On-Demand System Information Transmission via Pilot Code Requesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing volume of System Information (SI) in LTE wireless communication leads to high power consumption and resource waste in base stations, particularly when SI is periodically broadcasted, especially with a small number of User Equipment (UE) accessing the network.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where User Equipment (UE) determines a requesting window to send a pilot code for second-class SI only when no other UE requests it within a predetermined time frame, allowing the base station to adjust the sending of second-class SI based on actual user requests, thereby reducing unnecessary broadcasts and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If system information is periodically broadcasted by the base station, then all user equipment can receive the information reliably, but power consumption increases and frequency spectrum resources are wasted when few UEs are accessing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information reception reliabilityVSAvoidbase station power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

User equipment autonomously determines whether to request system information by checking the requesting window for pilot codes, eliminating the need for the base station to continuously broadcast SI to all UEs. The UE that needs information self-initiates the request process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The base station opens requesting windows at periodic intervals instead of continuous broadcasting. During these windows, UEs can send pilot codes to request SI, and the base station responds only when requests are received, converting continuous periodic broadcast into intermittent on-demand transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If system information is periodically broadcasted by the base station, then information is always available to UEs, but frequency spectrum resource utilization decreases when few UEs are accessing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information availabilityVSAvoidfrequency spectrum resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

UE autonomously monitors requesting windows and sends pilot codes only when SI is needed, converting the passive reception model into active on-demand requesting. This eliminates wasteful spectrum usage when no UE requires SI updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The base station uses feedback from pilot codes sent by UEs to determine whether to transmit SI. The presence or absence of pilot codes in the requesting window provides feedback on actual UE information needs, enabling dynamic adjustment of SI transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If the base station sends second-class SI in response to pilot codes, then power consumption and resource waste are reduced, but the system complexity increases due to requesting windows and monitoring requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase station power consumptionVSAvoidsystem operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

System information is divided into first-class SI (broadcasted periodically) and second-class SI (sent on-demand). The requesting window mechanism is segmented into specific time domains where UEs can send pilot codes, separating the information types and their transmission modes to manage complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base station pre-configures requesting windows with specific time domain positions and parameters before UE access. UEs are provided with template information about requesting window locations and formats in advance, allowing them to monitor and send pilot codes without real-time complex calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3541119B1Method, apparatus, user equipment and base station for sending and receiving system information
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3541119B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3541119B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~3A
  • EP3541119B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

Related are a method, an apparatus, user equipment and a base station for sending and receiving SI. The method of receiving SI comprises: in response to receiving first-class SI broadcast by a base station, determining a requesting window, a receiving window and a pilot code of to-be-requested SI, where the requesting window includes P number of time domain sending opportunities for sending a request carrying the pilot code; monitoring a first Q number of time domain sending opportunities within the requesting window to determine whether a request carrying the pilot code is sent from UE to the base station; when no UE sends the request carrying the pilot code, sending the request carrying the pilot code at the (Q+1)-th time domain sending opportunity; and monitoring the receiving window of the to-be-requested SI for the to-be-requested SI sent by the base station. The technical solution may avoid a problem of large power consumption caused by the UE requesting the SI by sending a pilot code every time, and also greatly improve performances of sending and receiving the SI at the same time.