CE Level Change Logging for Low Complexity Wireless Devices

Solution Overview

Problem

Low complexity wireless devices, such as those in LTE and NB-IoT, face challenges in accurately reporting Coverage Enhancement (CE) level changes, which affects network resource optimization and management, especially in power-limited environments where CE levels vary significantly, and existing methods lack efficient mechanisms for operators to adapt radio resources accordingly.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where wireless devices log information related to CE levels, including identifiers and signal quality measurements, and transmit this information to network nodes for use in Automatic Neighbor Relations (ANR) reports, enabling more accurate coverage level assessment and adaptive network parameter tuning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If logged MDT is used to obtain UE measurements in low RRC activity state, then network planning and optimization can be performed without drive tests, but the UE cannot accurately report CE level changes due to power limitations and lack of efficient reporting mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCE level informationVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential CE level change information from the full MDT measurement data set. Instead of logging and reporting all measurement parameters continuously, the UE selectively reports only CE level change events, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining the ability to provide accurate coverage information to the network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The UE autonomously detects CE level changes based on pre-configured thresholds and automatically triggers reporting when changes occur. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for continuous network-triggered measurement commands, reducing signaling overhead and power consumption while ensuring timely CE level information is provided

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If the UE continuously monitors and reports all measurement parameters, then the network can obtain comprehensive coverage information, but the UE power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCoverage measurement accuracyVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential CE level change information from the full MDT measurement data set. Instead of logging and reporting all measurement parameters continuously, the UE selectively reports only CE level change events, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining the ability to provide accurate coverage information to the network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial monitoring where the UE only monitors measurement parameters relevant to CE level determination rather than all possible measurement parameters. This partial action approach maintains sufficient measurement precision for CE level detection while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous full-parameter monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of information

If the network configures detailed logging parameters for all measurement types, then comprehensive optimization data can be collected, but the device complexity and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMeasurement data completenessVSAvoidLogging configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential CE level change information from the full MDT measurement data set. Instead of logging and reporting all measurement parameters continuously, the UE selectively reports only CE level change events, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining the ability to provide accurate coverage information to the network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the network configuring detailed logging parameters for all measurement types, the approach is inverted: the network provides minimal configuration (CE level thresholds and reporting criteria), and the UE autonomously determines what to measure and report based on these simple criteria. This inversion significantly reduces device complexity while maintaining data completeness for optimization purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4133781B1Method for logging coverage enhancement level change in low complexity user equipment

Publication Date: 2024.08.14 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A method by a wireless device includes logging information associated with a coverage enhancement (CE) level of a cell. The information includes a carrier and a received signal quality and/or a received signal strength measured by the wireless device. The wireless device transmits the information associated with the CE level to a network node.