Cell Re-selection in Multi-Protocol Shared Radio Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Devices configured to operate with multiple cellular communication protocols face inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for separate functional blocks or radios, which can lead to delays in re-establishing service when switching between protocols, especially if the original cell's signal strength has degraded.
Innovation Solution
A method for a user equipment (UE) device to efficiently re-select a cell by measuring signal strength and quality metrics and comparing them to thresholds, allowing for intelligent cell re-selection procedures to ensure optimal service, either by resuming with the original cell or switching to a stronger nearby cell, using a shared radio to implement multiple wireless communication technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a device uses separate functional blocks for each wireless communication technology, then each protocol can operate independently, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to more components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wireless communication protocols (LTE and CDMA2000) into a single radio device with a unified protocol stack architecture. The radio shared between protocols allows them to operate independently while sharing common hardware resources, reducing device complexity and component count while maintaining protocol operation independence through virtualization and time-division multiplexing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal radio device capable of operating with multiple wireless communication technologies (LTE, CDMA2000, and other RATs) through a single hardware platform. The unified protocol stack and shared radio resources enable the device to perform multiple communication functions without requiring separate dedicated functional blocks for each protocol.
2Reliability
If a device uses separate functional blocks for each wireless communication technology, then each protocol has dedicated resources, but power consumption increases due to multiple radios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protocol-specific radio functions into a single shared radio device. The unified protocol stack manages radio resources dynamically, allowing LTE and CDMA2000 protocols to share the same hardware resources through time-division and frequency-division multiplexing, thereby reducing overall power consumption while ensuring adequate resource availability for each protocol when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic protocol switching and resource allocation mechanisms where the shared radio alternates between different protocols in scheduled time slots. The unified protocol stack periodically manages radio resource allocation, enabling each protocol to access dedicated resources when required while maintaining low power consumption through efficient resource sharing and idle state management.
3Reliability
If a device uses separate functional blocks for each wireless communication technology, then each protocol has dedicated hardware, but the device form factor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protocol-specific hardware functions into a single integrated radio device with unified protocol stack. This consolidation reduces the physical space required for hardware components while maintaining reliable protocol operation through virtualization and software-defined radio techniques that provide dedicated logical resources within a shared physical platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal radio device that supports multiple wireless communication protocols (LTE, CDMA2000, and other RATs) through a single hardware platform. This multi-functional approach reduces device form factor by eliminating redundant hardware components while ensuring each protocol has access to dedicated logical resources through software-based resource management.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the radio tunes away from the first protocol stack to the second protocol stack, then the second protocol can operate, but delays occur in re-establishing service when returning to the first protocol
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions during protocol switching by maintaining context information and configuration data in the unified protocol stack before the radio tunes away to another protocol. When returning to the first protocol, the system can quickly restore service using pre-preserved context information, reducing re-establishment delays while maintaining protocol switching adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms in the unified protocol stack to monitor radio resource allocation and protocol switching status. The system uses feedback from the shared radio to dynamically adjust resource allocation and optimize switching timing, minimizing service re-establishment delays while maintaining the ability to switch between protocols as needed.
5Reliability
If the device performs a full scan to determine a cell to join every time a RAT resumes control, then optimal cell selection is achieved, but battery consumption and performance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial cell scanning instead of full scans every time a protocol resumes control. The unified protocol stack performs selective measurements on a subset of candidate cells based on historical data and current context, achieving sufficiently optimal cell selection without the excessive battery consumption of complete full scans across all possible cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary cell measurements and maintains candidate cell information in the unified protocol stack before protocol switching occurs. When a RAT resumes control, the system can quickly evaluate pre-identified candidate cells rather than performing full scans, reducing battery consumption while maintaining reliable cell selection optimality through advance preparation.
Data Source
AI summary
Cell re-selection in a device configured to operate according to multiple cellular communication protocols. The device may operate according to a first cellular communication protocol at a first time, which may include attaching to a first cell. The device may operate according to a second cellular communication protocol at a second time. Operations according to the first cellular communication protocol may be suspended while operating according to the second cellular communication protocol. The device may attempt to resume operating according to the first cellular communication protocol at a third time. This may include measuring one or more of signal strength or signal quality of the first cell. The wireless device may select a cell to which to attach at the third time based at least in part on the measured signal strength and signal quality of the first cell.