Wireless UE Network Selection Using Weighted Availability Scores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless user equipment (UE) devices perform time-consuming full band scans across all supported radio access technologies and frequency bands when powering up or relocating, leading to inefficient resource utilization and potential selection of outdated network information, especially in dense environments with additional frequency bands and access technologies.
Innovation Solution
The UE device employs a method to accelerate network selection by maintaining a list of networks with associated network availability likelihood scores, prioritizing connections based on recent usage and signal strength, and performing a modified scan sequence that omits unavailable networks, allowing for quicker selection of the most likely available network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full band scan is performed across all supported radio access technologies and frequency bands, then the UE device ensures comprehensive network coverage detection, but the time required for network selection increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network selection process into two phases: first scanning a prioritized subset of frequency bands and radio access technologies based on historical data and current conditions, then performing a full band scan only if necessary. This segmentation allows the device to quickly identify available networks in most cases without sacrificing comprehensive coverage detection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-ranking frequency bands and radio access technologies based on historical connection data, signal strength measurements, and current radio conditions before the actual network selection occurs. This preliminary prioritization enables the device to scan the most promising networks first, significantly reducing selection time while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a full band scan is performed across all supported frequency bands, then the UE device detects all available networks, but power consumption increases during network selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the frequency spectrum into prioritized groups based on historical usage patterns and current signal conditions. The device scans only the high-priority groups first, consuming minimal power, and reserves the ability to scan additional bands only if necessary, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by scanning only the necessary subset of frequency bands required to find an available network rather than performing an exhaustive scan of all bands. The device performs partial scans based on prioritized lists, consuming less energy, and only expands to full scans when the partial scan fails to identify suitable networks.
3Reliability
If the UE device performs a full band scan in dense radio environments with multiple access technologies, then all network options are identified, but resource utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary filtering and ranking of radio access technologies and frequency bands based on historical performance data, current signal measurements, and network policies before initiating scans. This preliminary action enables the device to focus scanning resources on the most promising networks, improving resource utilization efficiency while still identifying all viable network options when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic scanning approach where the scan list and prioritization are continuously updated based on real-time radio conditions, historical data, and network availability. This dynamic adaptation allows the device to efficiently allocate scanning resources to the most relevant networks in dense environments, improving productivity while maintaining comprehensive network identification.
Data Source
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AI summary
A scheme for facilitating accelerated network selection by a wireless user equipment (UE) device (102). In one exemplary embodiment, prior to performing a full band scan, the wireless UE device (102) is operable to interrogate (254) a list of networks with which the wireless UE device (102) has registered at least once in a given period of time, wherein a network availability likelihood score may be associated with each of the list of networks. A particular network is selected (258) from the list of networks based on its network availability likelihood score.