Aggregated Cell Load Signaling in UMTS-LTE Interworking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The current interworking of UMTS and LTE systems leads to excessive signaling loads and network inefficiencies, particularly when LTE small cells or pico cells are deployed within UMTS macro cell coverage, resulting in suboptimal user experience and network overload.
Innovation Solution
A method for transmitting cell load information between a mobility management entity (MME) of a UMTS system and eNodeBs, using a radio access network (RAN) information relay message via an S3 interface, to reduce signaling overhead by combining load information requests and responses from multiple eNBs, thereby optimizing inter-RAT handovers and resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If LTE small cells or pico cells are deployed within UMTS macro cell coverage, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but signaling load increases excessively causing network overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual cell load information requests from different eNBs into a single aggregated request message. Instead of each eNB sending separate requests to the MME, the system merges these requests and sends one consolidated message containing information about multiple target cells, thereby reducing the total number of signaling transactions between the access network and core network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal message structure that can carry cell load information for multiple different cells and eNBs simultaneously. This single message format serves multiple functions: it can request load information for various target cells, handle different eNBs, and support both UMTS and LTE systems through a unified interface, reducing the need for multiple specialized signaling paths.
2Measurement precision
If individual cell load information requests are sent from each eNB to the MME, then each eNB obtains accurate load information, but signaling overhead increases causing network inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual cell load information requests into a single aggregated request message. The MME receives one consolidated message containing identifiers for multiple target cells instead of processing numerous separate requests, thereby maintaining accurate load information retrieval while significantly reducing signaling overhead between the access network and core network.
3Ease of operation
If cell load information is transmitted between MME and eNBs through individual messages, then each eNB receives relevant load data, but the core network experiences excessive processing burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cell load information transmission operations into a single aggregated message flow. The MME processes one consolidated request containing multiple cell identifiers and returns a single response message with load information for all requested cells, thereby reducing the processing burden on the core network while ensuring each eNB receives the necessary load data for its target cells.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for transmitting cell load information in a wireless communication system is provided. A mobility management entity (MME) of an evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) system receives cell load information of a cell in a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) system, from a radio network controller (RNC) of the UMTS system, and transmits the received cell load information to a plurality of eNodeBs (eNBs) of the E-UTRAN system, respectively.