User Equipment Frequency Scan Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment in cellular networks face prolonged frequency scan durations and increased power consumption due to the need to cover a wide range of frequency bands, especially in legacy and 5G networks, which is exacerbated by the requirement for frequent scans during mobility and power-up operations.
Innovation Solution
A method for user equipment to maintain a list of assigned frequency bands, determine network identification criteria, and conduct a filtered frequency band scan using candidate bands, reducing the number of bands to be scanned by considering supported technologies, location, and radio access networks, thereby minimizing scan time and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complete frequency scan is conducted to cover all frequency bands in legacy and 5G networks, then the user equipment can find available base stations, but the scan duration increases to minutes and power consumption increases massively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the user equipment with a list of candidate frequency bands and network identification criteria before the actual frequency scan occurs. This pre-prepared information allows the scan to focus only on relevant frequency bands, significantly reducing scan duration while maintaining reliable base station detection capability.
2Reliability
If a complete frequency scan is conducted to ensure accurate network selection, then the user equipment can make informed camping decisions, but the power consumption increases massively for battery powered devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary frequency bands from the complete frequency spectrum by using pre-configured candidate frequency band lists and network identification criteria. This extraction approach allows the user equipment to scan only relevant frequency bands, maintaining accurate network camping decisions while dramatically reducing power consumption for battery-powered devices.
3Reliability
If frequent frequency scans are performed for mobility management and tracking, then the user equipment can track location changes, but the cumulative time and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring candidate frequency bands and network identification criteria before each mobility management scan. This allows the user equipment to perform frequent scans for location tracking without the cumulative time and power consumption increase, as each scan uses the pre-prepared filtered list rather than scanning all frequency bands.
4Reliability
If bandwidth-limited user equipments scan all frequency bands, then they can ensure complete network coverage, but the scan time becomes unacceptable for applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary frequency bands from the complete spectrum by using pre-configured candidate frequency band lists specific to bandwidth-limited devices. This extraction maintains complete network coverage reliability for the device's capable frequency bands while dramatically increasing scan speed, making the scan time acceptable for practical applications.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for conducting a frequency scan by a user equipment configured to operate in one of a plurality of cellular networks, each comprising a plurality of base stations, said plurality of base stations employing a plurality of frequency bands, the method comprising the steps for the user equipment of: - maintaining a list of frequency bands assigned to at least one cellular network, - determining at least one network identification criterion relating to a cellular network, - determining a list of candidate frequency bands from the list of frequency bands considering said at least one network identification criterion, - conducting a frequency band scan on said list of candidate frequency bands.