Access Node Scheduling Priority for Low Battery NSA UEs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual-connectivity service in cellular networks, particularly for battery-powered user equipment (UEs), leads to increased battery energy drain due to concurrent operation on multiple connections, which can result in battery exhaustion and loss of connectivity, especially for UEs with low remaining battery energy.
Innovation Solution
The access node detects UEs operating with non-standalone (NSA) connectivity and low battery energy, increasing their air-interface scheduling priority to expedite communication by allocating more resources, thereby reducing the need for prolonged communication on multiple connections and conserving battery energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dual-connectivity service is provided to UEs, then network coverage and service reliability are improved, but battery energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the connectivity mode of UEs based on their remaining battery energy levels. When battery energy is sufficient, UEs operate in dual-connectivity mode for optimal performance. When battery energy drops below a threshold, the system transitions these UEs to standalone connectivity mode, reducing their energy consumption while maintaining basic service reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of UE connectivity by switching between dual-connectivity and standalone modes based on battery energy parameters. This parameter change allows the network to optimize the trade-off between service reliability and energy consumption for each UE individually.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If UEs with low battery energy continue to operate with NSA connectivity, then service continuity is maintained, but battery exhaustion occurs leading to loss of connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by detecting when UE battery energy drops below a threshold and proactively switches these UEs from NSA to standalone connectivity mode before battery exhaustion occurs. This preventive measure ensures service continuity by maintaining connectivity through the alternative standalone mode rather than allowing complete battery depletion.
3Use of energy by moving object
If resource allocation is optimized for UEs with low battery energy, then battery conservation is achieved, but network resource distribution complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating UEs differently based on their individual battery energy states. UEs with sufficient battery energy receive standard resource allocation, while UEs with low battery energy receive prioritized resource allocation and mode switching. This localized differentiation achieves energy conservation for vulnerable UEs without requiring complete reconfiguration of network resource management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system to control air-interface-resource scheduling priority of a user equipment device (UE) served by an access node over an air interface, where the air interface defining air-interface resources such as physical resource blocks (PRBs) allocable by the access node. In an example method, the access node detects that both (i) the UE has threshold low remaining battery energy and (ii) the UE is served with non-standalone connectivity, such as EN-DC, rather than with standalone connectivity, such as 4G-only or 5G-only. And based at least on that detecting, the access node transitions from serving the UE with a baseline air-interface scheduling priority to serving the UE instead with an increased air-interface scheduling priority higher than the baseline scheduling priority.