NTN Beam Activation for Low-Signaling Mobility Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communications networks face challenges in efficiently handling mobility procedures and beam failure recovery in non-terrestrial networks, particularly in terms of control signaling, power consumption, and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
Implement methods for intra-cell and inter-cell mobility procedures in non-terrestrial networks by activating or deactivating beams based on time period and location conditions, and beam failure recovery by selecting candidate beams based on time periods, reducing control signaling and enhancing resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beams are activated continuously to ensure coverage, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic beam activation based on time period conditions. Beams are activated only during specific time windows when the communications device is expected to be within coverage, rather than continuously. This periodic activation pattern maintains communication reliability during active periods while significantly reducing power consumption during inactive periods between beams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts beam activation status based on real-time conditions including time period conditions and location range conditions. The system transitions between active and inactive states of beams according to changing circumstances, optimizing the balance between maintaining reliable communication and conserving power resources.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple beams are monitored for mobility procedures, then communication flexibility is improved, but control signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple beams with their respective time period conditions and location range conditions before the communications device needs to perform mobility procedures. This advance configuration allows the device to quickly activate appropriate beams without extensive real-time signaling, reducing control signaling overhead while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The communications device autonomously determines which beam to activate by evaluating the current time and location against the pre-configured conditions for each beam. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for continuous network control signaling to manage beam selection, reducing signaling overhead while preserving communication flexibility.
3Productivity
If beam activation conditions are based on time periods, then resource utilization is improved, but mobility tracking complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by transforming mobility tracking from continuous location monitoring to discrete time period evaluation. Instead of continuously tracking device location to determine beam activation, the system uses predefined time periods that correspond to expected device presence. This parameter transformation simplifies tracking complexity while improving resource utilization through time-based beam activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing time period conditions for beam activation before mobility procedures occur. This advance preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time location tracking during actual mobility events, as the device simply needs to check whether the current time falls within the pre-defined activation windows for each beam.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a communications device to perform intra-cell or inter-cell mobility procedures with a non-terrestrial network, NTN, comprising: receiving, from the NTN, an indication of beams belonging to the same or different communications cells provided by the NTN; receiving, from the NTN, a condition for activating each beam for communications between the communications device and the NTN; determining the condition is being met for at least one beam which comprises activating the beam for communications for as long as at least one of the following conditions is met: indication of a time period condition for each beam during which the respective beam should be active for communications between the communications device and the NTN, indication of a location range condition for each beam for the communications device during which the respective beam should be active for communications between the communications device and the NTN.