Adaptive Cell Measurement Timing for UE Battery Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular networks, particularly LTE networks, frequent signal quality measurements across multiple cells consume significant battery and signaling resources, especially as the number of available cells increases, leading to inefficient resource utilization and potential throughput degradation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that determines the mobility of user equipment (UE) to delay or modify signal quality measurements, such as pausing or extending the interval of measurements when the UE is stationary, thereby conserving resources and optimizing channel selection processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If frequent signal quality measurements are performed across multiple cells, then cell selection accuracy is improved, but battery consumption and signaling resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the measurement frequency adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts measurement intervals based on detected UE mobility states (stationary, low mobility, high mobility), allowing measurement frequency to change according to operational conditions. This resolves the contradiction by performing frequent measurements only when necessary (high mobility) and reducing measurements when unnecessary (stationary), thus maintaining cell selection accuracy while reducing battery consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of measurement frequency based on mobility detection. By introducing mobility state detection as a control parameter, the system transitions from fixed frequent measurements to variable measurement intervals. When UE is detected as stationary, measurement frequency is reduced; when mobile, frequency increases. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between measurement precision and energy consumption.
2Measurement precision
If frequent signal quality measurements are performed across multiple cells, then cell selection accuracy is improved, but signaling resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts signaling frequency based on UE mobility state. Instead of continuous frequent signaling, the system modulates measurement and reporting frequency according to whether the UE is stationary or mobile. This reduces signaling resource usage while maintaining measurement accuracy by performing signaling only when mobility changes occur or at extended intervals during stationary periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the signaling parameter (measurement frequency) based on detected mobility conditions. By introducing mobility-based thresholds and adjusting measurement intervals accordingly, the system reduces the quantity of signaling messages transmitted to the network, resolving the contradiction between maintaining accurate cell selection information and reducing signaling resource consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If measurement intervals are extended to conserve battery, then energy consumption is reduced, but cell selection responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making measurement intervals adaptive to UE mobility state. The system detects mobility conditions and dynamically adjusts measurement frequency: using extended intervals during stationary periods to conserve battery, while automatically switching to frequent measurements when mobility is detected. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring responsiveness is maintained when needed (mobile state) while achieving energy savings when unnecessary (stationary state).
Data Source
AI summary
User Equipment (UE), computer readable media, and methods to modify communication channel measurement timing based on a mobility of the UE are disclosed. The UE may include circuitry configured to determine a plurality of signals from one or more cells, determine a first value for a first performance metric associated with a first cell of the one or more cells, wherein the first value is determined from a first measurement, select the first cell for a first communication based on the first value, determine first location information associated with the UE, determine, following the first measurement and using the first location information, that the UE is stationary, and delay, in response to the determination that the UE is stationary, a second measurement of the first performance metric. In various alternate embodiments, different measurement types may be used for mobility and channel quality determinations. In further embodiments, only measurements for unused channels may be delayed.