RRC Query for Service Provider Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication systems face challenges in providing users with comprehensive information about available service providers without establishing a radio resource control (RRC) connection, particularly in networks operating on unlicensed or shared licensed bands, where System Information (SI) resources are scarce and only partial lists of service providers are typically broadcast.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for a user equipment (UE) to send a radio resource control query request message to a network entity, allowing it to retrieve a full list of service providers with long form information before establishing a connection, using a pre-association message that does not require a dedicated resource allocation, enabling selection based on predefined criteria or user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If System Information (SI) includes a comprehensive list of service providers with full information, then the user equipment can make informed service provider selection, but the SI resources are consumed and transmission requires full coverage power
Solution Approach 1:
The service provider information is segmented into two parts: a condensed version included in System Information (SI) broadcasts and a full version available through on-demand querying. The SI contains essential identification information, while detailed information is retrieved separately through RRC queries, thus reducing SI transmission power requirements while maintaining information accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The user equipment performs preliminary action by sending an RRC query request message before establishing a full RRC connection, allowing it to retrieve service provider information in advance. This enables informed service provider selection without requiring comprehensive information to be continuously broadcast in SI, reducing ongoing transmission power consumption.
2Reliability
If System Information is transmitted with full coverage power to ensure all UEs can receive it, then all user equipment can access service provider information, but the SI resources become scarce and transmission frequency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The user equipment performs self-service by actively querying the network entity for service provider information through RRC query requests rather than relying solely on passive SI broadcasts. This allows UEs to obtain information on-demand without requiring frequent full-power SI transmissions, conserving SI resources while maintaining reliable information access.
3Productivity
If only short form PSP-IDs are broadcast in SI to conserve resources, then SI transmission is more efficient, but the user equipment cannot retrieve detailed service provider information without establishing an RRC connection
Solution Approach 1:
The user equipment performs preliminary action by sending an RRC query request message before establishing a full RRC connection, allowing it to retrieve detailed service provider information in advance. This enables informed service provider selection without requiring comprehensive information to be continuously broadcast in SI, reducing ongoing transmission power consumption.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a pre-association query mechanism is implemented to retrieve service provider information before connection, then the user equipment can make informed selection, but additional signaling messages are required
Solution Approach 1:
The RRC query request message mechanism serves multiple functions: it can be used for service provider information retrieval, general network queries, and future extensions for other pre-association information needs. This multi-functionality justifies the additional signaling complexity by providing a versatile tool for various pre-connection information requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) sends a radio resource control query request message (130) to a network entity without having to first establish an RRC connection (160) and receives a query response message (140) in response to the radio resource control query request message (130). The UE selects a service provider based on the query response message.