Automatic Neighbor Relation via UE Unknown Cell Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, predicting radio propagation and establishing direct connections between base stations is challenging, particularly in 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and New Radio (NR), making it difficult to identify neighboring base stations for smooth mobility procedures.
Innovation Solution
User Equipment (UE) is configured with reference signal configurations and a measurement report triggering criterion to detect unknown cells, allowing it to report their globally unique identities to the serving base station, facilitating automatic neighbor relation establishment and improved network connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of neighbor base station relations is performed, then network connectivity can be established, but the complexity of network deployment and maintenance increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic neighbor relation (ANR) functionality where the network self-configures neighbor relations without manual intervention. The base station automatically detects unknown cells through UE measurement reports and updates the neighbor relation table autonomously, eliminating the need for manual neighbor relation configuration and reducing deployment complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures measurement triggering criteria and reference signal configurations for known cells, enabling the UE to automatically detect and report unknown cells. This preliminary setup allows the network to proactively discover and establish neighbor relations before they are manually configured, improving connectivity while reducing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If extensive pre-configuration of reference signals is performed for all potential neighboring cells, then measurement accuracy improves, but the device complexity and configuration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of configuring reference signals for all potential neighboring cells, the system configures reference signals only for known cells in the neighbor relation table. The UE uses measurement reports from these configured cells to trigger detection of unknown cells, achieving sufficient measurement precision without the overhead of extensive pre-configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the cell detection process into two stages: first, the UE performs measurements on configured reference signals from known cells; second, when measurement triggering criteria are met, the UE autonomously detects and reports unknown cells. This segmentation reduces configuration overhead while maintaining detection accuracy through targeted measurement approaches.
3Reliability
If the network uses manual neighbor relation configuration, then neighbor relations can be established, but the adaptability to dynamic network conditions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the UE continuously monitors reference signals from known cells and reports when measurement triggering criteria are met. This feedback enables the base station to dynamically detect unknown cells and update neighbor relations in real-time, allowing the network to adapt to changing propagation conditions and dynamic network topology without manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The neighbor relation table is transformed from a static manually-configured structure to a dynamic self-updating structure. The base station automatically adds or removes neighbor relations based on UE measurement reports and detection results, enabling the network to adapt dynamically to propagation changes, new base station deployments, and varying traffic conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods related to automatic neighbor relation in a wireless communication network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a User Equipment (UE) to assist a base station in a wireless communication network with automatic neighbor relation comprises receiving reference signal configurations for a plurality of cells and a measurement report triggering criterion. The reference signal configurations are configurations for reference signals to be used by the UE for Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement reporting for the plurality of cells. The measurement report triggering criterion is related to detection, by the UE, of an unknown cell while performing measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations for the plurality of cells, where an unknown cell is a cell other than the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations. The method further comprises detecting an unknown cell and sending a report.