UE Discovery of Small Coverage Base Stations via Macro Band Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment devices face challenges in efficiently discovering small coverage area base stations, such as femto cell base stations and WiFi access points, due to the need to activate multiple modems and search across different frequency bands, leading to increased power consumption and reduced battery life, as well as loss of throughput during the discovery process.
Innovation Solution
User equipment devices and small coverage area base stations utilize the same communications protocol and frequency band as the macro cell for discovery information, allowing them to communicate device capability and control information, and then reconfigure for user data communication using different protocols and bands, optimizing power usage and discovery time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the UE device activates multiple modems and searches across different frequency bands to discover small coverage area base stations, then the discovery capability is improved, but the power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the discovery functions of multiple modems into a single modem operation. The UE device uses one modem to search for small coverage area base stations on the primary frequency band where macro cells operate, rather than activating multiple modems for different frequency bands. This merging approach maintains discovery capability while significantly reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the primary band modem multi-functional by enabling it to discover both macro cell base stations and small coverage area base stations. The modem is configured to monitor the primary frequency band for discovery signals from different types of base stations, allowing a single modem to perform multiple discovery functions that traditionally required multiple specialized modems.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the UE device searches for small coverage area base stations on different frequency bands, then the discovery completeness is improved, but the throughput is reduced due to communication interruption with macro base station
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the discovery process for small coverage area base stations with the existing macro cell communication on the primary band. The UE device continues to communicate with the macro base station on the primary frequency band while simultaneously detecting discovery signals from small coverage area base stations using the same modem, eliminating the need to interrupt communication for discovery searches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs discovery signal detection as a preliminary action during normal macro cell communication. The UE device monitors for discovery signals on the primary band while maintaining active communication with the macro base station, allowing discovery to occur in advance or concurrently without interrupting the primary communication channel and thus maintaining throughput.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the UE device activates multiple modems for different technologies, then the technology compatibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the primary band modem universal by configuring it to detect discovery signals from multiple types of base stations including macro cells, femto cells, and other small coverage area base stations. The modem is enhanced to handle different base station types and technologies through software configuration rather than requiring separate hardware modems for each technology, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining compatibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communications system includes a plurality of different types of small coverage area base stations, e.g., femto cell base stations, WiFi access points and Bluetooth access points within a macro cell. Different user equipment (UE) devices, e.g., different smartphones, include different capabilities. In order for UE devices and small coverage area base stations with compatible capabilities to efficiently discover one another, the various small coverage area base stations and various UE devices utilize the macro cell communications band and macro cell communication protocol to coordinate device discovery and exchange discovery information and control information which allows a UE device to access a compatible small coverage area base station and subsequently communicate user data, e.g., traffic data, with the UE device.