Mobile Station Auto-Initialization via Location Area Code Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for testing mobile stations in cellular communication systems are inefficient due to the need for manual rebooting, which is time-consuming and laborious, especially for sophisticated devices, and require additional hardware for remote control, while also being limited by previous test results due to lack of re-initialization between tests.
Innovation Solution
A method that automatically initializes a mobile station by terminating and re-establishing radio transmission with a different location area code, forcing the mobile station to re-register and reset lower protocol layers, thus achieving a dedicated initial state without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reboot of the mobile station is performed to reset internal memory, then the mobile station is initialized to a dedicated initial state, but the process is very time consuming and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the location area code parameter to trigger a registration procedure that automatically resets the mobile station's internal memory and protocol layers. By modifying this single parameter in the test equipment, the system achieves initialization without requiring a time-consuming reboot operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical reboot operation with a software-based registration procedure trigger. Instead of physically rebooting the mobile station, the test equipment sends a signal to terminate radio transmission and restart it with a different location area code, which automatically initiates the registration process that resets the mobile station's internal state.
2Extent of automation
If a remote control unit is added to enable automated reboot, then automated control is achieved, but the device complexity increases and additional hardware is required
Solution Approach 1:
The test equipment's radio transmission control functionality is made multi-functional: it not only performs normal testing operations but also controls the initialization process by terminating and restarting radio transmission with different location area codes. This eliminates the need for separate remote control hardware while achieving automated initialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile station performs its own initialization automatically through the registration procedure triggered by the location area code change. The system uses the mobile station's own registration mechanism to achieve resetting, rather than requiring external control units to manually initiate reboots or initialization sequences.
3Speed
If the mobile station retains stored cell information, then fast contact to the cell is enabled, but test results are influenced by previous tests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs a preliminary action by changing the location area code before each test. This pre-change triggers the mobile station to perform a registration procedure that clears previous cell information, ensuring that each test starts with a clean state while maintaining the ability for fast cell contact during the test itself.
Data Source
AI summary
A method automatically initializes a mobile station during a test between a mobile station and test equipment emulating a single cell of a cellular mobile communication system, wherein the mobile station is initially registered to the cell having a first location area code. First, radio transmission into the cell is terminated by the test equipment. Then, radio transmission is restarted into the cell, but now having a second location area code, wherein the second location area code is different than the first location area code, forcing the mobile station to perform a registration procedure to the cell.