Dynamic RAT Selection for Link Budget Limited Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Link budget limited wireless devices face challenges in maintaining efficient communication due to limited reception and transmission capabilities, often being forced to operate at high power levels, leading to increased battery drain and system interruptions, especially when pushed to use LTE networks despite legacy RATs like WCDMA offering better signal strength.
Innovation Solution
A method for dynamic RAT selection in link budget limited devices, where the device determines and switches to a RAT that requires lower uplink transmit power based on signal strength comparisons and network operator preferences, using coverage information and system data to optimize power consumption and reduce interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If link budget limited devices operate at high power levels to maintain communication on LTE networks, then communication reliability is improved, but battery drain increases and system interruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic RAT selection where the device automatically switches between LTE and legacy RATs based on real-time signal strength measurements and link budget conditions. The device monitors received signal strength indicators (RSSI) and dynamically adjusts its operating RAT to optimize the balance between communication reliability and power consumption, avoiding fixed operation at high power levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter of radio access technology selection based on signal strength thresholds and link budget calculations. By adjusting the RAT parameter dynamically according to environmental conditions and power constraints, the system achieves lower power consumption while maintaining acceptable communication reliability through selective fallback to legacy RATs when LTE signal conditions deteriorate.
2Speed
If link budget limited devices use LTE networks, then data transmission speed is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for multiple RAT support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the multi-functional capability of link budget limited devices to operate on multiple RATs (LTE and legacy RATs). The device is designed with universal radio interface functionality that can adapt between different network technologies, allowing it to achieve high-speed data transmission on LTE when available while falling back to legacy RATs when necessary, without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each RAT.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects the appropriate RAT based on real-time conditions, utilizing the device's multi-RAT capability only when needed. This dynamic approach allows the device to maintain high-speed transmission on LTE when signal conditions permit while avoiding the complexity of continuously managing multiple active RAT connections, thereby reducing overall device complexity through conditional operation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If devices switch to legacy RATs when LTE signal is weak, then power consumption is reduced, but communication performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the device continuously monitors signal strength indicators and link budget conditions, then adjusts its RAT selection accordingly. The system uses feedback from real-time signal measurements to dynamically switch between LTE and legacy RATs, ensuring that power consumption is reduced when LTE signal conditions are poor while maintaining communication performance when signal conditions allow for higher-speed transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the RAT parameter based on measured signal strength and calculated link budget. By adjusting the operating RAT as a variable parameter in response to environmental conditions, the device optimizes the trade-off between power consumption and communication performance, selecting legacy RATs when power savings are prioritized and LTE when transmission performance can be maintained.
Data Source
AI summary
According to techniques described herein, a UE (which may be link budget limited) may be connected to a network using a first RAT. The UE may be configured to determine a first resource requirement for communication on the network using the first RAT and a second resource requirement for communication on the network using a second RAT. The UE may be further configured to trigger a re-selection to the second RAT in response to the UE determining that the second RAT is preferred over the first RAT based, at least in part, on a comparison of the first and second resource requirements.