Periodic Location Area Code Assignment for Small Cell Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Location Presence services in wireless communication systems face challenges in detecting the presence of user equipment (UE) due to prolonged rejection periods, which hinder re-accessing attempts and reduce the frequency of location presence service detections, especially in scenarios where UEs are rejected from small cells.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where an Access Point Management System (AMS) assigns unique Location Area Codes (LACs) periodically to small cells, allowing previously rejected UEs to re-access the network by changing LACs every 10 minutes, thereby increasing location presence service detections without increasing core network signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UEs are rejected from small cells with static LACs, then access control is enforced, but location presence service detection frequency decreases due to prolonged rejection periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making LACs time-varying instead of static. The LAC assigned to each small cell changes periodically over time, which allows the system to dynamically adjust the rejection behavior. When a UE is rejected with one LAC, that LAC is changed after a time period, enabling the UE to re-access the cell and allowing repeated location presence detections while maintaining access control through the dynamic LAC mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the time-periodic variation of LACs. Each small cell cycles through different LAC values at predetermined time intervals. This periodic change enables rejected UEs to successfully re-access the cell after the LAC changes, thereby increasing location presence service detection frequency while maintaining controlled access through the periodic rejection pattern.
2Productivity
If LACs are changed frequently to increase detection frequency, then location presence service efficiency improves, but core network signaling load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the LAC management into two independent parts: (1) frequent LAC changes at the radio access network level (small cells) that do not require core network involvement, and (2) periodic location presence service detections at the core network level. This segmentation allows LACs to change without generating core network signaling, as the changes occur in the access network layer only.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the LAC as an intermediary mechanism between the small cell and the UE. By changing the LAC value, the system indirectly controls UE access behavior without requiring direct signaling to the core network. The LAC acts as a mediator that manages the interaction between access control requirements and location presence detection needs, eliminating the need for additional core network signaling.
3Productivity
If UEs are rejected from small cells, then traffic offloading to macro network is achieved, but UE re-access capability is reduced due to reject lists
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the LAC parameter over time. When a UE is rejected from a small cell, the LAC parameter is changed after a predetermined time period. This parameter change causes the previously rejected UE to succeed in re-accessing the cell, as the rejected LAC is no longer associated with that cell. This maintains traffic offloading benefits while restoring UE re-access capability through dynamic parameter variation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for periodically assigning new, unique Location Area Codes to each cell comprising a femto-cell network (100-111) permits a user equipment to perform a re-registration attempt with the same cell after a short period of time has elapsed in cases where an initial attempt to register was rejected. The invention is particularly useful for location presence services as a location presence signal may be generated every time a User Equipment (113) attempts to register on a cell (100) whether or not the attempt was successful.