UE Assistance Information Transmission in LTE-Advanced

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Solution Overview

Problem

The LTE-Advanced system lacks a prescribed opportunity and sequence for mobile stations to transmit UE assistance information, and there is no consideration for the capability of mobile stations to transmit or base stations to accept this information.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communication method where a radio base station or mobility management node transmits an information element indicating suitability for transmitting UE assistance information to the mobile station, allowing the station to determine whether to transmit, and considering both UE and base station capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the mobile station UE is configured to transmit UE assistance information only upon receiving a setting order signal from the radio base station eNB, then the network maintains control over when assistance information is transmitted, but there is no prescribed opportunity and sequence for transmission, and capability compatibility between UE and eNB is not considered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability compatibilityVSAvoidsetting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the radio base station eNB transmit capability information indicating whether it can accept UE assistance information before the UE transmits such information. This advance notification allows the UE to determine appropriate transmission timing and content based on eNB capability, ensuring compatibility while maintaining network control. The capability information is transmitted in advance during connection establishment or reconfiguration, enabling the UE to make informed decisions about when to transmit assistance information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the mobile station UE transmits UE assistance information without capability checking, then transmission can occur freely, but compatibility issues may arise when the radio base station eNB cannot accept the information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission freedomVSAvoidcompatibility reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the radio base station eNB transmit capability information to the UE, which then uses this feedback to determine whether and when to transmit UE assistance information. The UE checks the eNB's capability status and adjusts its transmission behavior accordingly, ensuring that assistance information is only transmitted when the eNB is capable of accepting it. This feedback mechanism maintains transmission freedom while ensuring compatibility reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If no specific sequence is prescribed for UE assistance information transmission, then flexibility is maintained, but the lack of prescribed opportunities and sequences creates implementation ambiguity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission flexibilityVSAvoidimplementation clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by establishing a flexible yet structured transmission sequence where the UE determines transmission timing based on received capability information from the eNB. The capability information itself can be transmitted at different stages (connection establishment, connection reconfiguration, or other appropriate times), and the UE adapts its transmission behavior dynamically based on this information. This creates a dynamic framework that provides implementation clarity while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2816830B1Mobile communication method
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP2816830B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2816830B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2816830B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Setting of transmission of "UE assistance information" is conducted suitably. A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps of, when an attach process of a mobile station UE is conducted, causing a radio base station eNB or a mobility management node MME to transmit an information element indicating whether it is suitable to transmit "UE assistance information" that urges a change of parameters for the mobile station UE used in the radio base station eNB, to the mobile station UE, and causing the mobile station UE to determine whether it is suitable to transmit "UE assistance information" to the radio base station eNB, on the basis of the information element.