Paging Notification for Selective LTE System Information Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communications networks face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption and resource allocation for low-complexity devices, such as IoT and MTC devices, particularly in scenarios involving network-controlled functions like SC-PTM, leading to unnecessary battery drain due to frequent system information re-reads and inefficient handling of multicast data services.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a control message with specific RNTIs (e.g., SSC-RNTI, RSC-RNTI) to indicate changes in network-controlled functions, allowing devices to selectively update relevant system information, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption and optimizing resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If devices frequently read system information to ensure they have the latest network configuration, then system information updates are received timely, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information update timelinessVSAvoiddevice power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and separates the notification mechanism from general system information broadcasts by introducing dedicated RNTI identifiers (SSC-RNTI, RSC-RNTI) that specifically indicate changes to network-controlled function configurations. This allows devices to selectively monitor only relevant configuration changes rather than all system information, reducing unnecessary power consumption while ensuring timely updates for applicable devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating targeted notification mechanisms for specific network-controlled functions (SC-PTM, SC-MCCH) rather than universal notifications. Different RNTIs are assigned to different configuration types, enabling devices to efficiently determine whether they need to re-read specific system information blocks based on their operational context and capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If devices re-read all system information frequently, then configuration accuracy is maintained, but resource wastage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidresource wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments system information notifications into specific categories using different RNTI identifiers. Instead of requiring devices to re-read all system information blocks, the network can selectively notify devices about changes to specific configuration types (SC-PTM, SC-MCCH, etc.). This segmentation allows devices to maintain configuration accuracy by only re-reading affected information blocks, significantly reducing resource wastage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If network controls function configurations frequently, then service quality improves, but device power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice qualityVSAvoiddevice power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces RNTI identifiers as intermediary signals between the network and devices. These intermediaries carry specific information about which network-controlled function configurations have changed, allowing the network to maintain service quality through frequent configuration updates while enabling devices to efficiently filter and process only relevant changes, thereby reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3965476B1Communications device and infrastructure equipment
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3965476B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3965476B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3965476B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An infrastructure equipment (eNodeB) is configured to transmit a paging notification which indicates that configuration information which is broadcast in a cell to all communications devices which are configured to operate in accordance with a network controlled function has changed. Communications devices which are configured to perform the network controlled function are provided with an indication that they should receive the configuration information which is broadcast in order to reconfigure the network controlled function. A communications device which is not configured to perform the network controlled function may not recognise the paging notification or at least may detect that it does not need to receive the updated configuration information for the network controlled service. Such communications devices may therefore remain in an idle mode thereby saving power. An example of a network controlled service is a multicast communications service in which an infrastructure equipment may transmit multicast data for reception by any communications device. One example of such a multicast communications function is a single cell-point to multipoint (SC-PTM) function. An example of broadcast configuration information is system information transmitted in system information blocks of an LTE standard, which is specific to a particular function.