PLMN Search by Supported RATs to Reduce Scan Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices supporting multiple radio access technologies (RATs) face unnecessary current consumption and increased search time when searching for a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) by scanning all supported RF bands, even if the PLMN only supports some RATs.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device selectively searches for a PLMN based on information about the RATs supported by the PLMN, optimizing the search process to reduce resource consumption and time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electronic device searches for PLMN on all supported RATs, then the device can find available PLMN, but current consumption increases and search time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePLMN search successVSAvoidcurrent consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes unnecessary RAT search operations from the PLMN search process. By identifying that the PLMN only supports certain RATs (e.g., only LTE) while the device supports multiple RATs (LTE, WCDMA, GSM), the device extracts only the necessary RAT (LTE) for searching, eliminating searches on unsupported RATs (WCDMA, GSM). This directly reduces current consumption while maintaining reliable PLMN detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing PLMN search on only a subset of supported RATs rather than all RATs. Instead of executing exhaustive searches across all four RATs (LTE, WCDMA, GSM, and others), the device performs partial searches only on RATs confirmed to be supported by the target PLMN, achieving sufficient action for reliable connection while avoiding excessive energy expenditure on redundant searches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If the electronic device searches for PLMN on all supported RATs, then the device can find available PLMN, but search time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePLMN search successVSAvoidsearch time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts unnecessary search operations from the PLMN acquisition process. By determining that the PLMN supports only specific RATs (e.g., LTE only), the device extracts and executes searches solely on those RATs, removing time-consuming searches on unsupported RATs (WCDMA, GSM). This reduces total search time while ensuring reliable PLMN detection through targeted searches on the correct RATs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by limiting PLMN search to a partial set of RATs that are actually supported by the network. Instead of performing exhaustive searches across all supported RATs in the device, the device performs partial searches only on the subset of RATs that the PLMN supports, achieving sufficient action for successful network acquisition while minimizing time loss from redundant searches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the electronic device searches for PLMN on all supported RATs, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePLMN detection completenessVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates redundant search operations from the PLMN detection process. By identifying the specific RATs supported by the target PLMN (e.g., LTE only), the device extracts only the necessary search operations on those RATs, removing unnecessary searches on unsupported RATs (WCDMA, GSM). This maintains comprehensive detection coverage for supported RATs while significantly improving resource utilization efficiency by avoiding waste on incompatible technologies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3829225B1Searching for PLMN in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3829225B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3829225B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3829225B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device according to various embodiments can comprise: a housing; a wireless communication circuit located in the housing; a processor operationally connected to the wireless communication circuit; and a memory located inside the housing and operationally connected to the processor, wherein the memory can store instructions such that, when executed, the processor performs camp-on on a cell of a first base station through the wireless communication circuit, receives, from the first base station, information related to a network related to the first base station, identifies a state in which no service is provided from the first base station to the electronic device, and searches for a registered public land mobile network (RPLMN) on the basis of at least a portion of the received information.