User Equipment Core Network Selection in Multi-Standard Cellular Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment in 5G networks faces challenges in unambiguously selecting the appropriate core network for connection, especially when accessing both 4G and 5G networks, due to the lack of detailed network architecture for NB-IoT in 5G and the need for specific service or slice availability.
Innovation Solution
A method for user equipment to camp on a base station with access to multiple core networks, receiving resource information, selecting the appropriate core network based on capabilities and availability, and sending a connection request using indicated radio resources, allowing for direct connection termination in the chosen core network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If user equipment camps on a base station with access to multiple core networks, then access to both 4G and 5G networks is enabled, but ambiguity arises in selecting the appropriate core network
Solution Approach 1:
The base station acts as an intermediary by providing indication information that clearly identifies which radio resources belong to which core network. This mediator resolves the ambiguity between multiple available networks by translating the complex multi-network environment into clear, distinguishable resource allocations for the user equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses distinct indication information (analogous to different colors or markers) to differentiate between radio resources of different core networks. This visual/metaphorical differentiation allows user equipment to easily identify and select the appropriate core network resources without confusion.
2Reliability
If user equipment sends connection request without clear core network selection, then connection establishment may fail, but additional selection procedures increase signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary action by providing indication information about core network resources before the user equipment attempts connection. This advance information delivery allows user equipment to make informed selection decisions without requiring additional back-and-forth signaling, thus improving connection reliability while minimizing time loss.
3Ease of operation
If base station provides detailed resource information for multiple core networks, then user equipment can make informed selection, but transmission overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station provides partial information - specifically, indication information that identifies which radio resources belong to which core network, rather than providing complete detailed information about all resources. This partial action approach gives user equipment sufficient information for selection while keeping transmission overhead manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for operating a user equipment with a base station assigned to at least two core networks in co-existence mode of a cellular network, the user equipment operating in a data communication mode with direct connection termination in the at least one core network, the method comprising the steps for the user equipment of:—camping on a base station with access to at least two core networks of different technology standards, —receiving a transmission from said base station indicating available radio resources of the first and of the second core network, —selecting the core network which is appropriate for said envisaged connection, —sending a connection request for envisaged connection to the base station using parts of said indicated radio resources belonging to the selected core network, —receiving a response indication from the base station.