Multi-Frequency Cell Selection for Throughput and Cell-Edge QoS

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cell selection algorithms in multiple frequencies communication networks often lead to suboptimal throughput and quality of service due to terminal devices accessing congested or poorly conditioned cells, resulting in inefficient resource utilization and unsatisfied quality of service requirements.

Innovation Solution

A network device receives signal reception quality measurements from terminal devices and optimizes serving cell selection to maximize total throughput while ensuring cell edge throughput exceeds a threshold, using an improved simulated annealing algorithm to update serving cells based on signal reception quality measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional cell selection algorithms are used, then terminal devices can access cells quickly, but the total network throughput is suboptimal and quality of service requirements are not satisfied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetotal network throughputVSAvoidquality of service satisfaction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where terminal devices report channel condition measurements (CQI, PMI, RI) to the network device. The network device uses this feedback to determine optimal serving cell selections that maximize throughput while maintaining QoS. This closed-loop feedback system enables dynamic adaptation to changing channel conditions, resolving the contradiction between throughput optimization and QoS satisfaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the selection criteria parameters from simple signal strength (RSRP/RSRQ) to comprehensive channel condition parameters including CQI (Channel Quality Indicator), PMI (Precoding Matrix Indicator), and RI (Rank Indicator). These parameter changes enable more accurate assessment of cell suitability, allowing the system to achieve both high throughput and QoS satisfaction by selecting cells based on actual channel capacity rather than just signal strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If terminal devices select cells based on simple signal strength, then cell selection is simple and fast, but resource utilization is inefficient and throughput is suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidcell selection algorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having terminal devices perform comprehensive channel condition measurements and reports before cell selection. The network device pre-calculates optimal serving cell assignments based on received measurements from multiple terminal devices. This preliminary gathering of channel state information enables efficient resource allocation without requiring complex real-time computations during the actual cell selection moment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network device acts as an intermediary that receives channel condition measurements from terminal devices, processes this information centrally, and determines optimal serving cell selections. This intermediary approach allows complex optimization computations to be performed by the network device rather than individual terminal devices, maintaining simple terminal implementations while achieving sophisticated resource utilization through centralized intelligence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple frequencies are deployed to support seamless coverage, then network coverage and service capacity are improved, but cell selection complexity increases and optimal cell selection becomes crucial

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverage capabilityVSAvoidcell selection process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cell selection process into distinct phases: terminal devices measure and report channel conditions for multiple frequencies, the network device processes these reports separately for different frequency layers, and then makes coordinated serving cell selections across frequencies. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple frequencies systematically, reducing the complexity of simultaneous multi-frequency optimization while maintaining comprehensive coverage capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3957006B1Cell selection in multiple frequencies communication network
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP3957006B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3957006B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3957006B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to cell selection in a multiple frequencies communication network. A network device receives, from terminal devices, signal reception quality measurements for a set of cells at serving frequencies of the network device. The network device updates, based on the measurements, serving cells in the set for the terminal devices in such a way that a total throughput of the network device is maximized and a cell edge throughput of the network device exceeds a threshold throughput. The network device transmits information about the updated serving cells to the terminal devices for access by the terminal devices.