MME Paging Optimization via Base Station Type Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In evolved packet systems, the large paging range of tracking area lists leads to low paging efficiency and increased resource consumption due to the need to page user equipment across multiple cells, resulting in inefficient signaling and power usage.

Innovation Solution

A mobility management entity determines the last accessed base station by user equipment and assesses its load state, sending a paging message only to that base station if it is in a non-overload state, or to all corresponding base stations in the tracking area list if it is overloaded, to optimize paging efficiency and reduce signaling resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If paging is performed in all cells of the tracking area list, then user equipment can be reached reliably, but paging efficiency decreases and more paging resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging success rateVSAvoidpaging efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the tracking area list into multiple groups and selects one group for paging based on the base station type of the last accessed base station. This segmentation allows the system to page only in a subset of cells rather than all cells, thereby improving paging efficiency while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by paging only in a selected subset of the tracking area list rather than performing exhaustive paging in all cells. The selection is based on the base station type match, which provides sufficient paging coverage for most cases without the overhead of complete area paging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Adaptability or versatility

If paging range is large covering entire tracking area list, then user equipment can be paged regardless of location, but paging resources are consumed more

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging coverageVSAvoidpaging resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the paging scope dependent on the local characteristic (base station type) of the last accessed base station. If the base station types match, paging is limited to cells in the same base station type group, reducing resource consumption while maintaining adaptability to the user equipment's likely location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If user equipment is paged in idle state across tracking area list, then connectivity can be reestablished, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reestablishmentVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and utilizes the base station type information from the last accessed base station to optimize paging. By taking out this specific piece of information and using it to select the paging scope, the system reduces unnecessary signaling overhead while ensuring connection reestablishment reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Area of stationary object

If tracking area list is used for paging, then user equipment location coverage is comprehensive, but paging time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging area coverageVSAvoidpaging time
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-categorizing cells into groups based on base station types and pre-determining the paging scope by matching the last accessed base station type. This preliminary organization allows the system to quickly select the appropriate paging group without time-consuming evaluation during the paging process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3565332B1Methods for paging a user equipment and mobility management entities performing the methods
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3565332B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3565332B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3565332B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a user equipment paging method, including: - determining, by a mobility management entity, MME, before paging user equipment in an idle state, a base station or a tracking area last accessed by the user equipment; - determining, by the MME, that a type of the base station or a type of the tracking area last accessed by the user equipment is a preset base station type or a preset area type; and - sending, by the MME, a paging message comprising an identifier of the user equipment to the base station or all base stations corresponding to the tracking area last accessed by the user equipment. Correspondingly, the embodiments of the present invention further disclose an MME, which can improve user equipment paging efficiency.