Network Node Selective Active Mode for Wireless Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for coverage enhancement in wireless communications networks, such as transmission repetitions, result in high resource overhead, negatively affecting network performance, battery life, and latency, especially for low-cost Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices with limited capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A network node method that determines the highest need for coverage enhancement among wireless devices and selectively keeps only those devices in active mode, minimizing resource consumption by avoiding lengthy active mode setup procedures and providing coverage enhancement only to devices that require it most.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transmission repetitions are used for coverage enhancement, then coverage is improved, but resource overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing coverage enhancement selectively only to wireless devices that have the highest need for it, rather than uniformly to all devices. The network node identifies devices with the highest coverage needs and applies repetitions only to those devices, thereby reducing overall resource overhead while maintaining coverage where most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of coverage enhancement application from universal to selective. By determining which devices have the highest need for coverage enhancement and applying repetitions only to those devices, the system optimizes the balance between coverage improvement and resource consumption.
2Speed
If more wireless devices are kept in active mode, then network responsiveness is improved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by maintaining active mode only for wireless devices with the highest coverage needs, rather than keeping all devices in active mode. This selective approach reduces the number of devices consuming network resources while ensuring responsive service for those who need it most.
3Reliability
If transmission repetitions are applied to all devices, then coverage is uniformly improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing transmission repetitions only for devices with the highest coverage needs. This selective application avoids imposing repetition overhead on devices that already have adequate coverage, thereby reducing latency for most devices while maintaining coverage enhancement where necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
Method performed by a network node (110) for keeping wireless devices (140) served by the network node (110) in active mode. Each of the wireless devices has a value for a first condition. The network node (110) determines whether each of the wireless devices has the value for the first condition among a number of highest values for the first condition. The first condition is associated with a need to be in active mode. The number of highest values for the first condition corresponds to a maximum amount of wireless devices allowed to be in the active mode simultaneously. The network node (110) updates a register, so that the wireless devices (140) in the register have the highest values for the first condition, according to the maximum amount. The network node (110) keeps the wireless devices (140) in the updated register in active mode.