Band Priority Cell Scanning for Faster UE Reselection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in cell scanning due to the lack of effective prioritization methods for band scanning, leading to suboptimal resource utilization and connectivity performance.

Innovation Solution

A method for determining the order for scanning the set of bands, the method includes determining the order for scanning the set of bands based at least in part on a set of priorities, energy levels, and suitability criteria, allowing for efficient reselection and acquisition of cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cell scanning is performed without band prioritization, then all bands can be scanned, but scanning efficiency and resource utilization are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell scanning efficiencyVSAvoidresource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a band priority list that ranks frequency bands according to their suitability for cell scanning. This pre-arranged prioritization allows the UE to scan bands in an optimized sequence without performing real-time evaluations, thereby improving scanning efficiency while reducing energy consumption associated with dynamic decision-making during the scanning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If bands are scanned in arbitrary order, then scanning coverage is complete, but connectivity performance and reselection efficiency are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnectivity performanceVSAvoidcell reselection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different priorities to different frequency bands based on their specific characteristics and suitability for cell scanning. Instead of treating all bands uniformly, the system evaluates and ranks individual bands according to criteria such as signal quality, coverage area, and network performance, thereby optimizing connectivity performance and reducing cell reselection time by focusing scanning efforts on the most suitable bands first.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If band priority list is not used, then scanning process is simple, but cell acquisition and reselection performance are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell acquisition efficiencyVSAvoidscanning process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a band priority list that ranks frequency bands according to their suitability for cell scanning. This pre-arranged prioritization allows the UE to scan bands in an optimized sequence without performing real-time evaluations, thereby improving scanning efficiency while reducing energy consumption associated with dynamic decision-making during the scanning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12581396B2Techniques for band priority utilization for cell scanning

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may obtain a band priority list identifying a set of bands in a prioritized order. The UE may perform a system scan of one or more bands of a frequency list that are associated with at least a threshold energy level in the prioritized order of the one or more bands in the band priority list. Numerous other aspects are described.