UE Attach Retry Override for Non-Access Stratum Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transition from legacy wireless access networks to newer generations like 5G NR poses challenges, particularly in areas with reduced LTE coverage, where lower-layer failures during attach procedures can result in UE devices being barred from attaching, leading to poor user experience due to extended out-of-service conditions.
Innovation Solution
The UE device and/or USIM are configured to override the backoff timer triggered by repeated lower-layer attach failures, allowing for continuous attempts to attach to a base station using a retry delay timer of shorter duration than the backoff timer, and enabling indefinite retries of the attach request procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a backoff timer is triggered due to repeated lower-layer attach failures, then the network protects itself from excessive failed attach attempts, but the UE device is barred from attaching for an extended period resulting in poor user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the backoff timer duration adaptive rather than fixed. The network can dynamically adjust the backoff timer value based on the specific failure scenario, allowing shorter durations for certain failure types while maintaining longer durations for more severe cases. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the network to protect itself while minimizing unnecessary service disruption time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of backoff timer duration from a fixed value to a variable that can be adjusted based on failure analysis. By modifying this parameter dynamically, the system achieves both network protection (through appropriate timer enforcement) and reduced user impact (through shorter timers when failures are transient or resolvable).
2Reliability
If the UE device is barred from attaching during backoff timer execution, then repeated failed attach attempts are prevented, but service availability is reduced in areas with poor LTE coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the backoff timer duration based on the specific failure scenario and network conditions. In areas with poor coverage where failures are likely transient, the network can apply shorter backoff periods, maintaining service availability while still preventing excessive failed attempts. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The backoff timer parameter is changed from a static value to a flexible parameter that can be modified based on failure analysis and network conditions. This allows the system to optimize for both preventing repeated failures and maintaining service availability by adjusting the parameter appropriately for each scenario.
3Loss of energy
If the backoff timer is not overridden and standard barring is applied, then network resources are protected from excessive usage, but user experience deteriorates due to extended out-of-service conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the network to adaptively control the backoff timer duration based on the specific failure scenario. For transient failures or scenarios where quick recovery is expected, shorter backoff periods are applied, improving user experience while still protecting network resources. This resolves the contradiction between resource protection and user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The backoff timer parameter is made changeable based on failure analysis, allowing the network to optimize the balance between resource protection and user experience. By adjusting this parameter, the system can prevent excessive resource consumption while minimizing negative impact on user experience.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may include a processor configured to send a plurality of attach requests to a base station using a radio access technology (RAT) and determine that each of the plurality of attach requests has failed. The processor may be further configured to override a triggering of a backoff timer, wherein the UE device is barred from attaching using the RAT if the backoff timer is triggered and running, in response to determining that each of the plurality of attach requests has failed, and send another attach request to the base station using the RAT during a time period associated with the backoff timer.