Satellite Traffic Offloading Using UE Battery and Uplink Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional traffic management techniques in cellular networks fail to consider UE transmit power and battery state when offloading traffic from terrestrial to non-terrestrial networks, leading to potential rapid battery drain in devices like smartphones and wearables.
Innovation Solution
Implement an algorithm that ranks UEs based on estimated transmit power and battery level to determine which devices should be offloaded to non-terrestrial networks, minimizing battery drain by avoiding offloading devices with low battery power or heavy upload traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional traffic management techniques are used to offload traffic from terrestrial to non-terrestrial networks, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but UE battery drain increases rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the traffic management decision parameters from solely network-centric metrics (load, coverage) to include UE-specific power-related parameters (battery state, transmit power requirements). The algorithm calculates predicted transmit power for satellite communication and compares it with current terrestrial transmit power, only offloading when the satellite option consumes equal or less power. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by ensuring network capacity improvement does not come at the cost of excessive UE battery drain.
2Area of stationary object
If UEs are offloaded to satellite networks to provide additional coverage, then service capacity in specific areas is improved, but transmit power requirements increase for distant UEs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the algorithm continuously monitors UE location, satellite position, and calculates predicted transmit power requirements. Before executing offload, the system receives feedback on whether the UE's predicted transmit power to satellite is within acceptable limits. This feedback loop ensures that coverage extension to distant areas does not result in excessive power consumption, as the system adapts its offload decisions based on real-time power requirement assessments.
3Reliability
If satellite cells are used to provide continuous coverage, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity increases for power management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the UE's algorithm autonomously evaluate its own battery state, calculate predicted transmit power requirements for satellite communication, and determine suitability for offload without complex external intervention. The UE self-assesses whether it meets the power-based suitability criteria and can be instructed to offload accordingly. This self-service approach maintains continuous coverage reliability while managing device complexity through automated, rule-based power assessment rather than complex manual or network-controlled power management.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining data indicative of a location of a satellite; obtaining data indicative of locations of each of a plurality of mobile devices, battery states of each of the mobile devices, and transmit powers that are required for the mobile devices to upload traffic to a wireless terrestrial network; generating, based upon the location of the satellite and upon the locations of the mobile devices, data indicative of predicted transmit powers that would be required for each of the mobile devices to upload traffic to the satellite; selecting, based upon the battery states of each of the mobile devices, upon the transmit powers that are required for each of the mobile devices to upload traffic to the wireless terrestrial network, and upon the predicted transmit powers that would be required for the mobile devices to upload traffic to the satellite, at least one mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices to be instructed to upload traffic to the satellite. Other embodiments are disclosed.