Non-3GPP Access Point Assists 3GPP Network Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment (UE) operating in public 3GPP networks must regularly perform out-of-band scanning to discover local private 3GPP networks, which is inefficient and power-consuming, especially in environments with dynamically changing frequency channels.
Innovation Solution
A method where a local private non-3GPP wireless network transmits information elements indicating the presence of a local private 3GPP network in shared spectrum, allowing the UE to register with the 3GPP base station using its non-3GPP radio transceiver, thereby reducing the need for frequent scanning and optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE performs regular out-of-band scanning using the 3GPP radio transceiver to discover a local private 3GPP network, then the discovery reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases and the scanning efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a non-3GPP access point as an intermediary that broadcasts information elements about the local private 3GPP network. The UE's non-3GPP radio transceiver receives these elements, which contain discovery information that would otherwise require expensive 3GPP band scanning to obtain. This intermediary approach allows the UE to learn about 3GPP network presence through the lower-power non-3GPP channel, resolving the contradiction between reliable discovery and power consumption.
2Reliability
If the UE performs regular out-of-band scanning to discover a local private 3GPP network, then the discovery completeness is improved, but the time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The non-3GPP access point performs preliminary action by pre-broadcasting information elements containing 3GPP network discovery information before the UE needs to scan. This advance preparation allows the UE to immediately obtain discovery information without performing time-consuming out-of-band scanning, thus maintaining discovery completeness while significantly reducing the time the UE must spend scanning.
3Measurement precision
If the UE uses the 3GPP radio transceiver for out-of-band scanning, then the discovery accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the discovery information function from the 3GPP radio transceiver and places it in the non-3GPP information elements broadcast by the access point. Instead of requiring the complex coordination of two radio transceivers for scanning, the system extracts the essential discovery information and delivers it through the simpler non-3GPP channel, maintaining discovery accuracy while reducing transceiver coordination complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a user equipment (UE) has a non-Third Generation Partnership Project (non-3GPP) radio transceiver for communication in a local private non-3GPP wireless network and a 3GPP radio transceiver for communication in a 3GPP network, where the 3GPP network may be a public 3GPP network or a local private 3GPP network operative in a shared spectrum according to a system for shared spectrum access. Initially, the UE may operate the 3GPP radio transceiver for communication in the public 3GPP network, without performing regular scanning for the local private 3GPP network. In a scan operation using the non-3GPP radio transceiver, the UE may receive from a non-3GPP access point of the local private non-3GPP wireless network one or more messages including one or more information elements. If an information element indicates presence of the local private 3GPP network, the UE may identify and register with the local private 3GPP network.