Characteristic-Based Cellular Access Screening Before Random Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication technologies face challenges in efficiently managing access control for diverse terminal devices with varying characteristics, leading to inefficiencies in network resource utilization and increased power consumption due to blind searches for accessible cells.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that allow network devices to provide characteristic information about allowed or disallowed terminal types, enabling terminals to determine access based on this information, thereby reducing signaling overheads and power consumption through early rejection of access attempts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If terminals perform blind access attempts without prior information about allowed terminal types, then access control flexibility is reduced, but terminals cannot determine access eligibility early and must complete full access procedures consuming excessive power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control flexibilityVSAvoidterminal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network device performs preliminary action by broadcasting access control information (SIB14) containing allowed terminal type characteristics before terminals attempt access. Terminals read this information in advance during cell selection or reselection, enabling them to determine access eligibility before initiating random access procedures, thus avoiding unnecessary power consumption from blind access attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the network device broadcasts detailed access control information for all terminal types, then access control flexibility is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control flexibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The network device applies local quality by providing differentiated access control information tailored to specific terminal types or groups. Instead of broadcasting uniform access rules for all terminals, the system broadcasts SIB14 containing characteristic information (e.g., terminal category, capability flags) that allows terminals to self-identify their eligibility. This targeted approach provides fine-grained access control while minimizing signaling overhead by only including relevant characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If terminals complete full random access procedures without early rejection, then access control decisions are made, but access delay is increased and network resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control enforcementVSAvoidaccess delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Terminals perform preliminary action by reading SIB14 access control information before initiating random access. This allows terminals to self-evaluate their access eligibility based on their characteristics matching the allowed terminal types in SIB14. Terminals that do not match are rejected early without completing the full random access procedure (Msg1-Msg4), significantly reducing access delay and preventing waste of uplink resources for terminals that would be denied access anyway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4436264B1Access method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4436264B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4436264B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4436264B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose an access method and an apparatus. The method includes: A network device sends, in a first cell, information that indicates characteristic information of terminals allowed to access the first cell. A terminal determines, based on the indication of the information, whether to access the first cell. Alternatively, the terminal reports, in the first cell, characteristic information of the terminal to the network device, and the network device determines, based on the characteristic information reported by the terminal, whether to allow the terminal to access the first cell. The solutions of this application may be widely applied to the fields of communication technologies, artificial intelligence, internet of vehicles, internet of smart home, and the like.