User Equipment Network Search During DRX Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for efficient techniques to search for wireless communication networks without disrupting ongoing communications, especially in scenarios where a user equipment (UE) transitions between different states in a wireless network, such as UMTS or GSM, to ensure minimal user experience impact and optimal network selection.
Innovation Solution
The UE performs network searches as background tasks during discontinuous reception (DRX) time or after transitioning from an active state to an idle state, handling search requests by suspending, canceling, or continuing them based on the current and target states to maintain service continuity and user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the UE performs network search as a foreground task, then the search speed and priority are improved, but the ongoing communication is interrupted and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements network search during DRX (Discontinuous Reception) periods, which are periodic intervals when the UE is already performing background operations. By scheduling search tasks to execute during these predetermined periodic windows, the system achieves search functionality without requiring continuous foreground intervention, thus maintaining communication continuity while periodically updating network information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs network search operations in advance during idle periods or DRX cycles before communication is needed. The UE proactively searches for available networks and stores this information, so when communication is required, the network selection can proceed immediately without interrupting ongoing sessions. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by anticipating the need rather than reacting to it.
2Loss of time
If the UE performs network search during active state, then the search is completed quickly, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent schedules network search operations to occur during periodic DRX cycles when the UE is already awake and performing background tasks. This approach consolidates multiple functions (network monitoring, signal measurement, and network search) into a single periodic activation window, reducing the need for separate full-power search operations and thereby lowering overall power consumption while maintaining timely search completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the network search function with existing DRX operations and other background tasks that already occur during idle periods. By merging the search function into these existing periodic operations rather than creating a separate dedicated search mode, the system achieves search functionality without the additional power overhead of a dedicated search mechanism, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining efficiency.
3Reliability
If the UE retains search requests across state transitions, then the search reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE monitors its own state transitions and automatically adjusts search request handling accordingly. When transitioning between connected and idle states, the system receives feedback about the current state and determines whether to retain, cancel, or resume search requests. This automated feedback loop ensures search reliability across state changes without requiring complex manual state management, as the system self-regulates based on real-time state information.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for searching for wireless networks are described. In one scheme, a user equipment (UE) performs a manual search for detectable wireless networks while operating in a connected mode. The UE operates in the connected mode for communication with a wireless network and receives a request to search for detectable wireless networks. The UE performs a search for detectable wireless networks while operating in the connected mode, e.g., as background task during DRX time. In another scheme, the UE retains a search request received in an active state and performs a search at a later time after transitioning to an idle state. In yet another scheme, the UE efficiently handles a search across state transitions. The UE may cancel, suspend, resume, or continue the search after each transition from one state to another state based on the type of each state.