Mobile Station E-UTRAN Cell Search via Stored Identification Rules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile stations (MS) become constrained when unable to connect to an available E-UTRAN network while being served by a GERAN cell, due to lack of E-UTRAN cell information in neighbor cell lists, leading to suboptimal network usage and user experience.

Innovation Solution

The MS performs undirected or directed searches for E-UTRAN cells by receiving permission, either explicitly signaled or based on rules stored in the device, allowing reselection to E-UTRAN cells even if not listed in the neighbor cell list, thereby enabling connection to higher bandwidth E-UTRAN networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the MS relies on neighbor cell lists provided by the serving GERAN cell to identify E-UTRAN cells, then the network can control the MS's cell search behavior, but the MS becomes constrained and cannot connect to available E-UTRAN networks when their information is not included in the neighbor cell lists

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMS ability to connect to available E-UTRAN networksVSAvoidMS cell search and selection mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The MS is empowered to autonomously search for and identify E-UTRAN cells using its own stored capability information and identification rules, without being entirely dependent on the serving GERAN cell to provide complete neighbor cell list information. This self-service approach allows the MS to independently access available E-UTRAN networks even when the network infrastructure does not provide comprehensive cell information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the network provides comprehensive E-UTRAN cell information in neighbor cell lists, then the MS can easily identify and connect to E-UTRAN cells, but this requires network equipment upgrades and increases network complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMS cell identification processVSAvoidNetwork equipment configuration and upgrades
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring the network to provide complete and up-to-date E-UTRAN cell information in neighbor cell lists, the MS uses copied or cached capability information stored locally in its memory. This local copy allows the MS to identify E-UTRAN cells without requiring continuous network updates or comprehensive information provision from the GERAN infrastructure, thereby avoiding network equipment upgrades.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the MS performs undirected searches for E-UTRAN cells without neighbor cell list information, then it can discover available E-UTRAN networks, but this increases search time and energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMS ability to discover available E-UTRAN networksVSAvoidCell search and identification time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The MS performs preliminary actions by storing E-UTRAN cell capability information and identification rules in its memory during initial network registration or previous connections. This preliminary storage of relevant information enables the MS to conduct more targeted and efficient searches later, reducing the time and energy required for undirected searches when connecting to E-UTRAN networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2428066B1System for communicating radio access technology information to mobile stations
Publication Date: 2014.11.12 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2428066B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2428066B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2428066B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile station incapable of communicating via a first radio access technology (RAT) and capable of communicating via a second radio access technology (RAT). The mobile station comprising a component configured to receive a list of neighbour cells of the second RAT. The list containing at least one identifying characteristic associated with at least one cell of the first RAT. A component configured to determine whether the at least one identifying characteristic is associated with at least one cell of the first RAT.