Connected Lite Mode for Reduced UE Handover Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in battery usage and resource utilization due to excessive signaling during handovers in connected and idle modes, particularly in areas with frequent cell changes or infrequent data bursts.
Innovation Solution
A Connected Lite mode is introduced, where a UE maintains its state at an anchor node within a group of connected cells, allowing seamless transitions without registering at each cell change, using X2 or S1 communication links to transfer the state as needed, and employing full or partial Clite modes to optimize signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE remains in connected mode to maintain continuous connectivity, then the UE can immediately transmit data when needed, but excessive signaling occurs during handovers between cells causing battery drain and resource waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic mode selection mechanism that allows the UE to transition between connected mode and idle mode based on real-time conditions. The network can dynamically configure the UE to use connected mode only when data transmission is actually needed, rather than maintaining connected mode continuously, thus reducing signaling overhead and battery consumption while ensuring connectivity is available when required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the UE by introducing a new idle mode with modified characteristics. In this idle mode, the UE does not perform full handover signaling between cells but can still receive paging information and transition to connected mode when needed. This parameter change allows the system to reduce signaling frequency while maintaining the ability to establish connectivity on demand
2Use of energy by moving object
If the UE uses idle mode to conserve battery resources, then signaling is reduced, but significant signaling is required when transitioning back to connected mode for data transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network prepare and maintain context information about the UE in the core network even when the UE is in idle mode. When the UE needs to transmit data, this pre-maintained context allows for faster establishment of the connection without requiring complete re-signaling of all configuration parameters, thus reducing the signaling time and overhead associated with transitioning from idle to connected mode
3Reliability
If the UE performs full handover signaling when moving between cells in connected mode, then the network maintains complete control and connectivity, but excessive signaling occurs in hyper-dense areas with frequent cell changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential handover signaling procedures from the full connected mode operation. By introducing a simplified idle mode, the patent removes the requirement for complete handover signaling when the UE is not actively transmitting data. The network maintains simplified cell reselection information without requiring full RRC reconfiguration signaling, thus reducing signaling complexity while preserving basic connectivity functionality
4Reliability
If the network maintains detailed UE context in all cells for seamless handover, then connectivity reliability is improved, but network resources are wasted in idle mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the level of context maintenance between cells based on the UE's operational state. When the UE is in idle mode, the network maintains only essential cell reselection information and paging capabilities at the idle mode cell level, rather than maintaining full UE context (including bearers, QoS parameters, and security contexts) in all cells. This selective context maintenance reduces network resource consumption while preserving the ability to establish reliable connectivity when the UE transitions to connected mode
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus preserves a state of a UE in an anchor eNB, wherein the anchor eNB is one of a set of connected cells, the UE being in a connected mode. Each cell of the connected set has a corresponding coverage area. The apparatus then maintains the state of the UE in the anchor eNB when the UE moves from a coverage area of the anchor eNB to a coverage area of another one of the cells from the set of connected cells.