Small Cell Detection via Polling Signals in High Frequency Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The detection of small cells in wireless networks is inefficient in terms of power consumption, radio resource utilization, and latency, particularly for user equipment (UE) using high-frequency band (HFB) radio access technologies, which often have smaller coverage areas compared to lower frequency band (LFB) technologies.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves providing UE with assistance information that includes carrier frequencies, cell identifiers, polling channel configuration parameters, and time-frequency resources to efficiently detect small cells, allowing UE to output polling signals in an optimized manner, such as omnidirectional or directional, to acquire synchronization signals from nearby small cells, thereby reducing power consumption and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If HFB RAT small cells are deployed to enhance coverage, then network performance and throughput are improved, but detection efficiency deteriorates due to increased power consumption and latency
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures assistance information including candidate small cell IDs, carrier frequencies, and polling channel parameters before UE detection. This preliminary preparation enables UE to efficiently detect small cells without exhaustive scanning, reducing power consumption while maintaining detection capability across multiple HFB small cells
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a polling channel as an intermediary mechanism between UE and small cells. UE outputs polling signals through this dedicated channel to detect small cells, while small cells respond with synchronization signals. This intermediary structure streamlines the detection process compared to conventional methods, reducing both power consumption and detection latency
2Reliability
If conventional small cell detection methods are used, then UE can detect small cells, but detection latency increases and power consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides pre-configured assistance information including candidate small cell identifiers, carrier frequencies, and polling channel parameters before UE initiates detection. This preliminary configuration enables UE to directly target specific small cells rather than performing exhaustive scans, significantly reducing detection latency while maintaining reliable detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection approach by using dedicated polling channel parameters (frequency, time resources, signal format) provided in assistance information. UE adjusts its detection parameters based on this pre-configured information, optimizing the detection process to reduce latency while ensuring reliable small cell detection
3Measurement precision
If UE performs comprehensive small cell detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but radio resource utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides assistance information tailored to UE's specific location and context, including only relevant candidate small cells in the local area. This localized approach maintains detection accuracy for nearby small cells while avoiding unnecessary detection attempts in distant areas, thereby improving radio resource utilization
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring UE to detect all possible small cells, the patent provides a curated subset of candidate small cells in the assistance information. This partial action approach achieves sufficient detection accuracy for UE's current needs while conserving radio resources by limiting detection to a manageable number of candidates
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are described herein for fast and efficient discovery of small cells by user equipment ("UE") in a wireless telecommunications network. The small cells may operate at a high frequency band ("HFB"), which may correspond to higher frequencies than other cells (e.g., base stations, such as evolved Node Bs ("eNBs")) of the network. The UE may receive assistance information, which may include polling channel configurations, beamforming weights, carrier frequencies, cell identifiers of small cells, and/or other information. The UE may use the assistance information when outputting (either omnidirectionally, pseudo-omnidirectionally, or directionally) a polling sequence, in order to detect the small cells.