Paging Repetition Level Configuration for LTE MTC Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE networks face inefficiencies in resource utilization and spectrum/energy efficiency when supporting Machine Type Communication (MTC) UEs, particularly due to the need for coverage enhancement, which leads to wastage of spectrum resources as all messages are pagged over the air interface without knowing if the UE is in coverage enhancement mode.

Innovation Solution

The method involves user equipment reporting its coverage enhancement status to the base station, which configures a paging repetition level and transmits the message accordingly, allowing the network side to determine if a UE needs coverage enhancement and adjust paging accordingly, thereby optimizing resource utilization and reducing unnecessary spectrum usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all paging messages are transmitted over the air interface without knowing UE coverage enhancement status, then MTC UEs in coverage enhancement mode can receive paging, but spectrum resources are wasted due to unnecessary repetition transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging reception reliabilityVSAvoidspectrum resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network side determines the coverage enhancement status of MTC UEs before initiating paging transmission. This preliminary determination allows the system to pre-configure the appropriate paging repetition level, avoiding unnecessary repetition transmissions for UEs that do not require coverage enhancement while ensuring reliable paging delivery for UEs that do require it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Different paging transmission strategies are applied to different UEs based on their individual coverage enhancement status. UEs requiring coverage enhancement receive paging with appropriate repetition levels, while UEs not requiring enhancement receive standard paging transmissions, optimizing spectrum resource usage for each local case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If paging repetition level is increased for all MTC UEs, then coverage enhancement is provided, but resource utilization deteriorates due to excessive spectrum usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage enhancementVSAvoidresource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying paging repetition to all MTC UEs, the system applies partial action by determining coverage enhancement status individually and applying repetition only to UEs that require it. This avoids the excessive action of blanket repetition transmission, optimizing both coverage enhancement effectiveness and resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If LTE network is optimized for H2H communication, then human communication services are supported, but MTC services suffer from insufficient coverage and require additional enhancement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication service supportVSAvoidMTC coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The LTE network implements dynamic adaptation by determining coverage enhancement status for each MTC UE based on its specific conditions (such as location, signal strength, and service requirements). This dynamic approach allows the network to maintain optimization for H2H communication while providing targeted coverage enhancement for MTC UEs that need it, achieving versatility across different service types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3157297B1Paging repetiton level in enhanced coverage
Publication Date: 2020.09.30 SHARP KK
  • EP3157297B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3157297B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3157297B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

There is provided a paging message receiving method at a user equipment, comprising reporting status information of the user equipment to a base station, the status information including information on coverage enhancement of the user equipment and information on a cell on which the user equipment camps, the information on coverage enhancement including information indicating a level of coverage enhancement that the user equipment needs; receiving from the base station a paging repetition level configuration message which indicates a paging repetition level of the user equipment; and receiving from the base station a paging message that is transmitted according to the paging repetition level of the user equipment and/or the information on the cell on which the user equipment camps. There are also provided related methods at the base station and a network side device and related devices. According to the invention, the resource utilization of LTE-enabled MTC UEs is enhanced and the spectrum/energy spectrum efficiency is improved.