Small Cell Detection via Base Station Positioning and Mobility Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In heterogeneous wireless communication networks, existing mechanisms for small cell detection in LTE and LTE-advanced systems face inefficiencies due to non-uniform cell distribution, leading to poor accuracy and increased power consumption, especially in hotspot areas where user equipment may fail to detect nearby small cells, resulting in suboptimal network coverage and throughput.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that utilize location information acquisition through round trip time and angle of arrival measurements, allowing the base station to independently position user equipment and evaluate its mobility state, thereby optimizing small cell detection and handover processes without overburdening user equipment resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If user equipment performs frequent inter-frequency small cell detection measurements, then detection accuracy improves, but power consumption increases and available resources are occupied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmall cell detection accuracyVSAvoiduser equipment power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameters by introducing measurement gaps with specific configurations (measurementGapPattern0 and measurementGapPattern1) that allow the UE to perform inter-frequency measurements only during designated time periods. This parameter change enables the system to balance measurement accuracy with power consumption by controlling when measurements occur rather than continuously measuring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic measurement action through configured measurement gaps that occur at regular intervals. The UE performs inter-frequency small cell detection measurements during these periodic measurement gaps rather than continuously, which reduces power consumption while maintaining adequate detection accuracy through timely periodic measurements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If user equipment continuously monitors for small cells, then detection accuracy improves, but available resources are greatly occupied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmall cell detection accuracyVSAvoidavailable resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by configuring measurement gaps that occur at specific intervals (e.g., every 40ms or 80ms) rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic measurement approach maintains detection accuracy by regularly checking for small cells while freeing up radio resources and processing capacity between measurement periods for other communication tasks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic measurement configuration where the network can adjust measurement gap patterns and measurement parameters based on UE mobility state and service requirements. This dynamic approach optimizes resource usage by adapting measurement frequency to actual needs rather than using fixed continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If measurement cycle is increased to reduce power consumption, then power consumption decreases, but detection accuracy and delay worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser equipment power consumptionVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic measurement cycle adjustment based on UE mobility state. For high-speed UEs, longer measurement cycles are used to reduce power consumption since these UEs are less likely to camp on small cells. For low-speed or stationary UEs, shorter measurement cycles maintain detection accuracy. The network dynamically configures appropriate measurement gap patterns based on reported UE mobility information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating measurement requirements based on UE-specific characteristics such as mobility state and service type. Different UE instances receive different measurement configurations tailored to their local conditions, allowing power-efficient long cycles for high-speed UEs while maintaining short cycles for stationary UEs needing high detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If user equipment performs inter-frequency measurements, then small cell detection capability improves, but complexity on user equipment side increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmall cell detection capabilityVSAvoiduser equipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the network as an intermediary that manages the complexity of inter-frequency measurements. The network configures measurement gaps, provides frequency lists for measurement, and processes measurement reports. This intermediary role shields the UE from implementing complex measurement logic, reducing UE complexity while maintaining comprehensive small cell detection capability through network-coordinated measurements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2950582B1Device and method in radio communication system
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2950582B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2950582B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2950582B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are a device and method in a radio communication system. The device comprises: a location information acquisition unit (102) for use in acquiring location information of a mobile terminal; a mobile state assessment unit (104) for use in assessing a mobile state of the mobile terminal on the basis of the location information of the mobile terminal at different time; and, an execution unit (106) for use in executing, on the basis of the location information of the mobile terminal and a change in the mobile state, a corresponding operation related to microcell discovery.