Mobile Station Neighbor Scanning Frequency Adaptation

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile station approaches for monitoring neighboring sectors in a wireless network lead to inefficiencies, as they do not differentiate between sectors likely to be handoff candidates based on signal strength and distance, resulting in suboptimal scanning frequencies.

Innovation Solution

A mobile station adjusts scanning frequencies based on the current-sector signal strength and neighboring sector priorities, scanning more frequently for high-priority sectors when the current-sector signal strength is high and for low-priority sectors when it is low, to optimize battery usage and handoff detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mobile station scans all neighboring sectors at uniform frequencies, then all sectors are monitored equally, but battery power is wasted scanning sectors unlikely to be handoff candidates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandoff detection accuracyVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating scanning frequencies based on sector characteristics. High-priority neighboring sectors (those more likely to be handoff candidates) are scanned at higher frequencies, while low-priority sectors are scanned at lower frequencies. This non-uniform scanning approach concentrates monitoring resources on sectors with higher handoff probability, improving handoff detection accuracy while reducing overall battery power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the scanning frequency parameter dynamically based on sector priority and current signal conditions. When the current sector's signal strength is high, the mobile station increases scanning frequency for high-priority neighboring sectors. This parameter adjustment allows the system to adapt monitoring intensity to actual network conditions, optimizing both reliability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the mobile station increases scanning frequency for all neighboring sectors, then handoff detection becomes faster, but battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandoff detection speedVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating scanning frequencies based on sector characteristics. High-priority neighboring sectors (those more likely to be handoff candidates) are scanned at higher frequencies, while low-priority sectors are scanned at lower frequencies. This non-uniform scanning approach concentrates monitoring resources on sectors with higher handoff probability, improving handoff detection accuracy while reducing overall battery power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by scanning only a subset of neighboring sectors at high frequency rather than all sectors. The mobile station identifies high-priority sectors based on priority lists and current signal conditions, then concentrates scanning resources on those specific sectors. This partial monitoring approach achieves fast handoff detection for likely candidates without the energy cost of scanning all sectors at high frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the mobile station decreases scanning frequency to save battery power, then energy consumption is reduced, but handoff detection may be delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoidhandoff detection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the scanning frequency parameter dynamically based on sector priority and current signal conditions. When the current sector's signal strength is high, the mobile station increases scanning frequency for high-priority neighboring sectors. This parameter adjustment allows the system to adapt monitoring intensity to actual network conditions, optimizing both reliability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making scanning frequencies adaptive rather than static. The mobile station continuously monitors current sector signal strength and adjusts neighboring sector scanning frequencies accordingly. When signal conditions indicate potential handoff opportunities, scanning frequency increases; when conditions are stable, frequency decreases. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the trade-off between detection speed and energy consumption in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8554212B1Method and system for selecting neighboring sector scanning frequencies

Publication Date: 2013.10.08 SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC

AI summary

A mobile station that is being served by a current sector receives a neighbor list that identifies a plurality of neighboring sectors and a respective priority for each neighboring sector. For each neighboring sector, the mobile station scans for the sector's pilot signal at a respective scanning frequency during a measurement interval. The scanning frequency for a sector defines how frequently the mobile station scans for the sector's pilot signal during the measurement interval. The mobile station selects a scanning frequency for a neighboring sector based on at least a signal strength of the current sector and the neighboring sector's priority. When the current sector's signal strength is high, the mobile station scans for high-priority sectors more frequently than low-priority sectors. When the current sector's signal strength is low, the mobile station scans for low-priority sectors more frequently than high-priority sectors.