5G UE Tracking Area Management for Satellite Paging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G NR systems, earth-moving cells in non-terrestrial networks pose challenges for efficient paging due to their continuous motion, leading to frequent registration updates and increased power consumption, as traditional tracking areas do not adapt well to the dynamic satellite beam coverage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system where user equipment (UE) and base stations determine and manage registration areas based on lists of earth-moving cells, their coverage areas, and ephemeris data, allowing for dynamic adjustment of tracking areas and reduced need for frequent updates by using a mapping between geographical areas and tracking areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tracking areas are used in NTN systems with earth-moving cells, then the system can maintain basic paging functionality, but UEs experience frequent registration updates and increased power consumption due to continuous cell motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the tracking area definition adaptive to satellite motion. Instead of static geographical boundaries, the tracking area is dynamically defined based on satellite ephemeris data and beam coverage areas. The AMF determines which earth-moving cells form the tracking area at specific time instants, allowing the tracking area to automatically adjust as satellites move, thereby reducing frequent registration updates and power consumption while maintaining reliable paging functionality.
2Reliability
If traditional tracking areas are used in NTN systems with earth-moving cells, then the system can maintain basic paging functionality, but the system generates increased signaling overhead due to frequent registration updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the tracking area definition adaptive to satellite motion. Instead of static geographical boundaries, the tracking area is dynamically defined based on satellite ephemeris data and beam coverage areas. The AMF determines which earth-moving cells form the tracking area at specific time instants, allowing the tracking area to automatically adjust as satellites move, thereby reducing frequent registration updates and power consumption while maintaining reliable paging functionality.
3Area of stationary object
If earth-moving cells continuously change position, then the system can provide coverage over large geographical areas, but the registration area becomes unstable requiring frequent updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using satellite ephemeris data and beam coverage information as mediators between the moving satellites and the stationary UE. The AMF uses these intermediaries to dynamically determine which earth-moving cells form the tracking area at any given time. This allows the system to maintain stable tracking areas over large geographical areas by continuously adjusting the composition based on satellite positions, rather than requiring frequent full registration updates.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the system uses lists of earth-moving cell IDs with time instants to define tracking areas, then the system can adapt to satellite motion, but the device complexity increases for managing and processing this dynamic information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the UE to autonomously determine whether it is located in the tracking area using the provided list of earth-moving cell IDs, time instants, and satellite ephemeris data. The UE's circuitry processes this information locally to self-determine tracking area membership without requiring continuous network assistance or complex centralized management, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to satellite motion.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a user equipment (UE), a base station, and an AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) system, as well as corresponding methods and integrated circuits. The UE determines, based on a signal strength measurement or a position in combination with either of a list of cell IDs of earth moving cells and a timing or a stored mapping between geographical areas and tracking areas whether the UE is located in a registration area that has been indicated to the UE by the AMF and in which the UE is paged by the base station.