NTN Mobile-Terminated Paging with Pre-Alert Delay for Uplink Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communications systems face challenges in establishing reliable mobile-terminated calls in non-terrestrial networks due to poor uplink connections, especially in locations with weak signal strength, leading to failed random access channel procedures.

Innovation Solution

Implementing delay times and pre-paging alerts in user equipment (UE) to improve channel conditions, allowing users to reposition for better signal strength before establishing connections, and utilizing priority-based messaging for high-priority communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE immediately attempts to establish an uplink connection upon receiving a paging message, then the response time is reduced, but the connection establishment may fail due to poor uplink channel conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection establishment success rateVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network node transmits a pre-paging alert before the actual paging message to give the UE advance warning. This preliminary action allows the UE to prepare for the upcoming paging response by potentially improving its uplink channel conditions (e.g., by moving to a location with better signal strength) before the connection establishment attempt is required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the timing of the paging response based on channel conditions. Instead of using a fixed immediate response, the UE can delay its connection establishment attempt until channel conditions improve, making the system adaptive to varying radio environments rather than rigid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the UE delays the uplink connection establishment to improve channel conditions, then the connection reliability is improved, but the response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection establishment success rateVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-paging alert serves as a preliminary notification that allows the UE to begin channel improvement actions (such as user repositioning) before the actual paging response is needed. This advance warning enables the system to trade time strategically - the delay is planned and purposeful rather than reactive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides a time cushion between the pre-paging alert and the expected paging response. This cushion time is intentionally built into the system to allow channel conditions to improve before the critical connection establishment attempt, buffering against the risk of failure without excessively increasing overall response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the network transmits a pre-paging alert to enable UE repositioning, then coverage and channel quality are improved, but the network signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage and channel qualityVSAvoidnetwork signaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The paging process is segmented into two distinct parts: a pre-paging alert and a subsequent paging message. This segmentation allows the network to provide advance notice to UEs that may need to reposition, while keeping the actual paging traffic separate. The alert can be transmitted using efficient signaling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-paging alert acts as an intermediary message that facilitates the overall paging process. Rather than directly transmitting the full paging message, the network uses this intermediate alert to trigger channel improvement actions, reducing the likelihood of failed connection attempts and potentially reducing the need for retransmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If the UE waits for user input before establishing connection, then the user can improve positioning for better signal, but the connection establishment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal strengthVSAvoidconnection establishment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-paging alert triggers user action in advance, allowing the user to reposition the UE before the connection establishment is actually required. This preliminary user engagement, prompted by the alert, enables physical repositioning that improves signal strength without adding critical delay to the connection process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic user intervention based on the pre-paging alert. The user can choose to reposition the UE during the delay period, making the system adaptable to the user's ability to physically move the device. This dynamic approach balances automated operation with user-assisted optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4324267B1Techniques for mobile terminated calls in non-terrestrial networks
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4324267B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4324267B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4324267B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some examples, a user equipment (UE) may receive, from a network node, a paging message indicating information for communication between the network node and the UE. In some examples, the UE may receive, from a network node, a downlink alert message indicating a paging message for subsequent transmission to the UE. The UE may identify a delay based on receiving the paging message or the downlink alert message, a measurement of a communication link satisfying a threshold, or any combination thereof. The UE may establish an uplink connection with the network node based at least in part on an expiration of the delay. The UE may communicate the information using the uplink connection.