LTE System Information Block Coverage Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems, particularly LTE, face challenges in improving coverage for terminals on the edge of coverage areas or under marginal radio conditions, especially for machine-to-machine devices, without significant changes to the LTE standard that would compromise backward compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that restricts the range of values for broadcast characteristics of System Information Blocks (SIBs) to a subset of the standard's allowable values, repeatedly broadcasts SIBs with these restricted values, and provides an indication to terminals to facilitate reception and combination of multiple repetitions, enhancing signal coverage and decoding capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If system information is broadcast repeatedly with standard allowable values, then coverage improvement can be achieved, but backward compatibility with legacy terminals may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different broadcast characteristics to different terminal types. Machine-to-machine terminals receive broadcasts with restricted characteristic values optimized for coverage, while legacy terminals continue receiving standard broadcasts. This allows the system to optimize coverage for M2M devices without compromising compatibility with existing terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the broadcast channel into different streams or identification markers, allowing terminals to distinguish between standard broadcasts and coverage-optimized broadcasts. This segmentation enables legacy terminals to ignore the restricted-value broadcasts while M2M terminals utilize them for improved coverage.
2Ease of operation
If the range of broadcast characteristic values is restricted to a subset, then terminal reception and combination of repetitions is facilitated, but broadcast flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter space for broadcast characteristics by restricting values to a predefined subset. This parameter restriction simplifies terminal processing by reducing the search space for reception and combination operations, while the base station maintains flexibility in selecting which restricted values to use based on channel conditions.
3Reliability
If multiple repetitions of system information are broadcast, then decoding reliability is improved, but system latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic broadcasting of system information with multiple repetitions at optimized intervals. This periodic action allows terminals to accumulate multiple copies for improved decoding reliability while maintaining predictable timing that balances latency requirements. The periodic structure enables efficient resource utilization and predictable system behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for communicating system information, such as SIBs, from a base station to a terminal in a wireless network such as an LTE network. The base station is configured to broadcast the system information in accordance with a standard which defines a range of allowable values for characteristics of the broadcast. A restricted range of values for the characteristics is defined as a strict subset of the range of allowable values, and repeated broadcasts of the system information are configured in accordance with the restricted range of values. The terminal uses knowledge of the restricted range of values to facilitate reception of multiple repetitions of the broadcast. The terminal then combines the multiple repetitions to facilitate recovery of the system information.