Cell Service Notification for Base Station Overload Handling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless telecommunications networks face challenges in efficiently managing the transmission of additional system information (ASI) when base stations are overloaded, leading to increased network load and potential service disruptions due to unsynchronized UE requests for services.

Innovation Solution

The network provides an indication to terminals that certain services are not available during overload, allowing terminals to avoid requesting ASI and potentially move to another cell or RAT, thereby reducing signaling overhead and load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If base stations transmit additional system information (ASI) to support diverse device types and applications, then network service capability and adaptability are improved, but network load and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service capabilityVSAvoidnetwork load
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The base station transmits an overload indication message in advance to inform UEs that ASI requests cannot be processed. This preliminary action prevents UEs from initiating ASI requests during overload conditions, thereby avoiding additional signaling overhead and network load while maintaining the base station's ability to support diverse device types and applications when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If base stations process ASI requests from multiple UEs simultaneously, then service availability is improved, but network stability deteriorates under overload conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidnetwork stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The base station applies preliminary anti-action by transmitting an overload indication message to prevent UEs from sending ASI requests during overload conditions. This counter-measure is taken in advance to avoid the harmful effect of additional signaling overhead that would further destabilize the overloaded network, thereby maintaining network stability while preserving service availability for essential functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of operation

If UEs continuously request ASI to ensure service availability, then service accessibility is improved, but signaling overhead and network load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The base station provides feedback to UEs through the overload indication message, informing them of the current network load condition. This feedback mechanism enables UEs to adjust their behavior by withholding ASI requests during overload periods, thereby reducing signaling overhead and network load while maintaining service accessibility when the network is capable of handling requests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3920596B1Wireless telecommunications apparatuses and methods
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3920596B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3920596B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3920596B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of transmitting system information in a mobile communications network, the network comprising a base station operable to provide a cell to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of mobile terminals and a mobile terminal of the plurality of mobile terminals, the mobile terminal being operable to communicate with the base station. The method comprises periodically transmitting essential system information "ESI" to the plurality of mobile terminals, the ESI comprising system information for using the cell provided by the base station; transmitting additional system information "ASI" to the mobile terminal, the ASI comprising system information for using one or more services provided by the cell. In the event that it is determined that the base station is overloaded, the method further comprises transmitting a service notification that the cell is currently unable to provide the one or more services.