Environment-Aware Cell Measurement for Lower Terminal Power Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile communication technologies result in high power consumption for terminal devices due to unnecessary continuous cell measurement and network search during periods of disconnection and reconnection.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for a terminal device to perform targeted cell measurement based on pre-learned signal strength thresholds and environmental identification, reducing unnecessary measurements and optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the terminal device performs continuous cell measurement from disconnection to reconnection, then the terminal device can ensure network availability, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device pre-learns and stores cell information (including cell IDs, frequencies, and signal strength thresholds) for areas where it frequently operates. When disconnected, it directly uses this pre-stored information to quickly restore network connection without performing continuous measurements, thereby reducing power consumption while ensuring network availability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous measurement, the terminal device performs cell measurements periodically or event-driven based on signal strength thresholds. It only initiates measurement when the serving cell signal falls below a threshold or when entering a previously learned area, converting continuous operation into periodic action to save energy.
2Measurement precision
If the terminal device performs inter-frequency inter-RAT neighboring cell measurement, then the cell reselection accuracy is improved, but the measurement time and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device applies different measurement strategies to different cell types based on local characteristics. For intra-frequency cells, it uses simplified measurement; for inter-frequency and inter-RAT cells, it uses pre-learned information with selective measurement only when needed, optimizing the balance between accuracy and time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device pre-learns and stores neighboring cell information (cell IDs, frequencies, signal strengths) during normal operation. When cell reselection is needed, it directly compares current signal strength with pre-stored thresholds to determine the target cell, avoiding time-consuming real-time measurements of all neighboring cells while maintaining reselection accuracy.
3Reliability
If the terminal device searches for network in area without network coverage, then the network search completeness is maintained, but the power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device pre-learns and stores information about serviceable areas (areas with network coverage) and non-serviceable areas (areas without coverage) based on historical operation data. When disconnected, it checks its current location against the stored non-serviceable area information. If it determines it is in a non-serviceable area, it stops network search to avoid unnecessary power consumption, while maintaining search completeness in serviceable areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A cell measurement method. According to the method, a terminal device determines that a first cell as a camped cell of the terminal device; and then determines that the terminal device is in a target environment. The terminal device further obtains a signal strength of the first cell and performs a measurement on a second cell when the signal strength of the first cell is less than a first threshold and greater than a second threshold. The second cell determined by the terminal device based on the target environment. The terminal device switches the camped cell of the terminal device from the first cell to the second cell when a measurement result of the second cell meets a handover condition.