Distributed Paging via Gateway-Directed Cell Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-cell architectures where each virtual baseband unit (vBBU) supports multiple small cells, existing paging mechanisms consume excessive radio resources and processing time due to the need to send paging messages to all cells, even when the user equipment (UE) is unlikely to be present.
Innovation Solution
Implement a gateway that acts as a virtual core network, using a private information element (IE) to send paging requests to a recommended list of cell IDs based on UE activity and heuristic information, reducing the number of cells that need to be paged, and introducing a new S1AP indication for MME to target specific eNodeBs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If paging messages are sent to all cells in a multi-cell architecture, then user equipment can be reached regardless of location, but radio resources and processing time are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the paging process into two phases: first, the gateway sends a recommended cell list to the MME based on UE activity patterns; second, the MME sends paging requests only to cells in the recommended list. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability by having a fallback mechanism while reducing resource consumption by limiting initial paging scope.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway performs preliminary analysis of UE activity patterns and sends a recommended cell list before the actual paging request is executed. This preliminary action uses heuristic information about UE behavior to pre-identify likely candidate cells, thereby reducing the scope of subsequent paging operations and conserving radio resources.
2Adaptability or versatility
If paging messages are sent to all cells, then no UE location assumptions are needed, but processing time and network load increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway pre-computes and sends a recommended cell list based on UE activity patterns before the paging request arrives at the MME. This preliminary action reduces the processing time required at the MME by providing a pre-filtered list of candidate cells, while still maintaining adaptability through the heuristic-based recommendations.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway acts as an intermediary between the MME and the cell selection process. It uses its knowledge of UE activity patterns to generate recommended cell lists, thereby mediating between the need for comprehensive coverage and the need for fast processing. The MME then uses these recommendations to efficiently select cells for paging.
3Productivity
If the gateway uses private information elements to send recommended cell lists, then paging efficiency improves, but protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a private information element (IE) type in the S1AP protocol to carry recommended cell lists. This parameter change allows the gateway to transmit optimized paging information without fundamentally altering the existing protocol structure. The private IE is an additional data structure that complements the standard protocol, enabling enhanced functionality while maintaining backward compatibility.
4Loss of energy
If distributed paging optimization is implemented, then radio resources are saved, but the gateway and MME require enhanced functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the enhanced functionality between two network elements: the gateway, which performs UE activity analysis and generates recommended cell lists, and the MME, which uses these recommendations to execute paging. This segmentation distributes the complexity burden, allowing each element to be optimized independently while achieving overall resource savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway serves as an intermediary that provides intelligence to the MME without requiring the MME to perform complex UE activity analysis itself. The gateway's recommended cell lists enable the MME to achieve efficient paging with minimal additional complexity, as the MME simply needs to process and act on the pre-computed recommendations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for providing distributed paging optimization, the method comprising: connecting a group of radio access network nodes, each supporting multiple small cells, to a gateway which acts as a virtual core network to the multiple small cells and acts as an eNodeB virtualizing the multiple small cells toward a core network; sending, by the gateway, in response to a paging request from the core network, a plurality of recommended cell IDs or base stations using a private information element (IE) in a paging request; and sending paging requests in response to the paging request from the core network to only the plurality of cell IDs or base stations recommended by the gateway.