Wireless UE Network Selection via Location-Based Scan Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless user equipment (UE) devices face inefficiencies and prolonged scanning times when powering up or relocating, leading to inefficient resource utilization and potential selection of outdated network options due to the need for full band scans across all supported radio access technologies and frequency bands.
Innovation Solution
The method involves manipulating the searching sequence order of a system acquisition database based on the UE device's power-off duration and location, using stored scanning data to prioritize network selection, thereby reducing the need for full band scans and enhancing network selection speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full band scan is performed across all supported frequency bands and radio access technologies, then network selection reliability is improved, but scanning time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores scanning results and network information in a database during previous scans or when the device was last registered. When the device powers up or relocates, it retrieves this pre-stored information to accelerate network selection, avoiding the need to perform complete full band scans and thus reducing scanning time while maintaining reliable network selection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manipulates the searching sequence order in the system acquisition database based on the UE device's previous location and power-off duration. By prioritizing frequency bands and networks that are more likely to be available in the current location, the system performs scans in an optimized local order rather than uniformly across all bands, reducing overall scanning time while ensuring reliable network selection
2Reliability
If a full band scan is performed across all supported frequency bands, then complete network coverage is ensured, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes pre-stored scanning results and network information from previous operations to accelerate network selection. By retrieving and using this cached data, the device avoids performing redundant full band scans, thereby conserving battery resources while still ensuring access to available networks
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete full band scans across all frequency bands, the patent performs partial scans by manipulating the searching sequence to prioritize likely available networks based on previous location and power-off duration. This partial scanning approach reduces energy consumption while maintaining sufficient network coverage
3Reliability
If a full band scan is performed, then all available networks are discovered, but the time elapsed allows radio environment changes that may render selections outdated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores scanning results and network information in a database during previous scans. When the device needs to select a network, it retrieves this pre-stored information which reflects the radio environment at the time of the last scan, enabling faster network selection that is less susceptible to environmental changes while still maintaining discovery of available networks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manipulates the searching sequence to prioritize frequency bands and networks based on the UE device's previous location and power-off duration. This localized search strategy focuses on areas most likely to contain available networks, reducing the time the device spends scanning and thus reducing the window for radio environment changes to occur
Data Source
AI summary
A method for facilitating accelerated network selection on a wireless user equipment (UE) device includes storing information regarding power-off time and power-off location as the UE device is about to enter a power-off condition. Upon power-up, the method further includes computing an estimated distance that the UE device has traveled while in the power-off condition using the stored information and a current time, defining a boundary that lies the estimated distance from a location indicated by the power-off location, for a plurality of regions lying within the boundary, logically sequencing acquisition records that are associated with the regions in a system acquisition database structure based on the regions nearness to the boundary, and locating a network via scanning using scanning data obtained from the logically sequenced acquisition records.