Network-Supervised Load Balancing for User Equipment Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile communication systems discourage user equipment movement from a loaded macrocell to a nearby small cell due to service degradation through intervening regions with worse coverage, preventing efficient geographic load-balancing.
Innovation Solution
A network-supervised mechanism that monitors user equipment movement and selectively boosts service levels in intervening regions to incentivize transfer from a less efficient location to a more efficient one by allocating additional resources, using mechanisms like remote electrical tilt or active antenna systems to maintain or improve Quality of Service (QoS) during the transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If user equipment moves from a loaded macrocell to a nearby small cell, then geographic load-balancing efficiency is improved, but service quality deteriorates in the intervening region
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing communication paths and allocating resources in the intervening region before the user equipment actually moves. The system proactively sets up alternative routing and compensatory mechanisms in advance, so when the user device enters the intervening region, service quality is already prepared to be maintained or improved despite the suboptimal location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a network-supervised system that acts as a mediator between the user equipment and the cellular network. This intermediary dynamically manages the transition by monitoring user location, identifying intervening regions with poor coverage, and coordinating resource allocation to bridge the service quality gap during the transition from macrocell to small cell.
2Ease of operation
If network resources are allocated to boost service levels in intervening regions, then user incentive to move to small cell is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing enhanced service levels specifically in the intervening regions where users are transitioning, rather than uniformly across the entire network. Resources are concentrated locally at these critical transition zones to boost service quality just where needed, making the trade-off in resource consumption acceptable since the enhancement is targeted rather than comprehensive.
Solution Approach 2:
The network resource allocation is dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors user equipment location and service quality metrics, adjusting resource allocation in real-time based on actual user movement and conditions. This dynamic approach ensures resources are allocated only when and where needed for load-balancing transitions, optimizing the balance between user incentive and resource consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for managing offer and user equipment movement driven cell system load balancing that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. Network elements determine whether a user or user equipment in a first location is within a threshold distance of a second location of better coverage, which is separated from the first location by an intervening region of worse coverage. Upon such a determination, the network can provide a higher level of service as the user moves incrementally between the first and second locations.