NTN Paging Window Adjustment for Discontinuous Satellite Coverage

Solution Overview

Problem

User Equipment (UE) in non-terrestrial networks (NTN) experiences time-discontinuous coverage, leading to inefficient power consumption and potential unreachability due to misalignment between UE wake-up times and satellite coverage periods.

Innovation Solution

The UE and network align the paging time window (PTW) with satellite coverage periods by modifying or extending it based on coverage predictions, using assistance information to optimize power usage and improve notification delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE wakes up periodically to monitor paging, then the UE can receive notifications, but the UE consumes power inefficiently and may be unreachable when coverage is discontinuous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification delivery reliabilityVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network provides assistance information about satellite coverage periods in advance, allowing the UE to predict when coverage will be available and adjust its wake-up schedule accordingly, rather than waking up blindly and potentially finding no coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of the paging time window based on actual coverage conditions. The UE can modify the PTW duration and timing based on whether it actually experiences coverage during the window, making the system adaptive to discontinuous coverage scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the PTW is fixed regardless of coverage conditions, then the UE can maintain a simple paging mechanism, but the UE may wake up during periods without coverage causing power waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaging mechanism simplicityVSAvoidUE power loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network provides assistance information about satellite coverage periods in advance, allowing the UE to predict when coverage will be available and adjust its wake-up schedule accordingly, rather than waking up blindly and potentially finding no coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE receives feedback about actual coverage conditions during the PTW and uses this information to determine whether to extend the PTW or adjust future wake-up schedules, creating a closed-loop system that learns from actual coverage experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the UE extends the PTW to ensure coverage, then the UE can improve notification delivery chances, but the UE may still wake up during non-coverage periods wasting power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaging success rateVSAvoidUE wake-up time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network provides assistance information about satellite coverage periods in advance, allowing the UE to predict when coverage will be available and adjust its wake-up schedule accordingly, rather than waking up blindly and potentially finding no coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows dynamic modification of PTW parameters including duration, start time, and frequency based on coverage conditions. The UE can change these parameters to better align with actual satellite coverage patterns, optimizing both reliability and power efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250254657A1Managing discontinuous coverage and discontinuous reception in ntn

Publication Date: 2025.08.07 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A user equipment (UE) performs a method for monitoring paging from a non-terrestrial network (NTN). The UE receives via the NTN (i) a configuration for the UE to monitor paging messages from the NTN during a paging time window (PTW) while the UE operates in a non-connected state, and (ii) an PTW extension indication indicating that the UE is allowed to adjust the PTW. The UE modifies the PTW based on at least one NTN coverage time interval during which the UE has NTN coverage. The UE then modifies the PTW based on at least one NTN coverage time interval during which the UE has NTN coverage.