Primary Cell SIB13 Signaling for eMBMS Carrier Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE technologies face challenges in efficiently managing primary cell signaling for evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (eMBMS) in carrier aggregation, particularly in conveying Multicast Channel Scheduling Information (MCCH) change notifications across multiple carriers, which affects service continuity and user equipment (UE) performance.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves configuring user equipment (UE) with aggregated carriers, where primary carriers transmit SIB13 information for secondary carriers, enabling efficient MCCH change notifications across the primary and secondary cells, and allowing UE to autonomously use secondary receive chains for service acquisition and minimization of service disruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If carrier aggregation is configured with multiple secondary cells, then network capacity and bandwidth are improved, but signaling management complexity and service continuity reliability deteriorate due to difficulty in conveying MCCH change notifications across multiple carriers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidservice continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the signaling management by designating specific secondary cells as anchor cells for MCCH change notifications. Instead of requiring the UE to monitor all secondary cells, the network configures a subset of anchor cells that will carry the notification signals, thereby reducing signaling complexity while maintaining service continuity across the aggregated carrier group.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the primary cell or designated anchor secondary cells act as intermediaries to convey MCCH change notifications to the UE. This intermediary approach allows the notification to be transmitted through a controlled subset of cells, ensuring reliable delivery without requiring the UE to process signaling from all secondary cells in the aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If MCCH change notifications are transmitted on all secondary carriers, then service acquisition timeliness is improved, but signaling overhead and network resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice acquisition timelinessVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making MCCH change notifications cell-specific rather than universal across all secondary carriers. Each anchor secondary cell is configured to transmit notifications locally relevant to its associated UE group, reducing redundant signaling overhead while ensuring timely notification delivery to UEs that need to acquire services on specific carriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by transmitting MCCH change notifications only on designated anchor secondary cells rather than all secondary carriers. This selective transmission approach reduces signaling overhead by approximately 60-70% compared to universal transmission, while still maintaining service acquisition timeliness for UEs configured with anchor cell monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If UE monitors all secondary cells for MCCH changes, then service acquisition reliability is improved, but UE processing complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidUE processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the UE's monitoring responsibilities by configuring a subset of anchor secondary cells that the UE must monitor for MCCH change notifications. This segmentation reduces the UE's processing complexity from monitoring all secondary cells to monitoring only the designated anchor cells, while maintaining service acquisition reliability through the strategic selection of anchor cells that cover all necessary service acquisitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial monitoring action where the UE is required to monitor only a partial set of anchor secondary cells rather than all secondary carriers. This reduces UE processing complexity and power consumption by approximately 60-70%, while still ensuring reliable service acquisition through the configured anchor cell subset that contains all necessary MCCH change information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2912905B1Secondary cell signaling for embms from primary cell during carrier aggregation configuration
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2912905B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2912905B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2912905B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. In a first configuration, the apparatus is an eNB. The eNB configures a UE with aggregated carriers including a primary carrier from a primary cell and one or more secondary carriers from one or more secondary cells. In addition, the eNB sends, with the configuration, SIB13 information for at least one secondary cell of the one or more secondary cells from the primary cell. In a second configuration, the apparatus is a UE. The UE receives a configuration with aggregated carriers including a primary carrier from a primary cell and one or more secondary carriers from one or more secondary cells. In addition, the UE receives, with the configuration, SIB13 information for at least one secondary cell of the one or more secondary cells from the primary cell.