PLMN Prioritized Mobility for Coverage Extension in Wireless
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face challenges in mobility procedures, particularly in coverage extension modes, where additional resources are allocated unnecessarily, leading to inefficiencies, especially in scenarios with poor channel quality between base stations and user equipment (UE).
Innovation Solution
The system optimizes mobility by allowing base stations to dynamically allocate coverage extension (CE) resources based on PLMN-specific priorities, enabling UE to prioritize neighboring base stations within the same public mobile land network (PLMN) and using contention-based random access resources instead of dedicated resources, thereby reducing unnecessary resource allocation and enhancing network efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coverage extension resources are allocated for all neighboring base stations, then coverage is extended to UEs with poor channel quality, but system overhead and resource waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing CE mode resources selectively only to neighboring base stations that are members of the same PLMN as the serving base station, rather than uniformly to all neighboring base stations. This localized resource allocation ensures that coverage extension assistance is provided only where it is most needed (within the same network operator's coverage area) while avoiding waste of resources on base stations from other PLMNs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling the serving base station to dynamically determine and indicate which neighboring base stations should receive CE mode resources based on their PLMN membership status. The set of neighboring base stations eligible for CE resources is not static but changes based on network configuration and PLMN relationships, allowing the system to adapt resource allocation to current network conditions and requirements.
2Reliability
If dedicated random access resources are allocated for CE mode, then random access success rate improves for UEs in coverage extension mode, but resource allocation complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by allowing the same physical random access channel (PRACH) resources to serve dual purposes: normal random access for non-CE mode UEs and CE mode random access for UEs requiring coverage extension. The serving base station indicates to the target base station whether the indicated PRACH resources are configured for CE mode, enabling a single resource pool to fulfill multiple functions and eliminating the need for separate dedicated CE mode random access resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the configuration parameters of existing PRACH resources to indicate their suitability for CE mode operation. Instead of allocating entirely separate resources, the system changes the parameters (such as resource availability flags or configuration indicators) of existing PRACH resources to enable their use for CE mode random access, thereby reducing resource allocation complexity while maintaining improved random access success rates.
3Reliability
If CE mode resources are allocated without PLMN-specific prioritization, then all neighboring base stations can assist with coverage, but resource efficiency decreases due to unnecessary allocations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing CE mode resources selectively only to neighboring base stations that are members of the same PLMN as the serving base station, rather than uniformly to all neighboring base stations. This localized resource allocation ensures that coverage extension assistance is provided only where it is most needed (within the same network operator's coverage area) while avoiding waste of resources on base stations from other PLMNs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the serving base station to autonomously determine which neighboring base stations should receive CE mode resource indications based on their PLMN membership status. The serving base station automatically filters and indicates only those neighboring base stations that are members of the same PLMN, eliminating the need for manual configuration or external control and improving resource allocation efficiency through automated PLMN-specific prioritization.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that provide for mobility between base stations for a UE that may be in a coverage extension (CE) mode or a non-CE mode. A serving base station may provide a EE with an indication of one or more neighboring base stations within a same public mobile land network (PLMN). The EE may then prioritize base stations in the same PLMN ahead of other neighboring base stations within a same frequency priority in a reselection procedure. In some cases, a base station may allocate PLMN-specific CE mode random access resources and transmit CE mode broadcast transmissions upon request from a UE within the PLMN. In some cases, a UE operating in CE mode may use contention-based random access resources for random access requests rather than dedicated random access resources.