UE Measurement Control for Network Self-Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network configuration and optimization in cellular telecommunications systems are time-consuming and complex, particularly in determining appropriate neighbor cells for neighbor lists, which can negatively impact user equipment (UE) resources and user experience due to excessive measurement requirements.

Innovation Solution

A control method for user equipment (UE) measurements that limits and optimizes measurement requests based on network configuration needs, battery status, and data transfer rates, allowing for selective and efficient data collection to support network self-configuration and optimization while minimizing UE resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If continuous blind neighbor cell searches are performed to support network self-configuration and optimization, then network configuration accuracy is improved, but UE battery power consumption increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork configuration accuracyVSAvoidUE battery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by performing blind neighbor cell searches only at specific intervals and under specific conditions (e.g., when network configuration changes are detected) rather than continuously. This allows the system to gather necessary measurement data for network self-configuration while significantly reducing the frequency of UE measurements and associated power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the network proactively identify and configure potential neighbor cells using available information before UE measurements are needed. This preliminary configuration reduces the scope and intensity of subsequent blind searches required from UEs, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining configuration accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If extensive blind neighbor cell searches are conducted to ensure complete cell area coverage, then network optimization reliability is improved, but UE measurement resources are depleted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork optimization reliabilityVSAvoidUE measurement resource usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the neighbor cell search task by dividing the cell area into multiple regions and assigning different UEs to measure specific segments. This segmentation allows comprehensive coverage to be achieved through coordinated measurements from multiple UEs rather than requiring each UE to perform exhaustive searches, thereby reducing individual UE measurement resource depletion while maintaining overall network optimization reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by designing a measurement framework where UEs perform measurements that serve multiple purposes: both for normal handover/cell reselection operations and for network self-configuration and optimization. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated measurement campaigns, thereby conserving UE measurement resources while achieving comprehensive network optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If all theoretically possible neighbors are added to neighbor lists to ensure complete coverage, then network configuration completeness is improved, but handover performance degrades due to excessive measurements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneighbor list completenessVSAvoidhandover performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making neighbor list content adaptive to local conditions rather than uniformly including all theoretically possible neighbors everywhere. The neighbor list is dynamically configured based on local measurement data, geographic location, and network conditions, ensuring that each UE receives a tailored neighbor list that is complete enough for its specific location without containing unnecessary entries that would degrade handover performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2077051B1Control method for network configuration measurements
Publication Date: 2020.07.22 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP2077051B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2077051B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2077051B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The negative impacts on a user equipment (UE) caused by the UE' s support in network self-configuration and optimization is limited to an acceptable level by controlling user equipment measurements in a network to configure neighbor lists; requesting one or more measurements; the user equipment performing measurements in one or more adjacent cells in response to one or more measurement requests; reporting the measurements; and identifying cells in the network to be included in the neighbor list such that the user equipment measurements support network self- configuration and optimization