Beam-Specific UE Paging for Accurate 5G Wireless Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G and beyond, face challenges in accurately paging User Equipment (UE) due to the use of large-scale antenna arrays and beamforming, which results in inefficient utilization of radio resources and increased power consumption, as current paging mechanisms are only accurate to the cell level and do not consider specific beam usage.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves determining and utilizing synchronization signal block (SSB) beam-specific information for paging UE in idle or inactive states, including GNSS position and motion data, to enable precise paging on specific beams within cells, reducing the need to transmit paging signals on all configured beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If paging is performed on all configured beams in a cell, then the paging coverage is ensured, but the radio resource utilization becomes inefficient and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transitioning from uniform cell-level paging to beam-specific paging. The network determines the specific beam where the UE is located (using SSB beam information and location data) and pages only on that particular beam rather than all beams in the cell. This localized approach maintains reliable paging delivery while significantly reducing the energy and radio resources consumed compared to broadcasting on all beams.
2Ease of operation
If cell-level paging is used, then the implementation is simple, but the paging accuracy is insufficient for beamformed systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell-level paging approach into beam-level paging. Instead of treating the entire cell as a single paging area, the system divides it into multiple beams and identifies the specific beam where the UE is located. This segmentation is achieved by determining the SSB beam index and using location information to pinpoint the exact beam, thereby improving paging accuracy while maintaining manageable complexity through automated beam determination procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining the UE's location and associated SSB beam information before the actual paging operation. The network obtains location data (GNSS, cell ID, timing advance) and identifies the target beam in advance, so that when paging is needed, the system can immediately page on the correct beam without complex real-time calculations, thus improving accuracy while keeping the implementation straightforward.
3Measurement precision
If beam-specific paging information is determined and used, then the paging accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by leveraging existing UE capabilities and network functions to automatically determine beam-specific paging information. The UE's own location data (GNSS, cell ID, timing advance) is utilized to identify its serving beam, and the network automatically maps this information to the appropriate SSB beam index. This self-determining approach improves paging accuracy while minimizing additional system complexity, as the process leverages already-collected data and automated procedures rather than requiring complex new mechanisms.
4Measurement precision
If location information is collected and processed for paging, then the paging precision is enhanced, but the signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by collecting and processing location information (GNSS coordinates, cell ID, timing advance) and determining the associated SSB beam index before the paging operation. This pre-processing allows the network to have the beam identification ready in advance, so that when paging is triggered, the system can immediately use the pre-determined beam information without additional signaling exchanges, thereby enhancing paging precision while minimizing real-time signaling overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for paging in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes determining, by a radio access network (RAN) node, information for paging, where the information for paging includes information for paging a User Equipment (UE) which is related to a synchronization signal block (SSB) beam; and paging, by the RAN node, the UE in an idle state or inactive state, based on the information for paging. The method can page a UE more accurately.