UE-Initiated Adaptive Measurement Gaps for Throughput and Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Measurement gaps in wireless networks interfere with data throughput, negatively impacting network efficiency and UE battery life, as UEs are required to continuously measure neighboring cells even when stationary.
Innovation Solution
User equipment (UE) initiates intelligent adaptive measurement gaps by skipping measurement gaps when stationary, using a threshold length of time and uplink timing advance to determine stationarity, allowing UE to prioritize data transmission/reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE continuously performs measurements on neighboring cells during measurement gaps, then the UE ensures it is connected to the best serving cell, but the data throughput is reduced because the UE cannot transmit to or receive from the serving cell during measurement gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the measurement gap configuration adaptive rather than static. The UE monitors its mobility state (stationary vs. mobile) and dynamically adjusts the measurement gap repetition period (MGRP) accordingly. When stationary, the UE uses a longer MGRP (e.g., 160ms) to reduce measurement frequency and increase data throughput. When mobile, the UE switches to a shorter MGRP (e.g., 20ms) to ensure reliable handover measurements, thus resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and data throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the MGRP parameter based on the UE's mobility state. The network configures multiple MGRP values (e.g., 20ms, 40ms, 80ms, 160ms), and the UE selects the appropriate parameter value according to whether it is stationary or mobile. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize between measurement reliability and data throughput by adjusting the measurement frequency to match actual mobility conditions.
2Reliability
If the UE performs frequent measurements to ensure reliable handover, then the connection reliability is improved, but the UE battery life is reduced due to increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the measurement frequency dynamic based on the UE's mobility state. When the UE is stationary, it transitions to a state with lower measurement frequency (longer MGRP), thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining sufficient handover reliability. When the UE becomes mobile, it switches to higher measurement frequency (shorter MGRP) to ensure reliable handover detection. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between handover reliability and battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE autonomously determines its own mobility state by monitoring its position or movement status and self-adjusts the measurement gap configuration accordingly. The UE reports its mobility state to the network and selects appropriate MGRP values without requiring continuous network control, enabling energy-efficient self-management of measurement activities while maintaining connection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Solutions are disclosed that provide for user equipment (UE) initiated intelligent adaptive measurement gaps. A stationary (non-moving) UE has a reduced likelihood of requiring a handover (HO) to a neighboring cell and thus, unless the serving cell has degraded or interference has increased, a reduced urgency of measuring signal reception from neighboring cells. A UE receives a radio resource control (RRC) message specifying a measurement gap repetition period (MGRP) from a wireless network, and upon determining that it has been stationary (within some range) for a threshold length of time, skips a measurement gap specified by the MGRP. In some examples, the UE uses changes (or lack thereof) in the uplink timing advance to ascertain whether it has moved or been stationary. In some examples, the MGRP is indicated as having one of four values: 20 milliseconds (ms), 40 ms, 80 ms, and 160 ms.