Short Identifier Mapping for 5G NR Signaling Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional handover methods in wireless communication systems face challenges due to the use of long cell and beam identifiers, leading to significant overhead and inefficiencies in inter-cell mobility and beam management, particularly in 5G NR systems where the number of possible cell IDs and beams is higher, making it difficult to efficiently manage handovers and beam switches without excessive signaling load.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where a mapping between a first set of short identifiers and a second set of long identifiers for reference signals is transmitted, allowing radio terminals to communicate using short identifiers, reducing the bit length required for identification and minimizing signaling overhead, thereby facilitating efficient inter-cell mobility and beam management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If long cell and beam identifiers are used in 5G NR systems, then the number of possible cell IDs and beams can be increased to support more cells and beams, but the signaling overhead and measurement report size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism between short identifiers (first set) and long identifiers (second set). The radio access node maintains a mapping table that associates short IDs with long IDs, allowing the system to use compact short identifiers in signaling while still supporting the full range of long identifiers for cells and beams. This intermediary mapping resolves the contradiction by enabling both high adaptability (through long IDs) and low overhead (through short IDs).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy or alias system where short identifiers serve as compact representations of long identifiers. Instead of transmitting the full long identifiers in measurement reports and control messages, the system transmits short identifier copies that reference the full identifiers through the mapping relationship. This copying approach maintains the capability to identify all cells and beams while dramatically reducing signaling overhead.
2Reliability
If long identifiers are used for reference signals, then unique identification of all cells and beams is ensured, but the bit length required for transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mapping table acts as an intermediary that preserves the unique identification capability of long identifiers while enabling the use of short identifiers in transmission. The radio access node stores the complete mapping relationship, ensuring that each short identifier uniquely corresponds to a long identifier, thus maintaining reliability while reducing bit length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the identifier length parameter from long to short in the transmission domain, while maintaining the long identifier space in the network domain. This parameter transformation allows the system to optimize transmission efficiency without sacrificing the unique identification capability required for reliable cell and beam identification.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive measurement reporting with full identifiers is performed, then accurate handover decisions can be made, but the measurement report size and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by replacing full identifier transmissions with short identifier references in measurement reports. The radio terminal includes short identifiers in its measurement reports, and the radio access node uses its mapping table to resolve these short identifiers to the corresponding long identifiers for handover decision-making. This approach maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing reporting complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential identification information (short identifiers) from the complete identifier set for transmission in measurement reports. The full identifier information is retained in the network's mapping tables where needed for processing, but the actual reports contain only the extracted short identifiers, reducing complexity while preserving the ability to make accurate handover decisions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method in a radio access node (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) for communicating with a radio terminal (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70) in a network system, comprising the following steps: transmitting (S120) to the radio terminal (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70) a mapping (800) between a first set of identifiers and a second set of identifiers, each identifier identifying a reference signal in a network system, and communicating (S130) with the radio terminal (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70) using at least one identifier in the first set of identifiers.