Wireless Device Access via Intermediary Network Reconfiguration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices often face challenges in accessing wireless networks due to coverage limitations, particularly in high-frequency bands where massive beam forming is required, leading to weak signal reception and inability to connect, even if the device can measure network information.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a wireless device uses a second wireless network with a different radio access technology (RAT) to request reconfiguration of access procedures in the first wireless network, such as changing settings for carriers, antennas, or precoding, to improve coverage and enable access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If massive beam forming is used in high-frequency bands to provide coverage, then network coverage is improved, but random access coverage is limited due to weak signal reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second wireless network (GERAN) as an intermediary to assist the wireless device in accessing the first wireless network (E-UTRAN). The device sends access requests through the second network, which forwards them to the first network, enabling indirect access when direct access fails due to coverage limitations in high-frequency bands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the access procedure into two parts: initial access and connection establishment. The device can complete initial access through the second network (GERAN) which has better coverage, while the connection to the first network (E-UTRAN) is established through coordinated procedures, separating the functions to overcome the coverage-reliability tradeoff.
2Speed
If a wireless device attempts to access a first wireless network directly, then access speed is improved, but access fails when the device is power/coverage limited
Solution Approach 1:
The second wireless network acts as a mediator that enables the device to initiate access procedures when direct access to the first network is not feasible. The device connects to the second network first, which then facilitates the access request to the first network, ensuring both speed and reliability by providing an alternative access path.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary actions by establishing connectivity with the second network before attempting access to the first network. This preliminary connection provides a reliable communication channel through which access requests and configuration information can be exchanged, ensuring access success even when direct access conditions are not met.
3Adaptability or versatility
If inter-RAT handover procedures are implemented, then network adaptability is improved, but handover performance deteriorates when coverage limitations exist
Solution Approach 1:
The second network serves as an intermediary that maintains connectivity during inter-RAT handover when direct handover between E-UTRAN cells fails due to coverage limitations. The device can handover to the second network as an intermediate step, preserving service continuity and improving handover success rates while maintaining adaptability across different radio access technologies.
Data Source
AI summary
The proposed technology relates to accessing wireless networks and in particular it relates to utilizing a second wireless network for enabling a wireless device, being unable to access a first wireless network, to access a first wireless network. One aspect of the proposed technology relates to a method performed in a wireless device being unable to access a first wireless network. The method comprises accessing a second wireless network and sending information indicating an inability to access the first wireless network to the second wireless network, for further distribution to the first wireless network. Thereby, the proposed method enables the first wireless network to reconfigure at least one access procedure parameter in the first wireless network in order to improve the conditions for the wireless device when accessing the first wireless network. The method further comprises accessing the first wireless network utilizing at least one reconfigured access procedure.