Terminal Reception Quality Reporting for Small Cell State Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for controlling the ON and OFF states of small cells in LTE-Advanced networks require increased overhead for terminal-specific signaling, as base stations need to indicate different offset values for each state, leading to inefficiencies in power management and interference reduction.

Innovation Solution

A terminal and base station system that receives and transmits specific cell-detection signals to determine the state of base stations, using first and second offset values to calculate and report reception-quality measurement-results, allowing for switching between ON and OFF states without increasing signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If base stations indicate different offset values for each state (ON/OFF) to enable accurate reception quality measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereception quality measurement precisionVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the offset value selection adaptive to the base station's transmission state. The terminal dynamically selects between first offset values (for ON state) and second offset values (for OFF state) based on detecting whether the base station is currently transmitting. This dynamic adaptation allows accurate reception quality measurement for both states without requiring separate dedicated offset values for each state, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter selection strategy by introducing state-dependent offset value groups. Instead of using fixed offset values regardless of transmission state, the system changes offset values based on the detected base station state. The terminal receives multiple groups of offset values and selects the appropriate group based on the transmission state, enabling accurate measurements across different states without increasing overall signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If small cells stop transmission processing to save power and reduce interference, then energy consumption and interference are reduced, but terminals cannot detect these cells

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase station power consumptionVSAvoidcell detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the terminal prepare and store multiple groups of offset values in advance, corresponding to different base station transmission states. This preparation is done before the actual state detection and measurement process. By pre-configuring the terminal with the necessary offset values for both ON and OFF states, the system enables accurate reception quality measurement of cells in either state without requiring additional signaling at the moment of state transition, thus supporting power-saving operations while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional terminals use old cell-detection signals, then backward compatibility is maintained, but new cells using new cell-detection signals cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal compatibilityVSAvoidnew cell detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a measurement method that works for both old and new cell-detection signals through a unified approach. The terminal receives configuration information for multiple groups of offset values and can apply the appropriate offset values based on the detected cell type and state. This universal method allows traditional terminals maintaining backward compatibility with old signals while also enabling detection and measurement of new cells using new detection signals, as the same measurement framework accommodates both signal types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10182395B2Terminal, base station, reception quality reporting method, and data transmission state switching method

Publication Date: 2019.01.15 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

The objective of the invention is to control switching of ON/OFF states of a cell without increasing the overhead of signaling to a terminal. A setting information reception unit (203) receives setting information related to a second offset value to be commonly added to reception-quality measurement-values of OFF-state base stations. A base station state determination unit (206) determines whether a reception quality measurement-target base station is an ON-state base station or an OFF-state base station. If the reception quality measurement-target base station is an OFF-state base station, the base station state determination unit (206) calculates a reception-quality measurement-result by adding at least the second offset value to a reception-quality measurement-value of the reception quality measurement-target base station, and then determines whether to report the reception-quality measurement-result.