MBS Control Area Signaling for Seamless UE Cell Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication systems, the transition of user equipment (UE) across cells during multicast broadcast services (MBS) leads to increased load and power consumption, and difficulties in promptly receiving MBS data from the switching destination cell.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a control area function where MBS control information is shared across a defined area coverage, allowing the UE to recognize and utilize the same MBS control information across multiple cells within this area, thereby reducing the need for repeated reception of control information and optimizing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE receives MBS control information from each cell individually during cell transitions, then the UE can ensure accurate reception of MBS data, but the load and power consumption of the UE increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMBS data reception accuracyVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the MBS control information from multiple cells into a single unified control message. The base station transmits MBS control information that is valid across a control area covering multiple cells, rather than requiring separate control information from each cell. This reduces the amount of control information the UE must process and receive, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable MBS data reception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The MBS control information is designed to be universal across multiple cells within a control area. A single control message serves the function of multiple cell-specific control messages, enabling the UE to operate efficiently when moving between cells without needing to acquire separate control information from each cell, thus reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the UE receives MBS control information from each cell individually during cell transitions, then the UE can ensure accurate reception of MBS data, but the processing load on the UE increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMBS data reception accuracyVSAvoidUE processing load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple cell-specific control information elements into a single unified MBS control information structure. This unified structure contains parameters valid across the entire control area, reducing the number of separate processing operations the UE must perform when transitioning between cells, thereby reducing processing load while maintaining reception accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the common elements of MBS control information that are valid across multiple cells and presents them as a single unified control message. By separating the universal control parameters from cell-specific parameters, the UE only needs to process the essential control information once, reducing processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the UE receives MBS control information from each cell individually during cell transitions, then the UE can ensure accurate reception of MBS data, but the time to receive MBS data from the switching destination cell increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMBS data reception accuracyVSAvoidTime to receive MBS data after cell switching

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station pre-configures the MBS control information to be valid across the entire control area covering multiple cells. When the UE transitions to a new cell within the same control area, the previously received control information remains valid, eliminating the need for the UE to wait for and process new control information from the target cell, thus reducing the time to resume MBS data reception after cell switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The unified MBS control information maintains continuous validity across cell boundaries within the control area. This allows the UE to maintain continuous MBS data reception without interruption or delay when transitioning between cells, as the control information remains applicable throughout the control area, ensuring seamless service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12543022B2Communication control method, base station, and user equipment

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

A communication control method is used in a mobile communication system for providing a multicast broadcast service (MBS) from a base station to a user equipment, and includes transmitting, by the base station configured to manage a cell, to the user equipment via an MBS control channel of the cell, MBS control information used to receive MBS data, and transmitting, by the base station to the user equipment, a control area identifier indicating an MBS control area coverage corresponding to an area coverage where at least a part of the MBS control information is applicable.