MTC Paging Subframe Segmentation and Scrambling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, narrowband machine type communication (MTC) devices face limitations in paging capacity and efficiency due to reduced bandwidth and overlapping paging occasions, leading to increased power consumption and collisions among UEs.

Innovation Solution

A base station identifies a mode of operation to determine available subframes for paging, uses multimedia broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes, and repeats paging messages with a scrambling sequence based on a starting subframe to reduce ambiguity and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If paging messages are repeated multiple times to increase successful receipt probability, then reliability of paging message delivery is improved, but collisions between paging occasions of different UEs increase and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging message delivery reliabilityVSAvoidpaging occasion collisions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the paging process by introducing a starting subframe indicator that divides the paging occasion into distinct time segments. Different UEs are assigned different starting subframes within the paging occasion, allowing paging messages to be transmitted in non-overlapping time segments. This segmentation eliminates collisions between paging occasions of different UEs while maintaining the repetition benefit for each individual UE's paging message delivery reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If narrowband operation is used for MTC devices, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but the number of available subframes for paging is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMTC device complexityVSAvoidpaging capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new dimension for paging capacity by utilizing the time domain more efficiently within the narrowband constraint. By assigning different starting subframes to different UEs within the same paging occasion and using subframe-based scrambling, the system achieves multiplexing of multiple UEs in the time domain without requiring additional frequency resources. This dimensional approach to resource allocation increases paging capacity while maintaining narrowband operation and low device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Use of energy by moving object

If UEs monitor limited paging occasions in narrowband, then power consumption is reduced, but collisions between UEs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE power consumptionVSAvoidpaging message reception reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning specific starting subframes to different UEs based on their UE IDs and paging occasion configurations. This pre-alignment ensures that UEs only need to monitor specific time segments within the paging occasion, reducing their active monitoring time and power consumption. The starting subframe indicator provides advance information to UEs about where to begin monitoring, allowing them to efficiently skip to their assigned segment without monitoring the entire paging occasion, thus reducing power consumption while avoiding collisions through proper segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3430848B1Paging for machine type communication devices
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3430848B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3430848B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3430848B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, devices, or apparatuses may support paging for machine type communication (MTC) devices. In one example, a base station may identify a mode of operation to be used for MTC. Based on the identified mode of operation, the base station may determine a subframe to be used for a paging occasion for a user equipment (UE) with which the base station communicates using MTC. A base station may also repeat a page in a number of subframes according to a repetition level for a paging occasion. The page may be for one or more UEs using MTC. The base station may identify the starting subframe for the paging occasion. The base station may then transmit the page based at least in part on the repetition level, where the page may be scrambled by the base station based at least in part on the starting subframe.