Cell Coordination for NB-IoT Data Continuity in NTN

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Solution Overview

Problem

In non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) with low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, high-speed movement causes frequent mobility events like handovers and cell reselections, leading to data transmission disruptions and inefficiencies in NB-IoT systems, particularly in uplink and downlink transmissions due to the need for repeated data packets and resource reallocation.

Innovation Solution

Implement data transmission coordination between cells by allowing the source cell to provide status information and resource allocation to the target cell, enabling seamless continuation of data transfers after disruptions, reducing duplicative transmissions and conserving resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data transmission is performed in NB-IoT systems with LEO satellites, then high data rates and broadband connectivity are achieved, but frequent mobility events cause transmission disruptions and resource inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoidtransmission continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The source cell performs preliminary actions by determining scheduling requests and resource allocations before transmission disruption occurs, then provides this status information to the target cell in advance or during handover, enabling the target cell to continue data transfer without interruption or duplication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention ensures continuous data transmission by maintaining the scheduling request and resource allocation context across cell boundaries. The target cell receives the status information from the source cell and continues the data transfer seamlessly, eliminating gaps or repetitions caused by mobility events

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Adaptability or versatility

If handover and cell reselection procedures are implemented to handle mobility, then network coverage and connectivity are maintained, but duplicative data packet transmissions occur consuming additional network resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility handling capabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The source cell provides feedback to the target cell about the status of ongoing data transmissions, including scheduling requests and resource allocations. This feedback mechanism allows the target cell to avoid duplicative transmissions by knowing what data has already been sent and what resources are already allocated

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The status information exchange between source and target cells acts as an intermediary mechanism that coordinates data transmission across cell boundaries. This intermediary information transfer prevents resource conflicts and duplicative transmissions by synchronizing the handover process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If scheduling requests and resource allocations are re-established after cell reselection, then data transmission can resume, but processing time and network overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission resumptionVSAvoidprocessing delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The source cell determines scheduling requests and resource allocations in advance before transmission disruption occurs, and provides this status information to the target cell. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming re-establishment procedures after handover

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By providing status information from the source cell to the target cell, the invention allows the target cell to skip the time-consuming steps of重新 determining scheduling requests and resource allocations, directly resuming data transmission with the existing context

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentEP3917259A1Data transmission coordination between cells
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3917259A1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3917259A1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3917259A1 patent drawingFigure 2a

AI summary

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for data transmission coordination between cells. For example, certain embodiments may provide for continuing the data transmission after a transmission disruption due to the cell mobility in NTN deployments (e.g., enabling coordination of long narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) transmissions in time between non-terrestrial networks (NTN) cells instead of initiating a new transmission from the beginning of the data after cell reselection). In this way, certain embodiments described herein may facilitate continuation of a data transfer at one cell based on a transmission disruption between another cell and a user equipment (UE).