Conditional Network Capability Reporting for Cellular Throughput

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cellular communication networks face inefficiencies in reporting network capabilities, leading to increased complexity and reduced throughput due to the need for wireless devices to support all features on all carriers simultaneously, which is not always necessary, and results in underutilization of processing capacity.

Innovation Solution

The network node presents subsets of features applicable to specific areas, allowing the UE to report capabilities only for those features, enabling conditional support and reducing the amount of data in capability reports, thereby improving system and UE throughput.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wireless devices support all features on all carriers simultaneously, then network capability coverage is comprehensive, but device complexity and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capability coverageVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments network capabilities into conditional groups based on carrier configurations. Instead of requiring universal support for all features, the system divides capabilities into conditionally supported groups that are activated only when specific carrier conditions are met, reducing the complexity burden on devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic capability reporting where devices can adaptively report their supported capabilities based on actual carrier configurations. The capability reporting mechanism becomes dynamic rather than static, allowing devices to adjust their reported capabilities to match the actual network conditions and configurations they encounter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If wireless devices support all features on all carriers simultaneously, then feature compatibility is maximized, but throughput is reduced due to underutilization of processing capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeature compatibilityVSAvoidsystem throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different capability support levels for different carriers based on local conditions. Instead of uniform capability support across all carriers, each carrier can have its own conditional capability profile, enabling optimized processing and improved throughput for each specific carrier configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If capability reports include all possible features, then network capability information is complete, but data volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability information completenessVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the relevant capability information needed for specific carrier configurations from the complete set of possible features. Instead of including all possible features in capability reports, the system extracts and reports only those capabilities that are conditionally supported under the actual carrier conditions, reducing data volume while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If advanced features are introduced, then system capability is enhanced, but hardware requirements increase requiring next-generation hardware

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capabilityVSAvoidhardware requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables existing hardware to perform advanced features through conditional capability support. By allowing features to be supported conditionally based on carrier configurations rather than requiring universal hardware support, the system achieves enhanced capabilities using existing hardware resources more efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3180929B1Conditional network capabilities for improved system performance
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3180929B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3180929B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3180929B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure pertains to the field of reporting network capabilities in a cellular communication network. The disclosure relates to a method, performed in a wireless device 1, for providing a network capability report to a radio network node 10, wherein the wireless device and the radio network node are comprised in a wireless communications network. The method comprises receiving S2 from a network node 10, 4 in the wireless communications network 20 information specifying features that the wireless communication network supports for the wireless device 1. The method further comprises determining S3 capabilities of the wireless device with regard to the specified features and sending S4 to the radio network node 10 a network capability report message defining the capabilities of the wireless device with respect to the specified features. The disclosure also relates to corresponding nodes and to a computer program.