Cell Reselection Prioritizing Evolved LTE Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the transition from LTE to eLTE systems, there is a lack of effective solutions for terminals to access evolved long term evolution cells, especially when both systems coexist and use the same frequency and air interface technology.

Innovation Solution

A cell reselection method that involves measuring reference signals of neighboring cells, ranking cells based on signal quality, and prioritizing evolved LTE cells for access, with the terminal using a cell with the best signal quality or highest rank as the reselected cell, and optionally scanning other frequencies if no eLTE cell is found.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal uses conventional LTE cell selection methods, then it can access LTE cells, but it cannot access evolved LTE cells in coexistence scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell access capabilityVSAvoidaccess reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the cell selection parameters by introducing a cell type indication field that distinguishes between LTE and eLTE cells. The terminal uses this parameter change to identify and prioritize eLTE cells during cell selection, enabling differentiated access behavior based on cell type while maintaining compatibility with both LTE and eLTE networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the cell selection process into distinct phases: first identifying eLTE cells through the cell type indication field, then applying separate selection criteria for eLTE cells versus conventional LTE cells. This segmentation allows the terminal to handle different cell types with specialized logic while maintaining overall system compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the terminal scans all frequencies for cell selection, then it finds available cells, but it increases measurement time and energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell selection efficiencyVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the network broadcast cell type indication information in advance through system information blocks. The terminal uses this pre-provided information to pre-identify eLTE cells before performing full measurement procedures, allowing it to prioritize measurements only on frequencies containing eLTE cells rather than scanning all frequencies exhaustively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cell type indication field acts as an intermediary that bridges the terminal's measurement capabilities with network deployment实际情况. This intermediary parameter allows the terminal to make intelligent measurements by focusing only on relevant frequencies, reducing unnecessary scanning while maintaining comprehensive cell discovery capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the terminal prioritizes eLTE cells, then it ensures optimal network access, but it may miss conventional LTE cells if eLTE cells are not available

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork access reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic cell selection by allowing the terminal to adjust its behavior based on real-time measurement results. The terminal first prioritizes eLTE cells when available, but dynamically falls back to conventional LTE cells if no eLTE cells are found or if measurement criteria are not met. This dynamic adaptation ensures both optimization for eLTE and compatibility with conventional LTE networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies inversion by establishing a hierarchical selection structure where eLTE cells are preferred but not mandatory. The terminal inverts the conventional approach by making eLTE access optional rather than mandatory, allowing flexible adaptation to network conditions. This inverted priority structure maintains both eLTE optimization and LTE fallback capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3897039B1Cell reselection method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3897039B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3897039B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3897039B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This application provides a cell reselection method and apparatus. The method includes: measuring, by a terminal, reference signals of X neighboring cells that work on a target frequency, to obtain X signal measurement values; and if the terminal determines that signal measurement values of N cells in the X neighboring cells meet a cell reselection condition, using, by the terminal as a reselected cell when determining that there is at least one evolved long term evolution cell in the N cells, a cell with a largest signal measurement value in the at least one evolved long term evolution cell.