NB-IoT Multi-Carrier Load Balancing via UE Measurement Reports
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Solution Overview
Problem
The NarrowBand Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT) standard lacks efficient multi-carrier operation across different radio frequency bands and cells, leading to congestion in some frequency layers while others remain underutilized, due to lack of signal condition awareness by the base station, unsupported frequency changes, and complex configuration requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows the base station to distribute UEs across different NB-IoT carriers and cells by using measurement reports from UEs to optimize signal conditions, configuring additional carriers, and introducing extended signaling for radio link monitoring and power control, enabling efficient multi-carrier operation across frequency bands and cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multi-carrier operation is configured in connected mode, then spectrum resource utilization can be improved, but frequency layers become congested while others remain underutilized due to UE selecting frequency layer in idle mode
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary actions by configuring multiple carriers and providing carrier indication information to the UE before the UE needs to access the network. This allows the network to pre-prepare multiple frequency layers for potential use, enabling dynamic carrier selection during connection establishment based on network conditions rather than UE autonomous selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback mechanisms where the network monitors signal conditions and congestion levels on different frequency layers, then uses carrier indication information in downlink messages to guide the UE's uplink transmission carrier selection. This closed-loop feedback enables balanced load distribution across multiple carriers.
2Device complexity
If the base station is unaware about signal conditions at the UE, then device complexity is reduced, but efficient multi-carrier operation cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces measurement reports as an intermediary mechanism. The UE performs measurements and reports them to the network, allowing the base station to become aware of signal conditions without requiring complex monitoring infrastructure. These measurement reports serve as the intermediary information carrier that enables informed carrier selection decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the need for complex base station signal monitoring mechanisms with a simpler reporting-based approach. Instead of the base station actively measuring and tracking signal conditions, the system substitutes this with UE-performed measurements and periodic reports, reducing base station complexity while maintaining awareness of signal conditions.
3Device complexity
If connected mode mobility is not defined, then device complexity is kept low, but efficient use of multiple frequency layers is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a partial mobility solution that provides just enough carrier switching capability for frequency layer optimization without implementing full connected mode mobility. The carrier indication information mechanism enables selective carrier switching for uplink transmissions based on network conditions, achieving frequency layer efficiency without the complete overhead of standard mobility management procedures.
4Ease of operation
If redirection procedure is used to allocate UE to another carrier frequency, then frequency layer congestion can be relieved, but additional connection establishment is required which increases power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The network configures multiple carriers and provides carrier indication information in advance during connection establishment or reconfiguration. This preliminary configuration allows the UE to switch carriers without initiating a new connection establishment procedure, as the carrier switching is based on pre-configured parameters and network instructions rather than requiring full re-connection.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention discloses a method for improving NarrowBand Internet-of-Things radio network utilization by more efficiently and flexibly allocating available frequency spectrum resources to an UE. The objective to provide a method which allows efficient NB-IoT multi-carrier operation across different radio frequency bands or NB-IoT/ LTE mother cells will be solved by a method for improving NarrowBand Internet of Things (NB-IoT) radio network utilization by more efficiently and flexibly allocating available frequency spectrum resources to an UE, wherein system information messages and/or dedicated signaling exchanged between an eNodeB and the UE are extended by specific parameters, setups and requests, so that multi-carrier operations are performable across all radio frequency bands even if the UE is already connected to the eNodeB.