Terminal Device Location Reporting Threshold NTN

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Solution Overview

Problem

In non-terrestrial networks (NTN), the rapid movement of satellite spot-beams across the Earth's surface necessitates frequent location reporting by terminal devices, leading to significant signalling overhead and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A terminal device is configured to transmit location reports only when it has moved by more than a predefined threshold distance since its last report, and it uses a configured grant approach to update its position without transitioning to an RRC connected mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the terminal device reports location frequently to track satellite spot-beam movement, then mobility management accuracy is improved, but signalling overhead and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobility management accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of location reporting frequency from continuous/frequent to event-triggered based on threshold distance. The terminal device only reports when it has moved by a predefined threshold distance, transforming the reporting mechanism from time-based to condition-based, thereby reducing unnecessary signalling and power consumption while maintaining adequate mobility management accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by selectively reporting location only when necessary (when threshold distance is exceeded) rather than continuously reporting. This partial reporting approach reduces the total amount of signalling overhead and power consumption while still providing sufficient location updates for mobility management purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of energy

If the terminal device uses configured grant approach to update position without transitioning to RRC connected mode, then signalling overhead is reduced, but location reporting accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignalling overheadVSAvoidlocation reporting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the RRC connection state into different modes (connected mode and configured grant mode) and uses them for different purposes. Configured grant mode is specifically segmented for location reporting purposes, allowing the terminal to update position without full RRC connection establishment, thereby reducing signalling overhead while maintaining adequate location reporting accuracy through the configured grant mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3858099B1Telecommunications apparatus and methods

Publication Date: 2025.05.14 SONY GROUP CORP

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AI summary

A method of operating a terminal device in a wireless telecommunications system comprising the terminal device and a non-terrestrial network access node, wherein the method comprises the terminal device performing the steps of: determining a first location for the terminal device transmitting signalling indicating the first location; determining a second location for the terminal device; determining whether or not a distance between the first location and the second location is more than a predefined threshold distance, and if so transmitting signalling indicating the second location.