NB-IoT UE Carrier Frequency Selection Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current service carrier frequency selecting strategies in NB-IoT systems are passive and lack initiative, leading to load imbalance and inefficiency in multi-carrier cell environments, particularly in scenarios where small data is transmitted.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus where User Equipment (UE) and base stations dynamically determine and transmit service carrier frequencies based on received messages, such as RRC connection setup or resume messages, allowing the UE to operate on a service carrier frequency if information is received, or remain on an original carrier if not, thereby actively selecting carrier frequencies for data transmission and reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If service carrier frequency selection is performed passively without initiative, then the system maintains simplicity in carrier selection, but load imbalance occurs and system efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The UE autonomously determines whether to operate on service carrier frequency by independently evaluating received messages (RRC connection setup/resume messages) without requiring explicit network assignment. This self-service mechanism enables the UE to actively select carrier frequencies based on its own judgment, resolving the load imbalance problem while maintaining selection simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the UE's autonomous decision-making process where the UE monitors received messages and adjusts its carrier frequency operation accordingly. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and balance load across carriers, improving system efficiency without complex centralized control
2Productivity
If traffic is evenly distributed to multiple carrier frequencies based on UE IMSIs, then carrier utilization is improved, but load imbalance still occurs and frequency switching overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the carrier frequency selection decision from the network-controlled domain and places it in the UE domain. By taking out the active selection capability from passive network assignment, the UE can determine carrier frequency operation autonomously based on received messages, eliminating frequency switching overhead while maintaining good carrier utilization
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the network actively assigning carriers to UEs (top-down control), the system inverts the approach by enabling UEs to autonomously determine their carrier operation (bottom-up control). This inversion resolves the contradiction by allowing UEs to stay on original carriers when appropriate, avoiding unnecessary frequency switching while still achieving balanced carrier utilization
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosed technologies provide a carrier frequency selecting method and apparatus. The method comprises: determining, by UE, whether information of a service carrier frequency sent by a base station is received, wherein the service carrier frequency is the carrier frequency to carry traffic selected by the base station when a target cell carrying the UE is a multi-carrier cell; residing, by the UE, at a carrier frequency corresponding to the information for a service carrier frequency, if so; and, otherwise, residing, by the UE, at an original camped carrier frequency. With the embodiments of the disclosed technologies, the problem that a service carrier frequency selecting strategy in related techniques is to perform selection passively and lacks initiative is solved, and a technical basis for balancing loads on carrier frequencies carrying traffic is provided and further system efficiency is enhanced for an NB-IoT system, which is mainly to transmit small data.