Multi-Receiver LTE Cell Search Parallel Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of LTE frequency bands and the time-consuming nature of cell selection and reselection processes in LTE wireless networks hinder the availability of services and consume battery power, particularly during idle mode procedures like cell measurement, cell search, and cell reselection.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple receivers in a wireless device to perform concurrent, parallel searches across multiple radio frequency bands and radio access technologies, enabling carrier aggregation in connected mode and accelerating cell selection and reselection processes by generating lists of candidate frequencies and selecting the best cell based on signal strength and quality metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple receivers are used to perform concurrent cell searches across multiple frequency bands, then cell acquisition time is reduced and productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cell search process into multiple parallel segments, with each receiver independently searching a specific frequency band or set of bands. This segmentation allows simultaneous exploration of multiple bands, reducing total search time while maintaining manageable complexity through modular receiver design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential single-band searching to parallel multi-band searching by adding the frequency band dimension to the search process. Multiple receivers operate simultaneously across different frequency dimensions, transforming a time-intensive sequential process into a spatially-parallel operation
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive cell measurements across all frequency bands are performed, then cell selection accuracy is improved, but time consumption and energy usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary cell measurements and identifies candidate cells during idle mode before actual cell reselection is needed. By pre-measuring and pre-evaluating cells across multiple bands, the system prepares measurement data in advance, reducing the time required for accurate cell selection when reselection actually occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous cell measurement and monitoring across multiple frequency bands using multiple receivers operating in parallel. This continuous measurement approach maintains up-to-date information about available cells without requiring periodic intensive scanning, thereby improving selection accuracy while reducing overall time and energy consumption
3Loss of time
If multiple receivers operate simultaneously for cell search, then frequency scan time is reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a strategy where multiple receivers perform partial searches simultaneously on different frequency bands, rather than one receiver exhaustively searching all bands. This partial parallel action reduces total scan time while limiting power consumption by avoiding full activation of all receivers across all bands continuously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic cell measurement and search operations using multiple receivers, where receivers are activated in cycles rather than continuously. This periodic operation allows the system to achieve comprehensive coverage over time while reducing instantaneous and average power consumption compared to continuous operation
Data Source
AI summary
A method using multiple receivers of a wireless communication device to accelerate cell selection and reselection is disclosed. Multiple receivers of the wireless device are used to implement carrier aggregation in LTE connected mode. The multiple receivers of the wireless device are used to search for cells concurrently across multiple radio frequency bands and/or multiple radio access technologies during cell selection and/or cell reselection procedures. A first receiver and a second receiver of the wireless device each search for cells over different radio frequency bands simultaneously, and accordingly the cell selection and reselection time is effectively reduced compared to using only one receiver. Multiple receivers are also used concurrently, in parallel, to accelerate inter-frequency cell detection and measurement and for inter-RAT searches and measurements.