complexityVSAvoidtotal bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the selection parameter from only signal energy to a composite criterion that includes both signal energy and bandwidth. The terminal device selects the anchor cell and SCell combination based on maximizing total bandwidth while ensuring signal energy meets a threshold requirement, thereby transforming the single-parameter selection into a multi-parameter optimization process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the terminal selects anchor cell and SCell based on maximum total bandwidth, then user experience is improved, but the cell search and selection process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experience qualityVSAvoidcell search and selection process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by first obtaining bandwidth information of multiple anchor cells and their corresponding SCells before performing selection. The terminal device pre-collects bandwidth data and then uses this information alongside signal energy measurements to make the final selection, thereby avoiding complex real-time calculations during the actual cell addition process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device autonomously performs the bandwidth-based selection process without requiring complex network coordination. The device independently obtains bandwidth information, calculates total bandwidth for different anchor cell-SCell combinations, and makes the selection decision itself, reducing the overall system complexity while improving user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If signal energy threshold is lowered to facilitate SCell addition, then more cells can be added, but the quality of communication may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell addition flexibilityVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new selection dimension (bandwidth) to complement the signal energy criterion. Instead of merely lowering the signal energy threshold, the system maintains the threshold requirement and adds bandwidth as a secondary optimization parameter. This allows flexible cell addition while ensuring both signal quality and bandwidth requirements are met, preventing communication quality deterioration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4047998B1Secondary cell adding method, terminal and chip
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4047998B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4047998B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4047998B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A secondary cell adding method, a terminal, and a chip are disclosed, which relate to the field of communication technologies. The method includes: camping, by a terminal, on a first primary cell, where the first primary cell supports NSA; receiving, by the terminal, a secondary cell measurement message sent by a network device, where the secondary cell measurement message includes a frequency of a first secondary cell and a first signal energy threshold, and a frequency of a second secondary cell and a second signal energy threshold; performing secondary cell measurement based on the frequency of the first secondary cell, where a priority of the frequency of the first secondary cell is higher than a priority of the frequency of the second secondary cell; and performing, by the terminal, an operation of adding the first secondary cell when signal energy detected at the frequency of the first secondary cell is greater than or equal to the first signal energy threshold. This technical solution enables the added secondary cell to better meet a communication requirement, thereby improving user experience.