Wireless Network Neighbor Relation Establishment via Reserved Reference Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless networks, establishing neighbor relations between network nodes without always-on reference signals is inefficient, as existing LTE solutions rely on unique global identifiers that may not be available for newly deployed or reconfigured nodes, making it difficult to predict radio propagation and identify handover candidates.

Innovation Solution

A method where a first network node obtains a set of reserved reference signals, receives a measurement report from a wireless device indicating detected reserved signals, and identifies the second network node to establish a neighbor relation, with a control node allocating and managing these signals to enable efficient neighbor relation establishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If always-on reference signals are used to establish neighbor relations, then neighbor relation establishment is reliable, but system control signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneighbor relation establishment reliabilityVSAvoidsystem control signaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic reference signals instead of always-on signals. The network node transmits reference signals at specific periodic intervals, allowing wireless devices to detect and measure them for neighbor relation establishment while reducing continuous signaling overhead. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through regular signal presence while reducing energy loss through intermittent transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If unique global identifiers are used for neighbor relation establishment, then node identification is accurate, but the solution cannot work for newly deployed or reconfigured nodes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenode identification accuracyVSAvoidapplicability to new nodes
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring reference signals with identifying information before nodes are deployed or reconfigured. When a new node is deployed, it already has its reference signal configured with identification data, allowing immediate neighbor relation establishment without waiting for global identifier assignment. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring identification accuracy through pre-configured signals while enabling versatility for new and reconfigured nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If reference signals are transmitted continuously, then neighbor detection is reliable, but network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneighbor detection reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic transmission of reference signals instead of continuous transmission. The network node transmits reference signals at defined periodic intervals, which maintains reliable neighbor detection capability while significantly reducing network resource consumption during intervals when signals are not transmitted. This directly resolves the contradiction between detection reliability and resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3524007B1Methods and nodes for establishing a neighbour relation in a wireless network
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3524007B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3524007B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3524007B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Network nodes (102, 104), control node (100) and methods therein, for enabling establishment of a neighbour relation between a first network node (102) and a second network node (104) in a wireless network. The control node (100) sends (1:1) or distributes, to network nodes in the network including the first network node (702), a set of reference signals reserved for neighbour relation establishment. The second network node (104) transmits (1:3) one of the reserved reference signals which is then detected by a wireless device (D1) being served by the first network node (102) which then receives (1:4), from the wireless device (D1), a measurement report indicating the detected reference signal that is recognized by the first network node (102) as belonging to the set of reserved reference signals. The first network node (102) can then identify (1:5) the second network node (104), based on the reserved reference signal in the measurement report, and establishes (1:6) a neighbour relation with the identified second network node (104).