Base Station RRC Reject Signaling at Connection Capacity

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cellular communication standards do not provide a mechanism for notifying the upper limit of connections in in-vehicle relays, leading to unnecessary power and resource consumption by user equipment (UE) trying to connect to a base station that has reached its connection capacity.

Innovation Solution

A communication apparatus functioning as a base station includes a notification unit that informs outside when the number of connections reaches an upper limit, using an RRC Reject message to prevent futile connection attempts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the upper limit of connections is set for in-vehicle relay to stably provide communication service, then communication reliability is improved, but no notification mechanism exists causing UE to waste power and resources on futile connection attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication service stabilityVSAvoidpower consumption by UE

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary action by proactively notifying the UE before the UE attempts connections. When the number of connections reaches the upper limit, the base station sends a notification message to inform the UE of this state, preventing the UE from initiating futile connection attempts and thereby saving energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station provides feedback to the UE about the connection status. By sending notification messages that convey information about the current number of connections relative to the upper limit, the base station enables the UE to adjust its connection behavior accordingly, avoiding wasted energy on unsuccessful connection attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If in-vehicle relay moves dynamically to expand coverage area, then coverage flexibility is improved, but connection management becomes complex due to dynamic movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage area flexibilityVSAvoidconnection management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary action by proactively notifying the UE before the UE attempts connections. When the number of connections reaches the upper limit, the base station sends a notification message to inform the UE of this state, preventing the UE from initiating futile connection attempts and thereby saving energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station provides feedback to the UE about the connection status. By sending notification messages that convey information about the current number of connections relative to the upper limit, the base station enables the UE to adjust its connection behavior accordingly, avoiding wasted energy on unsuccessful connection attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4598136A1Communication device, control method, and program

Publication Date: 2025.08.06 CANON KK

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AI summary

A communication apparatus functions as a base station that performs cellular communication with user equipment (UE). In a case where the number of connections to the base station provided by the communication apparatus itself reaches an upper limit of the number of connections, the communication apparatus notifies outside of information indicating that the upper limit of the number of connections is reached.