Access Device Paging Method Reducing Signaling Complexity

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing paging process in wireless networks is complex and involves a large amount of signaling, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity.

Innovation Solution

A method where an access device receives downlink data with a terminal's identifier, determines a paging identifier, and sends a paging message without relying on control plane network elements, thereby reducing signaling and simplifying the process by using a shortened signaling path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the traditional paging process involving control plane network elements is used, then reliable connection reestablishment is achieved, but signaling overhead and process complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reestablishment reliabilityVSAvoidpaging process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the paging function from the control plane network elements (MME, S-GW) and relocates it to the access device (eNB). By removing the involvement of control plane elements, the complex multi-node signaling process is simplified while maintaining the essential paging functionality for connection reestablishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the user plane and control plane functions at the access device. The eNB performs both data forwarding (user plane) and paging control (control plane function) locally, eliminating the need for separate control plane elements and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple control plane network elements are involved in the paging process, then comprehensive connection management is achieved, but signaling transmission path lengthens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection management capabilityVSAvoidsignaling transmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes control plane network elements (MME, S-GW) from the signaling path and consolidates their paging-related functions at the access device. This extraction shortens the signaling transmission path by eliminating intermediate nodes while preserving essential connection management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The access device performs preliminary actions by maintaining local context information about terminals and preparing paging messages in advance. When paging is needed, the access device can immediately generate and transmit paging messages without requiring sequential signaling with multiple control plane elements, thus reducing transmission time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3589039B1Paging method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3589039B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3589039B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3589039B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A paging method and apparatus are provided to resolve a prior-art problem that a paging process is complex. The method includes: receiving, by an access device, downlink data, where the downlink data includes a first identifier of a terminal; determining a paging identifier based on the first identifier; and sending, by the access device, a paging message to the terminal, where the paging message carries the paging identifier. Therefore, after the access device receives the downlink data, the paging process is initiated by the access device, and there is no need to use a control plane network element device, so that signaling is reduced, a signaling transmission path is shortened, and complexity of the paging process is reduced.