Cell Unresponsiveness Detection via UE Test Handovers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radio communication networks face challenges in detecting and correcting unresponsive cells, which can lead to service disruptions and are costly and time-consuming due to the lack of automated detection and manual intervention methods.

Innovation Solution

A system that collects performance data, compares it with normal data, and uses user equipment devices as test devices to confirm unresponsive cells, allowing for automatic detection and correction by restarting the cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated detection and correction systems are implemented, then productivity and response time improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection and correction speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables unresponsive cells to self-diagnose and self-correct by automatically detecting their unresponsive state through performance data analysis and initiating restart procedures without manual intervention, allowing the network to service itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously collects performance data from cells, compares it against thresholds to detect unresponsive states, and triggers corrective actions based on this feedback loop, enabling automated response to network conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If manual intervention methods are used, then device complexity remains low, but loss of time and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidresolution time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of unresponsive cells through continuous performance data collection and analysis, identifying issues before they cause service disruptions and preparing for automatic correction before manual intervention would be needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If continuous performance monitoring is implemented, then reliability improves, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic performance data collection and analysis at configured intervals rather than continuous monitoring, balancing the need for reliable detection with energy conservation by activating full analysis only when performance thresholds are breached

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11902850B2System and methods for detecting un-responsive cells over LTE and 5G networks

Publication Date: 2024.02.13 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, collecting network data for a plurality of cells of a cellular communication network, identifying a particular cell of the plurality of cells is in an un-responsive state, wherein the identifying is based on the network data, selecting a plurality of user equipment (UE) devices as UE test devices, forcing cell reselection attempts, handover attempts, or both, by the UE test devices to communicate with the particular cell, confirming the particular cell is in the un-responsive state based on failure of the cell reselection attempts or failure of the handover attempts, and communicating a restart signal from the processing system to cause the particular cell to restart to a responsive state. Other embodiments are disclosed.