Implicit Mobility Signaling for Wireless Network Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face high signaling overhead and power consumption issues, particularly with small data transfers in machine-type communication devices and smartphones, due to the need for frequent reporting of mobility information in heterogeneous networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing implicit signaling of user equipment mobility information, where the network provides MSE configuration information to the user equipment, indicating when to report mobility data such as visited cells and duration, reducing the need for explicit signaling and optimizing data retention and reporting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If user equipment frequently reports mobility information in heterogeneous networks, then network can make better mobility decisions and handover decisions, but signaling overhead and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility decision accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network node provides MSE configuration information to the user equipment, enabling the UE to autonomously determine its mobility state and manage mobility information internally. The UE only reports mobility information when explicitly requested by the network, eliminating the need for frequent unsolicited reporting and reducing power consumption while maintaining mobility decision accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If user equipment frequently reports mobility information, then network can make better handover decisions, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover decision accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The user equipment autonomously manages mobility information based on MSE configuration from the network. Instead of frequent unsolicited reports, the UE maintains mobility information internally and only transmits it when the network explicitly requests, significantly reducing signaling overhead while ensuring the network receives accurate mobility data for handover decisions when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If user equipment reports mobility information explicitly, then network receives accurate mobility data, but power consumption and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility information accuracyVSAvoiduser equipment power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The user equipment autonomously determines its mobility state using MSE configuration information provided by the network and manages mobility information internally. The UE only engages in power-consuming transmission activities when explicitly requested by the network, thereby maintaining mobility information accuracy while minimizing power consumption by avoiding unnecessary reporting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If user equipment maintains connected mode for small data transfers, then data transfer reliability improves, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The network provides MSE configuration information to the user equipment in advance, enabling the UE to autonomously determine its mobility state and prepare mobility information. This preliminary configuration allows the network to make informed decisions about connection management and traffic offloading, reducing the need for excessive signaling while maintaining connection reliability for small data transfers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3063967B1Signaling for mobility and mobility state estimation
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3063967B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3063967B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3063967B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for signaling. In some example embodiments, there is provided a method. The method may include making mobility information including visited cell history available based on at least received mobility state estimation configuration information; and reporting, by the user equipment, the mobility information including the visited cell history. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.