User Equipment System Information Handling for Coverage Levels

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications networks, user equipment (UE) faces non-deterministic behavior due to conflicting system information blocks (SIBs) from legacy and enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) systems, leading to unpredictable access decisions.

Innovation Solution

The network broadcasts system information specific to different coverage levels, allowing UE to determine which system information to use based on radio quality measurements, and signals the number of SIB instances, ensuring deterministic behavior by prioritizing legacy or eMTC information accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the network broadcasts multiple system information blocks (SIBs) for legacy and eMTC systems, then system information coverage is improved, but UE behavior becomes non-deterministic due to conflicting SIBs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem information coverageVSAvoidUE behavior determinism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments system information into different coverage levels (first coverage level with first SIB set, second coverage level with second SIB set). UE determines its coverage level based on radio quality measurements and selectively receives SIBs appropriate for its level, avoiding conflicts between legacy and eMTC SIBs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The network pre-configures different SIB sets for different coverage levels before UE access. UE performs radio quality measurements and determines coverage level in advance, then acquires only the relevant SIB set for its determined level, preventing non-deterministic behavior from conflicting SIBs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If UE acquires multiple SIB instances to handle different coverage levels, then system information completeness is improved, but signaling overhead and acquisition time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem information completenessVSAvoidSIB acquisition time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Different SIB sets are tailored to specific coverage levels. Full SIB set is provided for first coverage level (better radio conditions), while a reduced SIB set is provided for second coverage level (worse radio conditions). UE receives only the SIB set appropriate for its coverage level, optimizing information completeness while reducing unnecessary acquisition time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3414946B1Methods and apparatuses for multiple system information handling

Publication Date: 2022.12.21 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

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AI summary

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for multiple system information handling are provided. One method includes receiving, by a UE, one or more instances of system information from the network. For example, the system information may be received in one or more SIBs from an eNB. In one example, the instances of system information may include at least one of legacy system information or eMTC system information. The method may further include determining which of the received instances of system information the UE should use.