RRC State Proximity Detection Configuration Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 3GPP specifications lack standard procedures for configuring and reporting proximity detection in UE when transitioning between RRC states such as CELL_DCH, CELL_FACH, CELL_PCH, or URA_PCH, leading to inefficiencies, battery life degradation, data loss, and erroneous configurations.

Innovation Solution

Methods and system for configuring UE to handle proximity indication and detection by stopping, invalidating, or retaining proximity detection configuration when transitioning between RRC states, ensuring consistent reporting and detection operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If proximity detection is continuously performed across all RRC state transitions, then detection coverage is maintained, but battery life decreases and energy is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection coverageVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the proximity detection function adaptive to different RRC states. The UE dynamically enables or disables proximity detection based on the current RRC state, transitioning from continuous detection in CELL_DCH state to selective detection in CELL_FACH, CELL_PCH, and URA_PCH states. This dynamic adjustment ensures detection coverage is maintained when needed while conserving battery life during low-activity states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of proximity detection based on RRC state transitions. Specifically, it modifies the detection configuration parameters (such as measurement intervals and reporting thresholds) according to the current state, enabling efficient operation across different connectivity scenarios while balancing detection reliability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If proximity detection configuration is retained during RRC state transitions, then detection continuity is maintained, but erroneous configurations may persist

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection continuityVSAvoidconfiguration accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the proximity detection configuration from the UE's memory during specific RRC state transitions (from CELL_FACH, CELL_PCH, or URA_PCH back to CELL_DCH). By removing the old configuration before establishing a new connection, the system prevents erroneous or outdated configurations from persisting, ensuring that only valid, current configurations are used for detection operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by invalidating or deleting proximity detection configuration before the UE transitions back to CELL_DCH state. This preliminary cleanup ensures that when the UE re-establishes connection and receives new proximity detection configuration, there are no conflicting or erroneous old configurations present, thereby maintaining configuration accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If proximity detection is stopped in non-CELL_DCH states, then battery life is extended, but detection coverage is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifeVSAvoiddetection coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of proximity detection based on RRC state. In CELL_FACH, CELL_PCH, and URA_PCH states, the UE stops proximity detection to conserve battery life. However, when transitioning back to CELL_DCH state, the UE automatically resumes proximity detection, ensuring detection coverage is restored when the system requires active monitoring and reporting capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the UE to self-manage proximity detection based on its own RRC state. The UE autonomously determines when to enable or disable detection functionality according to the current state without requiring external control, thereby extending battery life during low-activity states while maintaining detection coverage when needed through automatic resumption upon state transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If proximity detection configuration is standardized across all RRC states, then system complexity increases, but operational consistency is improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the proximity detection configuration into different sets for different RRC states. Instead of creating a single complex standardized configuration that works across all states, the system divides the configuration into state-specific parameters, allowing each state to have optimized, simplified settings. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining operational consistency within each state context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal proximity detection framework that can operate across multiple RRC states with different configurations. The same proximity detection mechanism serves multiple functions by adapting to different states, eliminating the need for separate detection systems for each state and thereby improving operational consistency without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2360966B1Handling proximity indication and detection in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2012.07.04 HTC CORP
  • EP2360966B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2360966B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2360966B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A method and system to configure proximity detection and reporting in a wireless device during a transition of the wireless device from one cell state to another cell state in a third generation (3G) wireless communication system. In a first cell state, the wireless device is configured for proximity indication. The wireless device is transitioned from using the first cell state to using a second cell state. Upon the transition from the first cell state, the wireless device receives information from a base transceiver to reconfigure the proximity indication configuration based on the second cell state. The reconfiguration allows the mobile device to retain the existing proximity indication configuration, remove the proximity indication configuration, or stop reporting proximity indication. Additionally, the base transceiver also adjusts proximity configuration stored at the base station based on the second cell state.