Mobile Terminal Paging Area Reduction via Sub-Area Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high network load and bandwidth requirement of the paging channel in mobile communication systems, particularly when dealing with equivalent search areas, lead to inefficient terminal device location and data connection setup.

Innovation Solution

The method involves sending localization messages with sub-area indications within equivalent search areas, allowing for targeted paging within a smaller sub-area, and using additional sub-areas for secondary page attempts if the terminal does not respond, thereby reducing the paging load and increasing the likelihood of reaching the terminal device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If paging is performed within the entire equivalent search area, then the terminal device can be reached with high probability, but the bandwidth requirement of the paging channel increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprobability of reaching terminal deviceVSAvoidbandwidth requirement of paging channel

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The equivalent search area is divided into multiple sub-areas, and paging is performed selectively in specific sub-areas rather than the entire equivalent search area. This segmentation allows the network to reduce paging bandwidth by targeting only the most likely sub-areas where the terminal device may be located, while still maintaining acceptable probability of reaching the terminal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sub-areas within the equivalent search area are treated differently based on their likelihood of containing the terminal device. The network prioritizes paging in sub-areas with higher probability (such as the last known sub-area) while reducing or eliminating paging in less likely sub-areas, thereby optimizing bandwidth usage while maintaining terminal reachability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If search areas are made smaller to reduce paging channel bandwidth, then the bandwidth requirement decreases, but the frequency of location messages increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth requirement of paging channelVSAvoidfrequency of location messages

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the paging strategy based on terminal device behavior and network conditions. Instead of using fixed small search areas that would increase location messaging, the system adaptively selects which sub-areas to page in based on the terminal's movement patterns and current network state, optimizing both bandwidth usage and location message frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2410799B1Method for reducing the paging area for a mobile terminal and corresponding communication system

Publication Date: 2017.03.15 VODAFONE HOLDING GMBH

AI summary

The method involves transmitting locating messages from a terminal device to access networks e.g. universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) and evolved-UTRAN, when the device enters into an equivalent area (202) and/or at preset intervals. An indication of a sub-area of the equivalent area, in which the device is located during transmission of the messages, is contained in the messages. The sub-area indicated in a recently received locating message is stored. A network-sided terminal device tracking call is sent within the stored sub-area to locate the device.