Carrier Configuration for Selective Offloading Measurements

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face inefficiencies in carrier aggregation and dual connectivity due to the lack of distinction between mobility and offloading carriers, leading to unnecessary measurements and increased setup times, which can result in resource waste and reduced reliability, especially in applications with strict latency and reliability requirements.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a mechanism that differentiates between mobility and offloading carriers by providing carrier configuration information and type information, allowing user equipment to perform targeted measurements based on specific conditions and conditions, thereby optimizing resource usage and reducing unnecessary measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If carrier aggregation and dual connectivity are implemented without distinction between mobility and offloading carriers, then network coverage and capacity are improved, but measurement overhead and setup time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments carriers into two distinct types: mobility carriers and offloading carriers. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate measurement requirements and procedures for each carrier type, enabling targeted measurements only when necessary and reducing overall measurement overhead and setup time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by implementing measurements selectively based on carrier type. Full measurement procedures are applied only to mobility carriers, while offloading carriers receive reduced or conditional measurements, thereby reducing unnecessary measurement overhead while maintaining network capacity benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If measurements are performed on all carriers without distinction, then carrier selection reliability is improved, but power consumption and resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier selection reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments carriers into mobility carriers requiring reliable measurement-based selection and offloading carriers for which measurements are optional or reduced. This segmentation maintains carrier selection reliability for mobility-critical operations while reducing power consumption by eliminating unnecessary measurements on offloading carriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial measurement action based on carrier type and device state. Measurements are performed fully on mobility carriers, partially or not at all on offloading carriers, thereby maintaining necessary reliability while reducing overall power consumption and resource usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If measurements are performed on all carriers without distinction, then measurement coverage is improved, but measurement efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement coverageVSAvoidmeasurement efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments measurement procedures based on carrier type, applying comprehensive measurement coverage to mobility carriers while applying reduced or conditional measurements to offloading carriers. This maintains necessary measurement coverage for mobility operations while improving overall measurement efficiency by eliminating redundant measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3963927B1Configuration of carriers for non-mobility related purposes
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3963927B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3963927B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3963927B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method, apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium are provided for configuring carriers and/or performing reference signal measurements. In one example implementation, the method may include a user equipment (UE) receiving carrier configuration information and carrier type information from a network node, the carrier type information including an indication whether a carrier is an offloading carrier; determining whether one or more offloading conditions to perform offloading measurements are satisfied; and performing the offloading measurements in response to determining that the one or more offloading conditions are satisfied. In an additional example implementation, the method may include a network node transmitting carrier configuration information and carrier type information to a user equipment (UE) and receiving offloading and/or mobility measurements from the user equipment (UE), the off-loading and/or mobility measurements generated at the user equipment (UE) based on the carrier configuration information and carrier type.