Wireless Band Reconfiguration for Efficient IoT Cell Scanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for configuring radio frequency bands in constrained wireless devices are limited, leading to inefficient cell selection and resource usage, particularly in IoT scenarios where devices often connect to suboptimal cells due to lack of application layer parameter configuration.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a wireless device and network node exchange indications using an internet protocol to reconfigure radio frequency bands, allowing the network node to determine and instruct the device to use an optimal band for cell discovery and selection, optimizing scanning and resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If constrained wireless devices use default radio frequency band configuration, then device complexity is reduced, but cell selection efficiency and communication performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell selection efficiencyVSAvoidradio frequency configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless device autonomously determines and configures the radio frequency band for cell discovery and selection based on its own capabilities and network conditions, without requiring complex manual configuration or network-side mandatory assignment. The device serves itself by selecting appropriate bands from its configured list, balancing simplicity with efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic adjustment of radio frequency band parameters based on device capabilities and network conditions. The network node can provide instructions to modify the list of available frequency bands, enabling optimized cell selection while maintaining configuration simplicity through automated parameter adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If wireless devices scan for cells using all configured radio frequency bands, then cell discovery completeness is improved, but time-frequency resource utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell discovery speedVSAvoidenergy consumption during scanning
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of scanning all configured radio frequency bands, the device performs partial scanning by selecting and using only the necessary bands for cell discovery and selection. This partial action approach reduces energy consumption while maintaining sufficient cell discovery effectiveness, avoiding the excessive action of examining all possible bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the network node provides detailed radio frequency band configuration instructions, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity and configuration overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network node extracts and provides only the essential radio frequency band configuration information needed for effective cell selection, rather than transmitting complete and complex configuration datasets. This selective information provision maintains communication efficiency while minimizing configuration overhead and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4079043B1Wireless device, network node, and methods performed thereby for handling radio frequency bands
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4079043B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4079043B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4079043B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method performed by a wireless device (130) for handling radio frequency bands. The wireless device (130) operates in a communications network (10). The wireless device (130) sends (203) an indication to a network node (110) operating in the 5communications network (10). The indication indicates a first radio frequency band the wireless device (130) is configured with to scan for discovery and selection of a cell operating in the communications network (10). The wireless device (130) then receives(204) another indication from the network node (110). The another indication comprises afirst instruction to configure the wireless device (130) to use a second radio frequency 10band to scan for cell discovery and selection. The sending (203) and the receiving (204) are performed using an internet protocol.