LTE System Information Acquisition via Dynamic Unicast

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for broadcasting System Information (SI) in LTE networks lead to high power consumption and resource waste at base stations, especially when there are a small number of User Equipment (UE) accessing the network, due to periodic broadcasting of SI, which results in inefficient utilization of spectrum resources.

Innovation Solution

A method where User Equipment (UE) requests System Information (SI) to be broadcast or unicasted based on pre-acquired scheduling information, allowing for continuous monitoring of receiving windows and sending additional requests if the SI is not successfully received, thereby ensuring successful acquisition of SI through unicast transmission when broadcasting fails.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If System Information (SI) is periodical broadcasted by base station, then all User Equipment (UE) can acquire SI, but power consumption of base station increases and spectrum resource utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSI acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidbase station power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic SI transmission by allowing UEs to request specific SI types based on their needs. The base station dynamically decides whether to broadcast or unicast SI information based on the number of requesting UEs and the type of SI requested, rather than periodically broadcasting all SI to all UEs. This dynamic approach reduces unnecessary transmissions and power consumption while ensuring UEs can acquire needed SI.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmission parameters of SI by introducing different transmission modes (broadcasting vs. unicast) based on the situation. When few UEs need SI, unicast with higher modulation and coding schemes is used; when many UEs need SI, broadcasting is used. This parameter adaptation optimizes power consumption and resource utilization while maintaining SI acquisition reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If System Information (SI) is periodical broadcasted by base station, then all User Equipment (UE) can acquire SI, but spectrum resource utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSI acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidspectrum resource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic SI transmission by allowing UEs to request specific SI types based on their needs. The base station dynamically decides whether to broadcast or unicast SI information based on the number of requesting UEs and the type of SI requested, rather than periodically broadcasting all SI to all UEs. This dynamic approach reduces unnecessary transmissions and power consumption while ensuring UEs can acquire needed SI.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmission parameters of SI by introducing different transmission modes (broadcasting vs. unicast) based on the situation. When few UEs need SI, unicast with higher modulation and coding schemes is used; when many UEs need SI, broadcasting is used. This parameter adaptation optimizes power consumption and resource utilization while maintaining SI acquisition reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If base station unicasts SI to UE, then SI acquisition success rate increases, but transmission time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSI acquisition success rateVSAvoidtransmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by having UEs request only the specific SI types they need rather than receiving all SI through periodic broadcasting. The base station unicasts only the requested SI types to individual UEs, reducing unnecessary transmission time while ensuring successful acquisition of needed information. This partial transmission approach balances reliability and time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic SI transmission by allowing UEs to request specific SI types based on their needs. The base station dynamically decides whether to broadcast or unicast SI information based on the number of requesting UEs and the type of SI requested, rather than periodically broadcasting all SI to all UEs. This dynamic approach reduces unnecessary transmissions and power consumption while ensuring UEs can acquire needed SI.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11218990B2Method and apparatus for receiving and sending system information, user equipment and base station

Publication Date: 2022.01.04 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A method of receiving system information (SI) includes: a first SI request for requesting a base station to broadcast at least one piece of to-be-requested SI is sent to the base station, where the at least one piece of the to-be-requested SI belongs to second type, not broadcasted SI; the at least one piece of the to-be-requested SI broadcasted by the base station in response to the first SI request is received according to pre-acquired scheduling information; upon determining that any of one or more pieces of to-be-requested SI is not successfully received, a second SI request for requesting the base station to unicast the to-be-requested SI not successfully received by present UE is sent to the base station; and the to-be-requested SI not successfully received by the present UE, which is unicasted by the base station in response to the second SI request, is received.