Charging Unit Cell Reporting for CSG and Hybrid Cells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile radio access networks face inefficiencies in differentiated charging for CSG cells, hybrid cells, and non-CSG cells due to excessive signaling overhead, particularly for highly mobile transceivers, as existing solutions require reporting cell changes for all cells, regardless of type, leading to unnecessary data transmission.

Innovation Solution

Implement a mobile radio access network with a charging unit that only transmits cell information when a subscriber enters, leaves, or accesses a CSG cell or hybrid cell, using a database to control which information is sent based on specific situations, such as CSG cell, hybrid cell, CSG part, or open part access, thereby reducing unnecessary signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If cell change reporting is implemented for all cells to enable differentiated charging, then charging accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases massively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cell reporting mechanism by cell type. CSG cells and hybrid cells are separated from non-CSG cells, with only the former requiring detailed reporting to the charging unit. This segmentation allows the system to maintain charging accuracy for CSG-related cells while avoiding unnecessary signaling for non-CSG cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different reporting qualities to different cell types. CSG cells receive full reporting treatment (cell ID, CSG ID, access mode) while non-CSG cells receive no reporting. This local quality differentiation ensures charging accuracy where needed while minimizing overall signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If cell information is reported for every cell change, then charging differentiation is achieved, but data transmission volume increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging differentiationVSAvoiddata transmission volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary cell information for differentiated charging - specifically cell ID, CSG ID, and access mode - but only for CSG cells and hybrid cells. This extraction approach achieves charging differentiation while minimizing data transmission volume by excluding non-essential reporting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by implementing reporting only for specific cell types (CSG and hybrid) rather than all cells. This partial approach provides sufficient charging differentiation capability while avoiding the excessive data transmission that would result from universal reporting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of information

If all cell changes are reported to the charging unit, then complete charging information is obtained, but network performance deteriorates due to excessive signaling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging information completenessVSAvoidnetwork performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the reporting requirement by cell type, dividing cells into CSG/hybrid categories (requiring reporting) and non-CSG categories (not requiring reporting). This segmentation maintains charging information completeness for relevant cells while preserving network performance by eliminating unnecessary signaling traffic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If cell reporting is implemented for highly mobile transceivers, then charging accuracy is maintained, but signaling overhead becomes unmanageable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating reporting requirements based on cell type rather than user mobility characteristics. CSG cells and hybrid cells always receive reporting regardless of user mobility, while non-CSG cells never trigger reporting. This approach maintains charging accuracy for CSG-related movements while keeping signaling overhead manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2467999B1Mobile radio access network, mobility control unit, method for charging in a mobile radio access network, and program
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP2467999B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a mobile radio access network, a mobility control unit, a method for charging in a mobile radio access network, and a program comprising a computer readable program code, the mobile radio access network comprising a plurality of radio cells, the radio cells comprising at least a first cell type of radio cells and a second cell type of radio cells, the first cell type of radio cells being at least one CSG-cell or at least one hybrid cell and the second cell type radio cells being at least one open cell (non-CSG-cell), wherein the mobile radio access network comprises a charging unit, wherein the mobile radio access network is provided such that at least for one subscriber out of a plurality of subscribers of the mobile radio access network, the charging unit receives a cell information dependent on whether the at least one subscriber has entered or left or accessed a radio cell of the first cell type.