Flexible Common Message Transmission Configuration for MTC Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

In machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, existing technologies face challenges in efficiently transmitting common messages, such as paging and random access response messages, due to varying coverage enhancement requirements and differing environments of MTC devices, which affect the need for different signal repetitions and bandwidth usage.

Innovation Solution

A method and device configuration that allows a base station to determine a flexible transmission configuration for common messages, including parameters like the number of narrow bands, location of narrow bands, largest transport block size, and control channel scheduling, enabling adaptive and efficient message transmission based on statistical data and specific device requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If signal repetition is used to implement coverage enhancement for MTC devices with different coverage enhancement levels, then coverage enhancement is improved, but device complexity and network configuration complexity increase due to needing to manage different quantities of signal repetitions for different devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage enhancementVSAvoidsignal repetition management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of transmission configuration by introducing multiple predefined configurations (first, second, third configurations) with different repetition quantities. The network device selects appropriate configurations based on device categories, transforming a complex per-device customization problem into a manageable parameter selection problem from a finite set of predefined options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments MTC devices into different categories (first, second, third categories) based on their coverage enhancement requirements. Each category is assigned specific transmission configurations, dividing the complex problem of managing all possible device requirements into manageable segments that can be handled independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the operating bandwidth of MTC devices is limited to 1.4 MHz to reduce costs, then device cost is reduced, but transmission capacity and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice costVSAvoidtransmission capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic transmission configurations that can be selected based on actual needs. Different configurations include different numbers of narrowbands (1, 2, or 4), allowing the system to dynamically adjust transmission capacity within the 1.4 MHz bandwidth constraint. This enables the system to optimize between cost and capacity by selecting appropriate configurations for different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the quantity of random access response messages and paging messages sent by the base station is increased to handle varying MTC device loads, then network coverage and accessibility are improved, but network resource consumption and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different transmission configurations to different device categories based on their specific needs. Instead of uniformly increasing messages for all devices, the system tailors the transmission parameters (number of narrowbands, repetition quantities) to local requirements of each device category, optimizing resource usage while maintaining necessary coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If flexible transmission configurations with multiple parameters are introduced to adapt to different MTC device requirements, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity and configuration management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission configuration flexibilityVSAvoidconfiguration management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining multiple transmission configurations (first, second, third configurations) with specific parameter settings before actual communication occurs. The network device and terminal device both store these predefined configurations and select appropriate ones based on device categories, avoiding the need for complex real-time configuration negotiations and reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3282768B1Common message transmission method and related device
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3282768B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3282768B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3282768B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The present invention provides a method for transmitting a common message and a related device. The method includes: determining, by a base station, a first transmission configuration, where the first transmission configuration includes at least one group of transmission parameters and a moment for using each group of transmission parameters, each group of transmission parameters includes one or more of the following parameters: a quantity of narrow bands used to send the common message, a location of a narrow band used to send the common message, or a largest transport block size and a control channel scheduling indication that are used to send the common message, and the control channel scheduling indication is used to indicate whether to use a control channel to schedule and send the common message; and transmitting, by the base station, the common message to a target machine type communication MTC device according to the first transmission configuration. According to the foregoing technical solutions, a base station can determine a manner and a parameter that are used to send a common message at a different moment, so as to flexibly control sending of the common message.