Blind Secondary Cell Selection in Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing secondary cell (sCell) selection process in carrier aggregation schemes for cellular communications networks incurs throughput loss and increased battery consumption due to the need for measurement gaps and disabling of the s-Measure parameter.
Innovation Solution
A network node blindly selects an sCell for a wireless device from a list of potential sCells using strategies like round-robin or random selection, avoiding measurement gaps and configuring the device without prior signal quality measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inter-frequency L3 measurements are performed to select sCells, then sCell coverage is improved, but throughput is reduced due to measurement gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement requirement from the sCell selection process by implementing blind selection. Instead of requiring inter-frequency L3 measurements to determine sCell coverage, the network node directly selects sCells from a list of potential sCells based on configuration information, thereby eliminating measurement gaps and their associated throughput loss while maintaining sCell coverage capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary configuration by providing the network node with a list of potential sCells and their configuration information in advance. This allows the network node to blindly select appropriate sCells without requiring real-time measurements, thus preparing the system beforehand to avoid measurement gaps during actual sCell selection and addition
2Measurement precision
If s-Measure parameter is disabled to enable measurements, then measurement accuracy is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the requirement for disabling s-Measure by extracting the measurement step from the selection process. Through blind selection using pre-configured information, the system achieves accurate sCell selection without needing to perform measurements that would require disabling s-Measure, thereby maintaining power efficiency while achieving selection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary configuration of potential sCells with their signal quality information and other parameters before actual selection. This advance preparation eliminates the need for real-time measurements and s-Measure parameter adjustments, allowing the wireless device to maintain normal power-saving operation while still achieving accurate sCell selection
3Productivity
If blind selection is used to avoid measurement gaps, then throughput is improved, but selection accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary configuration by providing the network node with a curated list of potential sCells that include configuration information, signal quality metrics, and other relevant parameters. This advance preparation ensures that blind selection is based on comprehensive pre-evaluated data, maintaining high selection accuracy while avoiding measurement gaps and their associated throughput loss
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for Secondary Cell (sCell) selection for wireless devices operating according to a carrier aggregation scheme in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a network node obtains a list of potential sCells for a wireless device. The network node blindly selects an sCell for the wireless device from the list of potential sCells. The network node then configures the wireless device with the selected sCell. Blindly selecting the sCell for the wireless device makes it possible to avoid the use of measurement gaps and reduce throughput loss, according to some embodiments.