MBMS-MDT Timer for Coverage Hole Data Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE networks, user equipment (UE) stops performing multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) minimization of drive test (MDT) when it enters a coverage hole with inadequate MBMS quality, preventing network operators from harvesting necessary coverage and quality information.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a MBMS-MDT timer that allows UE to continue performing MBMS-MDT even when MBMS quality degrades, ensuring continuous measurement and reporting of MBMS service quality, including RSRP, RSRQ, and BLER thresholds, to gather data on areas with insufficient MBMS coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE stops performing MBMS-MDT when entering a coverage hole with inadequate MBMS quality, then the UE conserves resources and avoids unnecessary measurements, but the network operator loses the opportunity to collect valuable coverage and quality information from areas with poor MBMS service
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of stopping MBMS-MDT when MBMS quality degrades (conventional approach), the patent inverts the logic by continuing MBMS-MDT measurements specifically when MBMS quality falls below a threshold. This allows the UE to collect valuable coverage hole information precisely when MBMS service is inadequate, transforming a quality degradation condition into a trigger for enhanced measurement collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE autonomously determines whether to continue or stop MBMS-MDT based on local quality assessment without requiring continuous network control. The UE self-manages the measurement process by monitoring MBMS quality metrics (RSRP, RSRQ, BLER) and independently deciding to maintain measurements in coverage holes, enabling the system to self-optimize data collection based on actual service conditions.
2Loss of information
If the UE continues performing MBMS-MDT in coverage holes with inadequate MBMS quality, then the network operator can collect valuable coverage information, but the UE consumes additional measurement and processing resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating measurement behavior based on location-specific MBMS quality conditions. Instead of uniformly continuing or stopping MBMS-MDT across all areas, the UE adapts its measurement activity to local conditions: maintaining measurements in coverage holes where quality is inadequate, while potentially reducing or stopping measurements in areas with adequate service. This localized approach optimizes resource usage by concentrating measurement efforts where they provide maximum value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of MBMS-MDT based on quality conditions. When MBMS quality metrics (RSRP, RSRQ, BLER) fall below thresholds, the UE modifies its behavior by continuing measurements with updated configuration parameters. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize the balance between information collection and resource consumption based on actual service quality.
3Ease of operation
If the UE stops MBMS-MDT when MBMS quality degrades below a threshold, then the UE simplifies its operation by discontinuing measurements, but this prevents the network from identifying and optimizing coverage holes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional operation simplification logic by making the degraded quality condition itself the trigger for continued measurement activity. Rather than simplifying operations by stopping measurements when quality degrades, the system deliberately maintains complex measurement operations in these conditions to ensure accurate coverage hole identification, thereby improving overall network optimization reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for performing multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) minimization of drive test (MDT) in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) receives a MBMS-MDT timer configuration from a network. A MBMS-MDT timer is newly defined for the MBMS-MDT. The UE starts the MBMS-MDT timer based on the received MBMS-MDT timer configuration when a specific condition, which relates to degradation of quality of MBMS, is met, and while the MBMS-MDT timer is running, the UE performs the MBMS-MDT.