Cell Selection Using Service Capability Information

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for terminal devices to select suitable cells for camping in radio access networks are inadequate, as they cannot identify whether the attached cell supports the required service types, leading to unsuitable service acquisition.

Innovation Solution

The method involves obtaining and utilizing service capability information, including network slice and service type details, to determine the most suitable cell for camping based on the terminal device's requirements, prioritizing cells with higher matching degrees and signal quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network slices are introduced to support multiple service types with different QoS requirements, then service capability and versatility are improved, but terminal device cannot identify suitable cells for camping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice capabilityVSAvoidcell selection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments cell information by introducing service capability indicators that distinguish different service types supported by each cell. Terminal devices can segment their cell search based on required service types, selecting only cells that support their specific service requirements rather than evaluating all cells uniformly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The network performs preliminary action by pre-configuring and broadcasting service capability information for each cell before terminal devices attempt to camp. This allows terminal devices to make informed cell selection decisions without having to test or discover service capabilities after connection attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If service capability information is broadcast for all cells, then terminal devices can select appropriate cells, but network signaling overhead and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell selection accuracyVSAvoidnetwork signaling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential service capability information needed for cell selection and broadcasts it in a compact format. Rather than transmitting complete service configuration data for all cells, only key indicators matching terminal device service type requirements are broadcast, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining selection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The network broadcasts partial service capability information - specifically, only the service type support indicators that are most relevant for initial cell selection. This partial information is sufficient for terminal devices to identify suitable cells without requiring complete service capability datasets, achieving adequate functionality with reduced complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3531746B1Method and apparatus for determining a cell
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3531746B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3531746B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3531746B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides a cell determining method, a terminal device, and a network device. The method includes: obtaining, by a terminal device, service capability information of at least one cell, where the service capability information includes slice information and/or service information; and determining, by the terminal device based on the service capability information and a service requirement of the terminal device, a first cell in the at least one cell as a cell to be camped on, where the first cell is a cell, in the at least one cell, that supports at least one service of the terminal device. According to the cell determining method, the terminal device, and the network device in this application, the terminal device can camp on a suitable cell.