Cell Selection via Core Network Type in SIB
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment faces challenges in maintaining continuous wireless communications with sufficient bandwidth when selecting wireless-communication cells, often relying on received signal strength indicators (RSSI), which can lead to mismatches in the wireless network stack layers between user equipment and base stations, especially when accessing cells from different core networks such as EPC and 5GC.
Innovation Solution
The user equipment receives a System Information Block (SIB) from base stations to determine the presence or absence of a PLMN identifier, allowing it to select a wireless-communication cell with a desired underlying core network, ensuring bandwidth continuity and avoiding layer mismatches by identifying the type of core network associated with each cell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If user equipment relies on received signal strength indicator (RSSI) to select wireless-communication cells, then cell selection simplicity is improved, but wireless communication continuity and bandwidth sufficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary action by including core network type identification information in system information blocks before the user equipment makes a cell selection decision. This allows the user equipment to proactively identify and select cells with compatible core networks, preventing communication interruptions and bandwidth issues before they occur.
2Speed
If user equipment accesses wireless-communication cells without verifying core network type, then access speed is improved, but layer mismatch and network stack contention deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of core network type compatibility by including identification information in system information blocks before the user equipment attempts to access the cell. This preliminary check ensures network stack compatibility is established upfront, preventing layer mismatches and contention issues during actual access.
3Device complexity
If user equipment selects cells based on signal strength alone, then selection process simplicity is improved, but bandwidth sufficiency and communication quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where system information blocks carry core network type identification information. This intermediary data structure enables the user equipment to efficiently filter and select cells based on both signal strength and core network compatibility without significantly increasing selection process complexity, thereby ensuring bandwidth sufficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems directed to a user equipment accessing a wireless-communication cell are described. The methods and systems include a user equipment (110) selecting (805) a first wireless-communication cell (306) and receiving (815), from a base station (124) providing the first wireless-communication cell (306), a first system information block (SIB). Based on contents of an entry within the SIB that indicate a core network type of the first wireless-communication cell (306), the user equipment (110) selects (825) a second wireless-communication cell (304) and receives (835), from a second base station (122) providing the second wireless-communication cell (304), a second SIB.