Enhanced Cell Global Identifier for Satellite UE Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G satellite communication systems face challenges in accurately determining the location of user equipment (UE) due to the unique characteristics of satellite-based networks, such as larger coverage areas and moving coverage areas, which complicates handover and emergency services like Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Lawful Interception (LI).
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an enhanced Cell Global Identifier (CGI) that includes additional fields representing the location of the UE, such as a timestamp, beam coordinates, or UE location coordinates, to provide a more accurate representation of the UE's geographic location, allowing for better routing of emergency services and regulatory compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional cell IDs are used in satellite networks, then device complexity is reduced, but location measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The enhanced Cell Global Identifier is segmented into multiple fields: a first field indicating a non-terrestrial network gateway identifier and a second field indicating a non-terrestrial radio access network node identifier. This segmentation allows the system to capture location information through structured identifier components without requiring entirely new signaling mechanisms, thereby improving location measurement precision while controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The enhanced Cell Global Identifier serves multiple functions simultaneously: it identifies the cell, indicates the satellite beam information, and provides location information for emergency services. By making the identifier multi-functional, the patent improves location measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same identifier structure fulfills multiple purposes.
2Measurement precision
If enhanced CGI with location fields is implemented, then location measurement precision improves, but information loss is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The network entity proactively determines and includes location information in the enhanced Cell Global Identifier before the location is requested for emergency services or regulatory compliance. This preliminary inclusion of location data in the identifier structure ensures that location information is already available and complete when needed, preventing information loss and improving measurement precision without requiring additional signaling exchanges.
3Productivity
If satellite coverage areas are made larger, then network productivity improves, but location measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating specific satellite beam information and gateway identifiers into the enhanced Cell Global Identifier. Even though satellite coverage areas are large, the identifier provides localized precision information through beam-specific and gateway-specific fields, allowing the system to maintain both large coverage areas for productivity and precise location identification for measurement accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication using satellite access to a wireless network, where a wireless cell supported by a satellite is moving or temporarily fixed. In an aspect, a radio access network (RAN) entity or a user equipment (UE) provides, to a core network entity, an enhanced cell global identifier (CGI), where the enhanced CGI includes at least one field representing a location of the UE. Based on the enhanced CGI, the core network entity determines a location of the UE, and may provide a service to the UE based on the location. A core network may also provide an enhanced CGI to a RAN, e.g., to support wireless emergency alerting to UEs.