NB-IoT Base Station MIB Generation for Signaling Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The NB-IoT communication system faces excessive signaling overhead due to the generation of master information blocks (MIB) similar to those in LTE systems, which degrades mobile station performance.

Innovation Solution

A base station generates a master information block (MIB) by determining current information on parameters specific to the operation mode and joint-encoding them, reducing unnecessary information transmission, allowing the mobile station to derive required parameters from received codewords.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the MIB is generated using a scheme similar to LTE communication systems, then the system signaling overhead becomes very large, but the mobile station performance is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidmobile station performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by customizing the MIB content according to different operation modes (standalone, guard-band, in-band). Each operation mode receives a tailored MIB structure containing only the parameters specific to that mode, rather than all parameters used in LTE. This localized adaptation reduces signaling overhead while maintaining the necessary performance for each specific operation mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters included in the MIB based on the operation mode. Instead of using a fixed set of parameters as in LTE, the MIB dynamically includes only the relevant parameters for the current operation mode (e.g., only standalone parameters, or only in-band parameters). This parameter adaptation directly reduces signaling overhead while preserving mobile station performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If key information is deleted from the MIB to reduce signaling overhead, then the system overhead is reduced, but the mobile station performance is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidmobile station performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures that each operation mode receives a MIB customized with exactly the right information for that mode. Standalone mode gets standalone parameters, guard-band mode gets guard-band specific parameters, and in-band mode gets in-band parameters. This localized information delivery eliminates unnecessary information (reducing overhead) while ensuring each mode gets the critical information it needs (maintaining performance).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes unnecessary parameters from the MIB for each specific operation mode. Instead of including all possible parameters, only the essential parameters relevant to that operation mode are extracted and included. This extraction process reduces signaling overhead while maintaining performance by keeping only the necessary information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the MIB includes all parameters for all operation modes, then the mobile station can operate in any mode, but the signaling overhead becomes excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation mode compatibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by creating operation-mode-specific MIB structures. Each MIB is locally optimized for its target operation mode, containing only the parameters needed for that mode. This approach maintains adaptability because the network can select the appropriate MIB type for each mobile station's operation mode, while significantly reducing overhead by eliminating parameters not needed for that specific mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the MIB content flexible and adaptive to the operation mode. The MIB structure dynamically changes based on whether the mobile station is operating in standalone, guard-band, or in-band mode. This dynamic adaptation maintains versatility across different modes while reducing overhead by only including mode-specific parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3413630B1Base station, mobile station and wireless communication method
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3413630B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3413630B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3413630B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention is designed to provide a master information block (MIB) suitable for an NB-IoT communication system. A base station according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a generation section that generates a master information block (MIB) including parameters selected based on an operation mode during narrow band communication, and a transmission section that transmits the MIB.