Terminal Cell Set Management for Signaling Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In future wireless networks, such as 5G, the frequent use of small data packet services leads to an increased signaling load on the air interface, overwhelming available radio resources, particularly due to non-real-time and delay-tolerant communications.
Innovation Solution
A terminal for cellular communications networks maintains a set of radio cells based on quality measure values, adjusting this set when a new cell with a higher quality measure value is detected, to reduce signaling load and improve data communication reliability without precise geographic location knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional handover mechanisms are used in 5G networks for small data packet services, then terminals can maintain connection with the network, but signaling messages dominate the available radio resources and reduce communication efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional single-cell handover mechanism into a multi-cell set management approach. Instead of handling handovers cell-by-cell, the terminal maintains a set of N suitable cells and manages transitions between them, reducing the frequency and overhead of signaling messages while maintaining reliable connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying and maintaining a set of N suitable cells before handover is needed. The terminal proactively measures and stores quality metrics for multiple candidate cells, so when handover becomes necessary, the transition can occur quickly with minimal signaling overhead.
2Reliability
If frequent handovers are performed to maintain optimal connection quality, then communication reliability improves, but signaling load increases and radio resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by maintaining a set of N suitable cells rather than continuously monitoring and handovering based on single-cell metrics. This partial monitoring approach ensures connection quality is maintained across multiple cells without the excessive signaling overhead of frequent handovers, reducing radio resource waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter from single-cell quality metrics to multi-cell set management. By evaluating and maintaining a set of N cells with quality metrics above a threshold, the system achieves reliable connection quality while reducing the frequency of handover events and associated signaling resource consumption.
3Productivity
If the terminal maintains a single serving cell, then signaling overhead is reduced, but the terminal may miss better quality cells and communication reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the cell set management mechanism universal by designing it to work with multiple serving cells simultaneously. The terminal maintains a set of N suitable cells that can serve as candidates for data transmission, allowing the system to achieve both signaling efficiency and communication reliability by having multiple potential serving cells available.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal continuously measures quality metrics for cells in the maintained set and provides feedback to the network. This feedback allows the network to make informed decisions about which cell to use for data transmission, ensuring communication reliability while keeping signaling overhead manageable through the pre-established cell set.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a terminal (10) for a cellular communications network (1000). The terminal is configured to maintain a first set (S1) of at least n radio cells, wherein n is equal to or greater than three, wherein a quality measure (q) value of each of the n radio cells, which depends on a received signal power associated with reference signals transmitted in said cells and received by said terminal (10), exceeds a threshold. The terminal further determines whether a quality measure value of a further radio cell, which is not comprised in the first set, exceeds the quality measure value of the radio cell comprised in the first set with the m-th best quality measure value, m ranging from 1 to n−1, by a predetermined amount. If the quality measure value of the further radio cell (c12) exceeds the quality measure value of the m-th best radio cell, modification of the first set is arranged, whereby a second set (S2) is obtained. The second set comprises the further radio cell.