NPN Cell Access for Public Warning Message Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP specifications do not support Public Warning System (PWS) messages on Non-Public Networks (NPNs, preventing non-NPN UEs from camping on NPN cells to receive critical alerts even when no other suitable cells are available.
Innovation Solution
Introduce a new 'PWS-Support' indication in system information (e.g., MIB or SIB1) to signal PWS capability, allowing non-NPN UEs to camp on NPN cells for alert reception, even if barred, and prevent random access procedures when PWS is supported.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-NPN UEs are allowed to camp on NPN cells for PWS message reception, then PWS message delivery coverage is improved, but network access control security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different access rules for different purposes on the same cell. NPN cells are configured with cellAccessRelatedInfo that normally restricts access, but PWS message reception is granted as a special local exception. This allows the cell to maintain its barred status for general access while permitting PWS reception, thus improving PWS delivery coverage without compromising network access control security.
2Reliability
If cell barred status is ignored for PWS reception, then PWS message reception capability is improved, but cell access control functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell access control functionality into two distinct parts: general access control (cell barred status) and PWS message reception control. By introducing separate configuration elements (pws-Support indication and cellAccessRelatedInfo with specificPWSMessageReceptionAllowed), the system can independently manage these two functions. This segmentation allows PWS reception to proceed even when the cell is barred for general access, improving PWS reception capability while preserving cell access control functionality.
3Loss of information
If NPN cells broadcast PWS support indication, then PWS service availability information is improved, but system information complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts PWS service availability information from the general system information broadcast and places it in a dedicated indication field (pws-Support) within cellAccessRelatedInfo. This extraction allows UEs to quickly identify PWS-capable cells without parsing through all system information parameters. The separate configuration element specificallyPWSMessageReceptionAllowed further isolates PWS-specific access control information, reducing the complexity burden on the main system information while improving PWS service availability information.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) that includes reception circuitry configured to receive system information from a cell is provided. The system information includes: one or more network identifiers, each of which identifying a public land mobile network (PLMN) or a Non-Public Networks (NPN) and identifying cell status information. The UE also includes processing circuitry configured to determine whether the cell status information indicates that the cell is barred, or to be treated as barred, for the UE. In a case that a Public Warning System (PWS) broadcast service is supported by the cell, the UE is allowed to camp on the cell for receiving one or more PWS messages, even if the cell status information indicates that the cell is barred, or to be treated as barred, for the UE.