UE Idle-State Registration for Reduced and Emergency Service Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile communication systems face challenges in providing seamless connectivity due to varying service quality and coverage holes, especially in regions with changing satellite coverage, where legacy UEs may struggle to acquire standalone MBSFN cells, and there is a need for improved methods to manage user equipment in idle states to ensure emergency service availability.

Innovation Solution

A method for managing the idle state of user equipment (UE) involves conducting cell selection measurements to register at cells with different service levels, including reduced service sets and emergency service sets, using a notification channel for extended coverage, and introducing a new state in the idle mode state machine to prioritize notification service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If legacy UEs attempt to acquire standalone MBSFN cells, then service coverage is improved, but acquisition failure occurs due to incompatibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverage areaVSAvoidcell acquisition success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The service set is segmented into different types (reduced service set and emergency service set) with different registration requirements. The reduced service set allows legacy UEs to register and receive basic services without full MBSFN cell acquisition, while the emergency service set provides fallback coverage. This segmentation enables legacy UEs to access services in regions where standalone MBSFN cells are present but not fully compatible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If UEs are registered for emergency service set only, then emergency service availability is improved, but regular service access is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency service availabilityVSAvoidservice flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The UE registration state is made dynamic with multiple possible states (registered for reduced service set, registered for emergency service set, or both). The UE can transition between these states based on service availability and requirements. This dynamic registration approach allows the system to adapt to changing network conditions while ensuring both regular and emergency service access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If notification channel uses robust signal processing, then coverage is extended, but signal processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification channel coverage areaVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification channel uses enhanced signal processing (more robust coding and modulation) specifically in regions with reduced service quality, while regular channels maintain standard processing in normal coverage areas. This localized enhancement extends coverage to edge regions without unnecessarily increasing complexity in well-covered areas, as the robust processing is applied only where needed for extended coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4615060B1Methods, computer programs, and apparatuses for managing an idle state of user equipment in a mobile communication system, user equipment, base station and mobile communication system
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP4615060B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4615060B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4615060B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Examples relate to methods, computer programs, and apparatuses for managing an idle state of a user equipment in a mobile communication system, user equipment, base station and mobile communication system. The method (10) for managing the idle state of a user equipment (300), UE, in an environment covered by a plurality of mobile communication systems (500) comprises conducting (11) a cell selection measurement to obtain one or more cell specific quality measurement results. If there is a cell specific quality measurement above a first threshold and from a first cell the UE is allowed to register at, the method (10) comprises registering (12) the UE (300) at said first cell. Else if there is a cell specific quality measurement above a second threshold, which is lower than the first threshold, and from a second cell the UE (300) is allowed to register at, the method (10) comprises registering (13) the UE (300) at said second cell with a reduced service set. Else if there is a cell specific quality measurement above a third threshold and from a third cell the UE (300) is not allowed to register normally at, the method (10) comprises registering (14) the UE (300) at said third cell with an emergency service set. Else the method (10) comprises repeating (14) the conducting of cell selection measurements to obtain one or more cell specific quality measurement results.