WLAN-LTE Aggregation Measurement Reporting Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communications networks face challenges in determining when and how to send measurement reports across different radio access technologies, leading to inconsistent measurement reporting and increased signaling overhead, which degrades network performance.

Innovation Solution

A method where a wireless communications device determines which radio access network nodes to include in measurement reports based on an indication from a network node, such as an eNB, using a mobility set to differentiate between serving and neighboring WLANs, thereby standardizing measurement reporting conditions across devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If wireless communications devices send measurement reports for all detected radio access network nodes, then measurement completeness is improved, but signaling overhead increases and network performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement completenessVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating between serving WLANs and neighboring WLANs, applying different measurement reporting rules to different types of networks. Devices only report measurements for neighboring WLANs that are not in the mobility set, while serving WLANs in the mobility set are excluded from reporting. This selective approach reduces unnecessary signaling overhead while maintaining essential measurement completeness for handover decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If wireless communications devices use different criteria to determine serving and neighboring WLANs, then device autonomy is improved, but measurement reporting consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice autonomyVSAvoidmeasurement reporting consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the network node (eNB) pre-configure the mobility set of WLANs for each device before measurement reporting. This pre-configuration establishes clear, consistent criteria for what constitutes a serving WLAN versus a neighboring WLAN, eliminating ambiguity and ensuring all devices in the same network context use identical reporting rules. The device autonomously executes measurements based on these pre-defined criteria, maintaining both device autonomy and reporting consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If wireless communications networks integrate multiple radio access technologies, then network capacity is improved, but measurement reporting complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidmeasurement reporting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the set of detected WLANs into distinct categories: serving WLANs (those in the mobility set) and neighboring WLANs (those not in the mobility set). This segmentation simplifies the measurement reporting process by applying different rules to each segment - serving WLANs are monitored but not reported, while neighboring WLANs are both monitored and reported. This clear division reduces the complexity of determining what to report in multi-RAT environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3335466B1A wireless communications device, a network node and methods therein for measurement reporting in WLAN-LTE aggregation
Publication Date: 2020.01.29 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3335466B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3335466B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3335466B1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

A method performed by a wireless communications device for measurement reporting associated with a first wireless communications network to a network node operating in a second wireless communications network. The first and second wireless communications networks operate according to different RATs. The wireless communications device receives an indication of one or more radio access network nodes operating in the first wireless communications network, among which one or more radio access network nodes a mobility of the wireless communications device is restricted. The wireless communications device further determines which radio access network nodes operating in the first wireless communications network are to be used for measurement reporting to the network node, based on the indication of the one or more radio access network nodes among which the mobility of the wireless communications device is restricted in the first wireless communications network.