Service Continuity Indicator for SCPTM Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE-A, service continuity is disrupted during handovers in Single-Cell Point-to-Multipoint (SCPTM) transmissions due to the need for acquiring new SCPTM control information, leading to potential service interruptions for user equipment.

Innovation Solution

A method where user equipment transmits a SCPTM service list to a serving cell, receives a service continuity indicator that includes information on available and unavailable SCPTM services in a target cell, and requests unicast transmission for services not supported by SCPTM, ensuring seamless service continuity during handovers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a terminal shifts to a target cell during handover, then the terminal can access new services or maintain connection, but service interruption occurs due to acquisition of new SCPTM control information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell switching capabilityVSAvoidservice continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The source cell provides SCPTM control information of the target cell to the terminal before handover occurs. This preliminary provision of control information enables the terminal to maintain service continuity without interruption during the handover process, as the terminal already possesses the necessary information to access SCPTM services in the target cell.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Area of stationary object

If eMBMS occupies full system bandwidth for MBSFN transmission, then wide area service coverage is achieved, but radio resources are unnecessarily wasted when not all frequencies are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverage areaVSAvoidradio resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from MBSFN transmission that uniformly occupies all frequencies to SCPTM transmission that selectively activates only those frequencies actually needed for service delivery. This local quality approach allows different frequency resources to be allocated based on actual service requirements rather than uniform occupation, improving radio resource efficiency while maintaining necessary coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The MBSFN area and MBSFN subframe configurations change from static (pre-configured by O&M) to dynamic (adjustable according to user distribution and traffic load). This dynamic configuration enables the system to adapt radio resource allocation in real-time, activating MBSFN transmission only when and where users are present, thereby reducing unnecessary resource occupation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If MBSFN area and subframe configuration are statically configured, then network management is simplified, but radio resources cannot be dynamically adjusted according to user distribution and traffic load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork configuration simplicityVSAvoiddynamic resource allocation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables dynamic adjustment of MBSFN area and subframe configurations based on real-time user distribution and traffic load conditions. Base stations can activate or deactivate MBSFN transmission on specific frequencies according to actual service demands, transforming the previously static configuration into a dynamic one that adapts to changing network conditions while maintaining manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3337233B1Method and device for terminal receiving service continuity indicator
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3337233B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3337233B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3337233B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Provided are a method for a terminal receiving a service continuity indicator in a wireless communication system, and a device supporting same. A terminal may transmit a single-cell point-to-multipoint (SCPTM) service list to a serving cell and receive a service continuity indicator from the serving cell. The service continuity indicator may comprise first service information indicating an SCPTM service, among the SCPTM service list, that may be provided to the terminal by a target cell through SCPTM transmission.