Multi-Level Proximity Indication for Small Cell Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current small cell discovery and measurement triggering procedures in wireless communication systems, such as those used in E-UTRAN, are inefficient and unreliable, leading to increased signaling load and battery power consumption, and can impair user experience due to implementation-specific variability and inaccurate proximity indications.
Innovation Solution
A multi-level measurement approach is introduced, where a first level of proximity indication triggers low-frequency measurements for cell detection and a second level triggers more accurate measurements, reducing unnecessary efforts and improving detection reliability while conserving battery power and minimizing network signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current small cell discovery procedures are used, then cell detection is performed, but measurement precision and reliability are insufficient leading to inaccurate proximity indications
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement triggering process is segmented into multiple levels. Level 1 triggering uses basic criteria to initiate low-frequency measurements, while level 2 triggering uses enhanced criteria for high-frequency measurements. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high measurement precision and reliability only when necessary, avoiding unnecessary measurements while ensuring accurate proximity indications are generated only when the UE is truly in proximity to the target cell.
2Measurement precision
If frequent measurements are performed to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement frequency is made dynamic rather than static. The system adjusts the measurement frequency based on the triggering level: level 1 uses low-frequency measurements for initial detection, while level 2 uses high-frequency measurements only when needed for accurate proximity indication. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain high measurement precision when required while significantly reducing battery power consumption during normal operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If implementation-specific autonomous search functions are used, then small cell discovery is enabled, but device complexity and signaling load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system standardizes the measurement triggering process by defining clear parameter changes between different triggering levels. Level 1 triggering modifies basic measurement parameters, while level 2 triggering modifies enhanced parameters. This parameter-based approach simplifies the device complexity by providing a standardized framework for small cell discovery, reducing the need for implementation-specific autonomous search functions while maintaining versatility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If implementation-specific search functions are used, then small cell discovery is possible, but network signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and standardizes the essential triggering criteria from complex implementation-specific search functions. By defining clear level 1 and level 2 triggering criteria, the system removes unnecessary complexity and reduces the signaling overhead required for small cell discovery. The standardized triggering mechanism allows the network to understand UE intentions more efficiently, reducing the quantity of signaling messages while maintaining small cell discovery capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method includes receiving a first measurement configuration at a user equipment from a wireless communication network; making measurements using the first measurement configuration; in response to a condition being satisfied resulting from the measurements that are made, transmitting an indication that an allowed small cell has been detected; receiving a second measurement configuration at the user equipment from the wireless communication network; and making measurements of the allowed small cell using the second measurement configuration, where the first measurement configuration results in measurements being made less frequently than measurements made in accordance with the second measurement configuration. An apparatus configured to perform the method is also disclosed.