UAV RRC Reconfiguration to Avoid Cell Scanning During Sleep

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in mobile networks face catastrophic consequences due to the inability to obtain navigation information during discontinuous sleep states, as they cannot scan for neighboring base stations, leading to potential crashes.

Innovation Solution

A customized Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message is generated based on the UAV's device type, which does not include a reportCGI object, allowing the UAV to maintain its geographic location and avoid scanning for base stations during discontinuous sleep states, thereby preventing crashes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a communication device (UAV) is configured to obtain measurement reports with neighboring base station identifiers during discontinuous sleep state, then the device can maintain network connectivity and perform handovers, but the UAV cannot obtain navigation information which leads to catastrophic consequences and potential crashes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidloss of navigation information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the configuration treatment between terrestrial communication devices and UAVs. The network entity identifies UAVs specifically and applies a different RRC reconfiguration message that excludes reportCGI objects, while terrestrial devices continue to receive standard configurations with full measurement reporting capabilities. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by tailoring the communication configuration to the specific needs and risks of each device type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the standard approach by excluding navigation-critical information (reportCGI objects) from UAV configurations during discontinuous sleep states, rather than including it as done for terrestrial devices. This inversion prevents UAVs from attempting to scan for neighboring base stations when they cannot obtain navigation information, thereby avoiding crashes while still maintaining network connectivity through alternative means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If a standard RRC reconfiguration message including reportCGI object is sent to UAV, then the UAV can scan for neighboring base stations, but the UAV may crash due to inability to obtain navigation information during discontinuous sleep state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase station scanning capabilityVSAvoidflight safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the reportCGI object from the RRC reconfiguration message specifically for UAVs. This extraction eliminates the capability to scan for neighboring base station identifiers during discontinuous sleep states, thereby preventing UAVs from attempting operations that would lead to loss of navigation information and potential crashes, while maintaining other essential communication functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The network entity acts as an intermediary that mediates between the need for base station scanning and flight safety. By identifying UAVs and selectively modifying their RRC reconfiguration messages to exclude reportCGI objects, the network entity intermediates the conflict between maintaining scanning capabilities and ensuring flight safety, allowing UAVs to operate safely without attempting dangerous scans during discontinuous sleep states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If UAV is configured with discontinuous sleep state times for obtaining measurement reports, then energy consumption is reduced, but navigation information cannot be obtained leading to catastrophic consequences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidloss of navigation information

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the RRC reconfiguration message parameters for UAVs specifically. By setting the reportCGI inclusion parameter to false for UAVs during discontinuous sleep states, the system changes the operational parameters to prevent navigation information loss while maintaining the energy-saving discontinuous sleep mode. This parameter modification allows UAVs to benefit from reduced energy consumption without incurring the catastrophic risk of lost navigation information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260032527A1Methods, systems, and devices for detecting cells for unmanned aerial vehicles over mobile networks

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 AT&T TECHNICAL SERVICES CO INC

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying a communication device communicatively coupled to a serving base station, requesting a device type associated with the communication device from the serving base station, and determining the communication device comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle based on the device type. Further embodiments can include generating a customized radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message based on the communication device comprising the unmanned aerial vehicle, and transmitting the customized RRC reconfiguration message to the communication device via the serving base station. Other embodiments are disclosed.