Location-Based Targeted Cell Search for User Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cell search procedures in user equipment (UE) are resource-intensive and battery-consuming, especially when performing an all-band search outside the home PLMN area.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a targeted cell search based on the UE's location, using a locally stored dataset to identify specific frequency bands associated with the location, thereby reducing processing resource utilization and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a UE performs an all-band cell search outside home PLMN area, then the UE can find available networks, but the UE consumes significant battery power and processing resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork availabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-populating a dataset with location-frequency band associations before the UE needs to perform cell search. When the UE determines its location, it can query this pre-prepared dataset to obtain relevant frequency bands without performing exhaustive searches, thus conserving battery power while ensuring network availability is maintained

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by making cell search parameters (frequency bands) location-dependent. Instead of uniformly searching all bands everywhere, the UE adjusts its search parameters based on local geographic information, querying the dataset for location-specific frequency bands and performing targeted searches only in relevant bands for the current location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a UE performs an all-band cell search, then the UE can ensure comprehensive network coverage, but the processing resource utilization increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidprocessing resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cell search process into location-based segments. The UE determines its location, queries the dataset for location-specific frequency bands, and performs separate targeted searches in each relevant band rather than performing a single exhaustive all-band search, thereby reducing processing resource utilization while maintaining comprehensive coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses preliminary action by pre-organizing frequency band information according to location in the dataset before runtime. This allows the UE to quickly retrieve relevant bands based on current location without performing complex real-time analysis, significantly reducing processing resource requirements during actual cell search operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4546878A1Precise network searching based on location
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 T MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
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AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for improved cell search based on a location of a user equipment (UE). By querying a locally-stored dataset to identify one or more cell search parameters associated with the location of the UE, the UE may perform a targeted cell search. The targeted cell search may be based on one or more of a frequency band, radio access technology, and a network identifier (e.g., a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier).