Base Station Cell Reconfiguration via Polling Timer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cellular mobile communication systems lack a mechanism for automatically reconfiguring a de-configured cell after it regains operability, leading to potential network inefficiencies and increased load during handover processes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the first Base Station System marking a de-configured cell as such, starting a polling timer, and sending a RAN Information Request to the second Base Station System, with the cell being marked as configured upon receipt of System Information, allowing for automatic reconfiguration without requiring full network coverage or high computational power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cell is de-configured due to transceiver failure or frequency plan change, then the BSS connected to this cell notifies the de-configuration to other BSSs, but no mechanism is specified for notifying parenting cells when the cell regains operability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover reliabilityVSAvoidprotocol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the first BSS proactively poll the second BSS for system information of the de-configured cell after receiving the de-configuration notification. This proactive polling mechanism ensures that when the cell regains operability, the parenting BSS will detect it through the polling process and automatically reconfigure, eliminating the need for a separate notification mechanism from the second BSS.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the first BSS to autonomously detect and handle the reconfiguration of the de-configured cell through its own polling mechanism. The first BSS independently monitors the status of adjacent cells by requesting system information, and when the cell becomes operational again, the first BSS automatically updates its configuration without requiring external notification, thus serving itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Extent of automation

If the first Base Station System continuously polls the second Base Station System to detect cell operability, then automatic reconfiguration is achieved, but network resources and computational power are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic reconfigurationVSAvoidcomputational power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by implementing a polling timer in the first BSS that periodically requests system information from the second BSS for the de-configured cell. Instead of continuous monitoring, the polling occurs at defined intervals determined by the timer expiration, reducing computational power consumption and network resource usage while still achieving automatic detection when the cell regains operability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of time

If the polling timer is set to expire quickly to enable fast reconfiguration, then response time is reduced, but the system may not detect cell recovery reliably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereconfiguration timeVSAvoidcell recovery detection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the polling timer configurable and adaptable. The timer can be adjusted based on network conditions, cell type, and operational requirements. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to balance between fast reconfiguration (shorter timer) and reliable detection (longer timer), enabling optimization for different scenarios without compromising either response time or detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2869624B1A method for reconfiguring a de-configured mobile communication cell
Publication Date: 2016.08.10 KAPSCH CARRIERCOM AG
  • EP2869624B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2869624B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2e

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for reconfiguring a de-configured cell (X) of a cellular mobile communication system (1), the system (1) using a RAN Information Management protocol according to a 3GPP standard, comprising, in a first Base Station System (7) upon receipt of a notification by a second Base Station System (10) concerning a second cell (X) being de-configured, the following steps: a) marking the second cell (X) as de-configured in an adjacent cell list (17) of the first Base Station System (7), b) starting a polling timer (TP) and waiting for expiration of the polling timer (TP), c) sending a RAN Information Request to the second Base Station System (10) requesting a System Information (16) of the second cell (X), and d) when no RAN Information containing the requested System Information (16) is received from the second Base Station System (10), returning to step b), otherwise e) marking the second cell (X) as configured in said adjacent cell list (17) of the first Base Station System (7).