UE Cell Reselection Using Saved Timer Values

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in reselecting from UMTS to LTE cells, particularly due to delays caused by access state transitions and timer-based reselection mechanisms, which can lead to prolonged data transfer times when background data is intermittently available.

Innovation Solution

The user equipment initiates a search for a stronger LTE base station, starts a reselection timer, saves the remaining timer value upon data transfer, and reselects to the LTE cell after transitioning to a non-active protocol state and performing additional signal strength measurements, ensuring the LTE cell meets reselection criteria.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE waits for timer expiration before reselecting to LTE, then the reselection process follows standard protocol requirements, but data transfer delays increase when background data is intermittently available

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereselection process reliabilityVSAvoiddata transfer delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs preliminary actions by saving measurement results and timer values before accessing UMTS resources. When data becomes available, the UE can quickly evaluate whether reselection criteria are met without having to perform new measurements, thus reducing data transfer delay while maintaining protocol compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reselection process becomes dynamic by allowing the UE to adapt its behavior based on data availability. The UE can choose to reselect immediately when data is available and criteria are met, rather than always waiting for timer expiration, thus optimizing the balance between reliability and time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the UE performs measurements and waits for timer expiration, then protocol compliance is maintained, but reselection speed decreases for bursty data transfers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol complianceVSAvoidreselection speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs measurements in advance and saves the results along with timer values. This preliminary action allows the UE to quickly determine whether reselection criteria are met when data becomes available, significantly improving reselection speed without compromising protocol compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE prepares measurement results and timer values in advance, creating a buffer that allows for faster decision-making when data becomes available. This cushioning effect enables the UE to rapidly evaluate reselection conditions and execute reselection when appropriate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Speed

If the UE reselects to LTE immediately when signal strength is sufficient, then data transfer speed improves, but false reselection may occur due to signal fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer speedVSAvoidreselection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs preliminary measurements and compares signal strength against stored reference values before initiating reselection. This preliminary evaluation helps filter out false positives caused by temporary signal fluctuations, improving reselection accuracy while maintaining fast data transfer capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE uses stored measurement results and timer values as feedback to evaluate whether reselection conditions are truly met. By comparing current signal strength against historical data and protocol requirements, the UE can make more reliable reselection decisions, reducing false reselection due to signal fluctuations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If the UE saves timer values and performs additional measurements after state transition, then reselection accuracy improves, but processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereselection decision accuracyVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE saves measurement results and timer values in advance, so that after state transition, it only needs to perform minimal additional measurements and compare against stored values. This approach improves reselection decision accuracy while minimizing the additional processing overhead required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10004005B2Fast reselection from a current cell to a higher-priority cell in wireless communication

Publication Date: 2018.06.19 APPLE INC

AI summary

A method and mechanism for operating user equipment to enable efficient reselection from a first cell conforming to a first wireless standard to a second cell conforming to a second wireless standard. The second standard may require a higher transmission rate for packet-switched data than the first standard. While camping on the first cell, the user equipment makes measurements of received power from the second cell. A reselection timer is started when a measurement is detected that is sufficiently strong. In response to an access state transition to a non-active protocol state (such as UMTS-PCH), the UE saves the timer value. When data becomes available for transmission, an additional measurement is made on the second cell, and reselection to the second cell may be performed immediately if the additional measurement and the saved timer value pass one or more reselection criteria.