User Equipment Initial Network Access via Load-Aware Base Station Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The initial network access procedure in wireless mobile networks faces delays and failures due to difficulties in identifying suitable base stations with available resources, INAM collisions, and post-latching service quality issues, primarily because existing methods do not consider network conditions like capacity and load when selecting base stations.

Innovation Solution

The method involves preparing a fast network access index (FNAI) list by synchronizing with multiple base stations, multicasting an initial network access message (INAM) based on this list, and receiving current load information in initial network access responses (INAR) to determine suitable base stations for faster and more reliable access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the UE sequentially attempts to latch onto a single base station based on comparative SPL, then the latching procedure is simple to implement, but latching delays and failures occur due to resource constraints and load conditions at the base station

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of latching procedureVSAvoidlatching delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station pre-calculates and provides suitability indicators (such as load information, resource availability, and service quality metrics) to the UE before the latching procedure. This allows the UE to make informed decisions about which base station to latch onto, avoiding delays caused by sequential attempts and rejections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station provides feedback information about its current state (load, resource availability, service quality) to the UE. The UE uses this feedback to select the most suitable base station for latching, thereby reducing latching delays and failures caused by resource constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the UE waits for periodic cell-broadcast information (NARI) before sending INAM, then the UE has complete information for network access, but latching delay increases due to waiting for the next broadcast interval

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of network access informationVSAvoidlatching delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station pre-provides necessary network access information (NARI) to the UE through suitability indicators included in synchronization signals or system information messages, rather than waiting for the periodic cell-broadcast interval. This allows the UE to proceed with the latching procedure immediately without waiting for the next NARI broadcast.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple UEs send INAM requests with the same sequence number to the same base station, then the base station can process the first request successfully, but subsequent requests are discarded due to INAM collision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase station processing efficiencyVSAvoidlatching success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Each base station provides localized suitability indicators tailored to its current state (load, resource availability, service quality). UEs use these localized indicators to select different base stations, thereby avoiding INAM collisions at the same base station and improving overall latching success rate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of operation

If the UE selects a base station without visibility on network resource availability and load conditions, then the selection process is simple, but post-latching service quality deteriorates due to resource constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of base station selectionVSAvoidservice quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base station provides feedback information about its current state (load, resource availability, service quality metrics) to the UE. The UE uses this feedback to select the most suitable base station that can provide good service quality, rather than simply selecting based on signal strength alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The base station pre-evaluates its suitability for serving new UEs and communicates this suitability information to the UE before latching occurs. This allows the UE to select a base station that is guaranteed to provide good service quality, avoiding post-latching service deterioration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10278116B2Method and user equipment for performing an initial network access procedure

Publication Date: 2019.04.30 WIPRO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method and system, for performing an initial network access procedure by a user equipment (UE) to access a network in a coverage area. The method includes performing, by the UE, initialization procedure of the UE. Synchronization, is performed by the UE with one or more base stations to prepare a fast network access index (FNAI) list. An initial network access message (INAM) is multicasted to at least one base station based on an INAM multicast list prepared in response to the FNAI list. At least one initial network access response (INAR) is received from the at least one base station in response to the INAM, each INAR comprising a current load information of a base station. The INAR is processed to determine at least one suitable base station. Synchronization with the suitable base station is performed to access the network in the coverage area.