Device-Initiated Cell Selection for LTE Connection Failure Recovery

Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE cellular networks, user equipment (UE) faces challenges in establishing a connection when the serving base station is overloaded, leading to repeated retry attempts without attempting to connect via alternative base stations, which can drain network resources and fail to establish a successful connection.

Innovation Solution

The UE is configured to initiate selection of an alternate cell and perform a second NAS procedure via an alternate eNodeB after determining a procedure failure, even without network-initiated instructions, using a cell ranking and selection process to select cells with lower priority or alternate eNodeBs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE continuously retries to connect to the serving eNB after procedure failure, then the connection establishment reliability is improved, but the network resource consumption increases and the connection establishment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection establishment reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic cell selection behavior where the UE adapts its connection strategy based on procedure failure detection. After detecting a procedure failure, the UE transitions from sticking to the serving eNB to actively selecting alternate cells, creating a dynamic response to network conditions that balances reliability improvement with resource conservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The UE autonomously initiates cell reselection without requiring network instructions after detecting a procedure failure. The device self-manages the connection establishment process by independently deciding to switch to alternate cells, reducing network signaling overhead and resource consumption while maintaining connection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the UE continuously retries to connect to the serving eNB after procedure failure, then the connection establishment reliability is improved, but the connection establishment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection establishment reliabilityVSAvoidconnection establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic cell selection behavior where the UE adapts its connection strategy based on procedure failure detection. After detecting a procedure failure, the UE transitions from sticking to the serving eNB to actively selecting alternate cells, creating a dynamic response to network conditions that balances reliability improvement with resource conservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The UE skips repeated retry attempts on the failed serving eNB and directly transitions to selecting alternate cells after detecting a procedure failure. This skipping mechanism avoids wasting time on doomed connection attempts and accelerates the path to successful connection establishment by rushing through to viable alternatives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Device complexity

If the UE attempts to connect via the serving eNB only, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to network conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection management complexityVSAvoidadaptability to network congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The UE autonomously initiates cell reselection without requiring network instructions after detecting a procedure failure. The device self-manages the connection establishment process by independently deciding to switch to alternate cells, reducing network signaling overhead and resource consumption while maintaining connection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the cell selection parameter dynamically based on procedure outcome. When procedure failure is detected, the UE changes from serving eNB-only selection to alternate cell selection, adapting to network congestion conditions without requiring complex configuration or network instructions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10123355B2Device-initiated cell selection subsequent to procedure failure

Publication Date: 2018.11.06 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A method includes attempting, by a computing device capable of connecting to a long term evolution (LTE) cellular network, to perform a first non-access stratum (NAS) procedure via a serving eNodeB associated with a serving cell included in the LTE cellular network. The first NAS procedure includes a radio access network (RAN) layer portion and a NAS layer portion. The method further includes determining that the first NAS procedure was unsuccessful due to a first NAS procedure failure. In response to the first NAS procedure being unsuccessful due to the first NAS procedure failure, a first alternate cell included in the LTE cellular network is selected, and there is an attempt to perform a second NAS procedure via a first eNodeB associated with the first alternate cell. The selection of the first alternate cell is initiated by the computing device.