WO2023075655A1 - Systèmes et procédés de coopération entre des wcd pour une efficacité de transmission accrue - Google Patents

Systèmes et procédés de coopération entre des wcd pour une efficacité de transmission accrue Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023075655A1
WO2023075655A1 PCT/SE2021/051083 SE2021051083W WO2023075655A1 WO 2023075655 A1 WO2023075655 A1 WO 2023075655A1 SE 2021051083 W SE2021051083 W SE 2021051083W WO 2023075655 A1 WO2023075655 A1 WO 2023075655A1
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Prior art keywords
wcds
wcd
group
coordinating
network
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PCT/SE2021/051083
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English (en)
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Majid GERAMI
Stefan WÄNSTEDT
Jan Christoffersson
Mårten ERICSON
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Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
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Priority to PCT/SE2021/051083 priority Critical patent/WO2023075655A1/fr
Publication of WO2023075655A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023075655A1/fr

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/20—Selecting an access point
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W92/00—Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks
    • H04W92/16—Interfaces between hierarchically similar devices
    • H04W92/18—Interfaces between hierarchically similar devices between terminal devices
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
    • Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
    • Y02D30/70—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks

Definitions

  • the present disclosure is related to cooperation between Wireless Communication Devices (WCDs) for increased transmission efficiency.
  • WCDs Wireless Communication Devices
  • each Wireless Communication Device in the network measures signal level and quality of both a serving cell of the WCD and one or more neighboring cells.
  • the process of measuring the signal of a neighboring cell can be divided for IDLE/INACTIVE mode and CONNECTED mode.
  • IDLE/INACTIVE mode the WCD performs measurements for cell (re-)selection.
  • CONNECTED mode the WCD performs measurements for handover (HO).
  • each WCD performs signal strength measurement of the serving cell and the neighboring cells in the cell (re-election process in IDLE/INACTIVE modes.
  • the WCD scans all RF channels in the NR bands according to its capabilities to find a suitable cell.
  • the WCD needs only search for the strongest cell.
  • the suitable cell is selected.
  • This procedure requires stored information of frequencies and optionally also information on cell parameters from previously received measurement control information elements or from previously detected cells.
  • the WCD selects the suitable cell. 3. If no suitable cell is found, the initial cell selection procedure in (A) is started.
  • the WCD In IDLE mode mobility, the WCD is not engaged in an active data connection but still needs to be reachable via signaling (e.g., paging, etc.) through an appropriate cell.
  • Paging for example, is a way to broadcast a brief message over the entire service area - usually in a multicast fashion utilizing a number of Base Stations (BSs) at the same time.
  • BSs Base Stations
  • IDLE mode WCDs will "wake-up" periodically to synchronize and check for a paging message from the network.
  • the WCD Upon reception of a paging message, the WCD establishes a connection with the BS controlling the cell on which the WCD is camped.
  • the WCD Upon successful connection, involving a random-access procedure, the WCD transitions to a CONNECTED mode.
  • cell selection/reselection happens only when the WCD is in IDLE or INACTIVE modes and needs to change to a more appropriate cell in order to avoid compromising the successful reception of future paging messages.
  • Cell reselection is therefore a method that can be utilized to change the current selected cell to camp on to a more optimal cell.
  • the WCD When performing cell (re-)selection, the WCD seeks to identify a suitable cell based on IDLE mode measurements and other cell selection criteria. Suitable cells are those cells whose measured attribute meets the Signal Strength (SS)/quality selection criteria (referred to as "s-criteria") for the cell selection procedure. If a suitable cell is not available, the WCD will identify an acceptable cell. In this last case, the WCD will camp on an acceptable cell and will start the cell reselection procedure. In addition, a WCD in IDLE_MODE will strive for reducing battery power consumption. This reduction in power consumption can be achieved by a technique called Discontinuous Reception (DRX), whereby the WCD disconnects its receiver and enters a low power state.
  • DRX Discontinuous Reception
  • the WCD will periodically "wake-up" to receive paging indications, with typical wake-up periods (so-called DRX cycles) of e.g., 0.32s, 0.64s, 1.28s, and 2.56s in Long-Term Evolution (LTE), etc.
  • DRX cycles typical wake-up periods
  • LTE Long-Term Evolution
  • the WCD can make the cell reselection decision on its own and it is not required to report the measurements or events to the network.
  • the WCD regularly searches for a better cell according to the cell reselection criteria. If a better cell is found, that cell is selected.
  • the WCD measures Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) levels to evaluate the cell selection criteria (e.g., s-criteria).
  • RSRP Reference Signal Received Power
  • RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality
  • the WCD filters the RSRP and RSRQ measurements of the serving cell using at least two measurements. Failure to fulfill the s-criteria means that the WCD needs to identify a new serving cell. If the s-criteria is not satisfied for a specific number of consecutive DRX cycles, the WCD initiates measurements of all neighboring cells regardless of the measurement/priority criteria provided to the WCD by the network.
  • a centralized entity e.g., the Mobility Management Entity (MME) for LTE, the Access and Mobility Function (AMF) for 5G/NR, etc.
  • MME Mobility Management Entity
  • AMF Access and Mobility Function
  • TA tracking area
  • a WCD in NR should have some capability to measure a serving cell and neighboring cells.
  • text from section 4.2.2.1 of the 3GPP TS 38.133, v. 17.0.0, Requirements for Support of Radio Resource Management, Rel. 17 (12-2021) is reproduced below:
  • the UE shall be capable of monitoring at least:
  • a WCD supporting E-UTRA measurements in RRC_IDLE state shall be capable of monitoring a total of at least 14 carrier frequency layers, which includes serving layer, comprising of any above defined combination of E-UTRA FDD, E-UTRA TDD and NR layers.
  • 3GPP TS 38.133 v. 17.0.0, Section 4.2.2.2 describes procedures for measurement and evaluation of the serving cell.
  • a relevant excerpt from 3GPP TS 38.133 v. 17.0.0, Section 4.2.2.2 is provided below.
  • the WCD shall measure the Synchronization Signal (SS)-RSRP and SS-RSRQ level of the serving cell and evaluate the cell selection criterion S defined in 3GPP TS 38.304: "NR; User Equipment (UE) procedures in idle mode” for the serving cell at least once every M1*N1 DRX cycle; where:
  • the UE shall filter the SS-RSRP and SS-RSRQ measurements of the serving cell using at least 2 measurements. Within the set of measurements used for the filtering, at least two measurements shall be spaced by, at least DRX cycle/2.
  • the UE shall initiate the measurements of all neighbour cells indicated by the serving cell, regardless of the measurement rules currently limiting UE measurement activities.
  • the UE shall initiate cell selection procedures for the selected PLMN as defined in 3GPP TS 38.304: "NR; User Equipment (UE) procedures in idle mode”:
  • the network could transmit the page to the device over the entire coverage of the network, by broadcasting the paging message from every cell.
  • the paging message is only to be transmitted in the cell in which the device is located, there is a need to track the device on a cell level. This would imply that the device would have to inform the network every time it moves out of the coverage of one cell and into the coverage of another cell. This would also lead to very high overhead, in this case in terms of the signaling needed to inform the network about the updated device location. For this reason, a compromise between these two extremes is typically used, where devices are only tracked on a cell group level:
  • the network only receives new information about the device location if the device moves into a cell outside of the current cell group;
  • the paging message is broadcast over all cells within the cell group.
  • NR cells are grouped into RAN Areas, where each RAN Area is identified by an RAN Area Identifier (RAI).
  • RAI RAN Area Identifier
  • the RAN Areas are grouped into even larger Tracking Areas, with each Tracking Area being identified by a Tracking Area Identifier (TAI).
  • TAI Tracking Area Identifier
  • each cell belongs to one RAN Area and one Tracking Area, the identities of which are provided as part of the cell system information.
  • the Tracking Areas are the basis for device tracking on core network level.
  • Each device is assigned a UE Registration Area by the core network, consisting of a list of tracking area identifiers.
  • a device enters a cell that belongs to a Tracking Area not included in the assigned UE Registration Area it accesses the network, including the core network, and performs a NAS Registration Update.
  • the core network registers the device location and updates the device UE Registration Area, in practice providing the device with a new TAI list that includes the new TAI.
  • the reason the device is assigned a set of TAIs, that is, a set of Tracking Areas is to avoid repeated NAS Registration Updates if a device moves back and forth over the border of two neighbor Tracking Areas.
  • the RAN Area is the basis for device tracking on radio-access network level.
  • UEs in inactive state can be assigned a RAN Notification Area that consists of either of the following:
  • the procedure for RAN Notification Area updates is similar to updates of the UE Registration Area.
  • a device enters a cell that is not directly or indirectly (via a RAN/Tracking Area) included in the RAN Notification Area, the device accesses the network and makes an RRC RAN Notification Area Update.
  • the radio network registers the device location and updates the device RAN Notification Area.
  • an RRC RAN Notification Area update is done implicitly every time a device makes a UE Registration update.
  • the device In order to track its movement within the network, the device searches for and measures on SS blocks similar to the initial cell search. Once the device discovers an SS block with a received power that exceeds the received power of its current SS block by a certain threshold it reads the system information (SIB1) of the new cell in order to acquire information about the Tracking and RAN Areas.
  • SIB1 system information
  • RNA RAN-based Notification Area
  • CN Core Network
  • RNAU RAN-based Notification Area Update
  • the RNAU is periodically (e.g., as governed by a timer such as T380, etc.) performed by the WCD and is also done when the cell reselection procedure of the WCD selects a cell that does not belong to the configured RNA.
  • a timer such as T380, etc.
  • an inactive WCD would perform RNAU more often than an idle WCD would perform a tracking area update.
  • the RNAU is performed as a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Resume procedure.
  • RRC Radio Resource Control
  • the WCD transmits a RRCResumeRequest to the NR base station (gNB) with resumecause set to rna-Update.
  • the RRCResumeRequest message contains an Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) (I-RNTI) which is the identity of the WCD Access Stratum (AS) context which is stored in the gNB where the WCD was last in connected mode (where it went to Inactive). Further, it uses the Resume MAC-I for integrity protection, which can include the Cell-RNTI (C-RNTI) the WCD had in the cell where the WCD was last in connected mode, the cell identity of this cell (source) and the current cell (target).
  • C-RNTI Cell-RNTI
  • the network actions upon receiving the RRCResumeRequest is to relocate the WCD AS context to the current cell and update the WCDs security material (including parameters for construction the Resume MAC-I).
  • the gNB will then respond with an RRCRelease with suspend configuration keeping the WCD in Inactive mode with the new parameters.
  • the procedure for RRC connection resume followed by network suspend is illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the reason for updating the security material is that it is a security risk to reuse the same security material in different cells.
  • the network may choose to put the WCD in idle.
  • a method performed by a Wireless Communication Device (WCD) for cooperation between WCDs for increased transmission efficiency includes obtaining signal strength measurements for a plurality of network cells comprising a serving cell and one or more neighboring cells, on behalf of a group of WCDs comprising the coordinating WCD and one or more additional WCDs that have a same mobility pattern as the coordinating WCD.
  • Each WCD in the group of WCDs is in an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode.
  • the method includes, based on the signal strength measurements, performing a cell reselection procedure for the group of WCDs to a neighboring cell of the plurality of network cells.
  • the method includes providing, to each WCD in the group of WCDs via a respective sidelink, data indicative of performance of the cell reselection procedure to the neighboring cell of the plurality of network cells.
  • obtaining the signal strength measurements for the plurality of network cells comprises performing signal strength measurements on a first subset of the plurality of network cells and receiving, from a second coordinating WCD via a sidelink, signal strength measurements for a second subset of the plurality of network cells.
  • obtaining the signal strength measurements for the plurality of network cells comprises providing, to a WCD of the one or more additional WCDs via a sidelink, data indicative of instructions to measure a signal strength of at least a first subset of the plurality of network cells, and receiving, from the WCD of the one or more additional WCDs via the sidelink, signal strength measurement(s) for the at least the first subset of the plurality of network cells.
  • the first subset of the plurality of network cells corresponds to (a) a subset of the plurality of network cells, (b) a subset of the plurality of network cells that use a particular Radio Access Technology, RAT, or (c) a subset of the plurality of network cells that operate on a particular carrier frequency.
  • a coordinating WCD for cooperation between WCDs for increased transmission efficiency is proposed.
  • the coordinating WCD is adapted to obtain signal strength measurements for a plurality of network cells comprising a serving cell and one or more neighboring cells, on behalf of a group of WCDs comprising the coordinating WCD and one or more additional WCDs that have a same mobility pattern as the coordinating WCD.
  • Each WCD in the group of WCDs is in an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode.
  • the coordinating WCD is adapted to, based on the signal strength measurements, perform a cell reselection procedure for the group of WCDs to a neighboring cell of the plurality of network cells.
  • the coordinating WCD is adapted to provide, to each WCD in the group of WCDs via a respective sidelink, data indicative of performance of the cell reselection procedure to the neighboring cell of the plurality of network cells.
  • a coordinating WCD for cooperation between WCDs for increased transmission efficiency includes one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, and processing circuitry.
  • the processing circuitry is configured to cause the coordinating WCD to obtain signal strength measurements for a plurality of network cells comprising a serving cell and one or more neighboring cells, on behalf of a group of WCDs comprising the coordinating WCD and one or more additional WCDs that have a same mobility pattern as the coordinating WCD.
  • Each WCD in the group of WCDs is in an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode.
  • the processing circuitry is configured to cause the coordinating WCD to, based on the signal strength measurements, perform a cell reselection procedure for the group of WCDs to a neighboring cell of the plurality of network cells.
  • the processing circuitry is configured to cause the coordinating WCD to provide, to each WCD in the group of WCDs via a respective sidelink, data indicative of performance of the cell reselection procedure to the neighboring cell of the plurality of network cells.
  • a method performed by a coordinating WCD for cooperation between WCDs for increased network signaling efficiency includes providing a single location update message to a network node for a group of WCDs, wherein the group of WCDs comprises the coordinating WCD and one or more additional WCDs that have a same mobility pattern as the coordinating WCD, and wherein each WCD in the group of WCDs is in an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode.
  • the location update message is a tracking area update message that indicates that the group of WCDs has moved to a particular tracking area.
  • the location update message is a Radio Access Network (RAN)-based notification area update message that indicates that the group of WCDs has moved to a particular RAN-based notification area.
  • RAN Radio Access Network
  • the location update message comprises a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) that is associated to the group of WCDs.
  • RNTI Radio Network Temporary Identifier
  • the RNTI is a Cell RNTI (C-RNTI) that is associated to the group of WCDs.
  • C-RNTI Cell RNTI
  • the location update message comprises RNTIs of the WCDs in the group of WCDs.
  • the location update message is triggered by the coordinating WCD.
  • the method prior to providing the location update message to the network node, includes determining that the location update message is to be provided to the network node as a result of movement of the group of WCDs or as a result of expiration of a timer.
  • Providing the location update message to the network node includes providing the location update message to the network node responsive to determining that the location update message is to be provided to the network node.
  • the location update message is triggered by at least one of the one or more additional WCDs in the group of WCDs via a respective sidelink between the coordinating WCD and the at least one of the one or more additional WCDs.
  • the method prior to providing the location update message to the network node, includes receiving, from the at least one of the one or more additional WCDs in the group of WCDs via the respective sidelink, a message that indicates that the location update is to be provided to the network node either due to movement of the group of WCDs or expiry of a timer.
  • Providing the location update message to the network node includes providing the location update message to the network node responsive to receiving the message from the at least one of the one or more additional WCDs.
  • the location update message is triggered due to movement of the group of WCDs to a new RAN-based notification area, and the method further includes providing, to the network node, a RRCResumeRequest message with a resumecause parameter set to RNA-Update.
  • the RRCResumeRequest message includes (a) one or more of an Inactive RNTI (I-RNTI) or a resumeMAC-I authentication token for the coordinating WCD, or (b) one or more I-RTNIs and one or more resumeMAC-I authentication tokens for one or more respective WCDs of the group of WCDs.
  • the location update message is triggered due to movement of the group of WCDs to a new RAN-based notification area, and the method further includes providing a plurality of RRCResumeRequest messages for a respective plurality of WCDs of the group of WCDs.
  • Each of the plurality of RRCResumeRequest messages includes a resumecause parameter set to RNA-Update, and wherein each of the plurality of RRCResumeRequest messages comprises a I-RNTI and a resumeMAC-I authentication token for a respective WCD of the plurality of WCDs.
  • the method further includes receiving a RRCRelease with suspend configuration message, wherein the RRCRelease with suspend configuration message comprises a new C-RNTI and cell ID for each WCD in the group of WCDs
  • the method further includes providing, via a sidelink, the RRCRelease message to each WCD in the group of WCDs. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a RRCRelease with suspend configuration message for each WCD of the group of WCDs, wherein each respective RRCRelease with suspend configuration message comprises a new C-RNTI and cell ID for a respective WCD of the group of WCDs.
  • the method prior to providing the location update message to the network node, includes determining the group of WCDs.
  • determining the group of WCDs includes receiving, from the network node, data indicative of the group of WCDs and of a coordinator role for the coordinating WCD, and forming the group of WCDs including the coordinating WCD and the one or more additional WCDs.
  • determining the group of WCDs comprises broadcasting a short-distance message for WCDs within an area, and responsive to broadcasting the short-distance message, receiving one or more messages from the one or more additional WCDs, and forming the group of WCDs comprising the coordinating WCD and the one or more additional WCDs based on the one or more messages received from the one or more additional WCDs.
  • the method comprises detecting a group formation condition, wherein the group formation condition comprises (a) a number of WCDs within a certain proximity to the coordinating WCD, (b) the coordinating WCD being located within a transportation vehicle; or (c) the coordinating WCD being located within a certain geographic area.
  • the method comprises receiving, from the at least one of the group of WCDs in the INACTIVE mode or the IDLE mode, data indicating that the at least one of the group of WCDs has transitioned to the INACTIVE mode or the IDLE mode.
  • a coordinating WCD for cooperation between WCDs for cooperation between WCDs for increased network signaling efficiency is proposed.
  • the coordinating WCD is adapted to provide a single location update message to a network node for a group of WCDs, wherein the group of WCDs comprises the coordinating WCD and one or more additional WCDs that have a same mobility pattern as the coordinating WCD, and wherein each WCD in the group of WCDs is in an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode.
  • a coordinating WCD for cooperation between WCDs for cooperation between WCDs for increased network signaling efficiency is proposed.
  • the coordinating WCD includes one or more transmitters and one or more receivers.
  • the coordinating WCD includes processing circuitry.
  • the processing circuitry is configured to cause the coordinating WCD to provide a single location update message to a network node for a group of WCDs, wherein the group of WCDs comprises the coordinating WCD and one or more additional WCDs that have a same mobility pattern as the coordinating WCD, and wherein each WCD in the group of WCDs is in an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode.
  • a method performed by a WCD for cooperation between WCDs for increased transmission efficiency includes receiving, from a coordinating WCD of a group of WCDs via a sidelink, data indicative of performance of a reselection procedure by the coordinating WCD on behalf of the WCD to a neighboring cell of a plurality of network cells.
  • the plurality of network cells comprises the neighboring cell and a serving cell.
  • the group of WCDs comprises the coordinating WCD, the WCD, and one or more additional WCDs.
  • the WCD and the one or more additional WCDs have a same mobility pattern as the coordinating WCD.
  • Each WCD in the group of WCDs is in an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode.
  • the method prior to receiving the data indicative of the performance of the reselection procedure, includes receiving, from the coordinating WCD via the sidelink, data indicative of instructions to measure a signal strength of at least a first subset of the plurality of network cells.
  • the method includes measuring signal strength measurement(s) for the at least the portion of the plurality of network cells.
  • the method includes providing, to the coordinating WCD via the sidelink, data indicative of the signal strength measurement(s) for the at least the first subset of the plurality of network cells.
  • the at least the portion of the plurality of network cells corresponds to (a) a subset of the plurality of network cells, (b) a RAT, or (c) a carrier frequency.
  • the method prior to receiving the data indicative of the performance of the reselection procedure, includes receiving a short-distance message from the coordinating WCD.
  • the method includes, responsive to receiving the short- distance message, providing a message to the coordinating WCD.
  • the method includes receiving data indicative of formation of the group of WCDs.
  • the method prior to receiving the data indicative of performance of the reselection procedure, comprises transitioning from a current mode to an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode; and providing, to the coordinating WCD, data indicative of the transition from the current mode to the INACTIVE mode or the IDLE mode.
  • a method performed by a network node for cooperation between WCDs for increased transmission efficiency includes receiving a single location update message from a coordinating WCD for a group of WCDs.
  • the group of WCDs comprises the coordinating WCD and one or more additional WCDs that have a same mobility pattern as the coordinating WCD.
  • Each WCD in the group of WCDs is in an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode.
  • the location update message is a tracking area update message that indicates that the group of WCDs has moved to a particular tracking area.
  • the location update message is a RAN-based notification area update message that indicates that the group of WCDs has moved to a particular RAN-based notification area.
  • the location update message comprises a RNTI that is associated to the group of WCDs.
  • the RNTI is a C-RNTI that is associated to the group of WCDs.
  • the location update message comprises RNTIs of the WCDs in the group of WCDs.
  • the location update message is triggered by the coordinating WCD.
  • the location update message is triggered due to movement of the group of WCDs to a new RAN-based notification area, and the method further comprises receiving, from the coordinating WCD, a RRCResumeRequest message with a resumecause parameter set to RNA-Update.
  • the RRCResumeRequest message comprises (a) one or more of an I-RNTI or a resumeMAC-I authentication token for the coordinating WCD or (b) one or more I-RTNIs and one or more resumeMAC-I authentication tokens for one or more respective WCDs of the group of WCDs.
  • the location update message is triggered due to movement of the group of WCDs to a new RAN-based notification area, and the method further comprises receiving a plurality of RRCResumeRequest messages for a respective plurality of WCDs of the group of WCDs.
  • Each of the plurality of RRCResumeRequest messages comprises a resumecause parameter set to RNA-Update.
  • Each of the plurality of RRCResumeRequest messages comprises a I-RNTI and a resumeMAC-I authentication token for a respective WCD of the group of WCDs.
  • the method further comprises providing, to the coordinating WCD, a RRCRelease with suspend configuration message.
  • the RRCRelease with suspend configuration message comprises a new C-RNTI and cell ID for each WCD in the group of WCDs.
  • the method further comprises providing a RRCRelease with suspend configuration message for each WCD of the group of WCDs.
  • Each respective RRCRelease with suspend configuration message comprises a new C-RNTI and cell ID for a respective WCD of the group of WCDs.
  • the method comprises providing, to the coordinating WCD, data indicative of the group of WCDs and of a coordinator role for the coordinating WCD.
  • the method comprises providing, to the coordinating WCD, data indicating that a group formation condition has been detected.
  • the group formation condition comprises (a) a number of WCDs within a certain proximity to the coordinating WCD, (b) the coordinating WCD being located within a transportation vehicle, or (c) the coordinating WCD being located within a certain geographic area.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an example of NR cells grouped into Radio Access Network (RAN) Areas in which each RAN Area is identified by a RAN Area Identifier (RAI);
  • Figure 2 illustrates an example procedure for Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection resume followed by network suspend;
  • RRC Radio Resource Control
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating performance of cooperative idle/inactive mode signal strength measurement for a group of Wireless Communication Devices (WCDs) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figure 4 illustrates an example of a group formation situation for WCDs located within a transportation vehicle moving according to a mobility pattern according to some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figure 5 illustrates an example of conventional User Equipment (UE) Registration Area Update (URAU) signaling for multiple WCDs moving in a same or similar mobility pattern using existing solutions;
  • UE User Equipment
  • URAU Registration Area Update
  • Figure 6 illustrates URAU signaling for multiple WCDs moving in a same or similar mobility pattern according to some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figure 7 illustrates one example of a cellular communications system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figure 8 is a data flow diagram for cooperative signal strength measurement among a group of WCDs according to some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figure 9 is a data flow diagram for a method performed by a WCD for cooperation among a group of WCDs for increased network signaling efficiency according to some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of a radio access node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a virtualized embodiment of the radio access node of Figure 10 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figure 12 is a schematic block diagram of the radio access node of Figure 10 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a WCD according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • Figure 14 is a schematic block diagram of the WCD of Figure 13 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Description
  • Radio Node As used herein, a "radio node” is either a radio access node or a wireless communication device.
  • Radio Access Node As used herein, a “radio access node” or “radio network node” or “radio access network node” is any node in a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a cellular communications network that operates to wirelessly transmit and/or receive signals.
  • RAN Radio Access Network
  • a radio access node examples include, but are not limited to, a base station (e.g., a New Radio (NR) base station (gNB) in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Fifth Generation (5G) NR network or an enhanced or evolved Node B (eNB) in a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) network), a high-power or macro base station, a low-power base station (e.g., a micro base station, a pico base station, a home eNB, or the like), a relay node, a network node that implements part of the functionality of a base station or a network node that implements a gNB Distributed Unit (gNB-DU)) or a network node that implements part of the functionality of some other type of radio access node.
  • a base station e.g., a New Radio (NR) base station (gNB) in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Fifth Generation (5G) NR network or an enhanced or evolved Node B
  • a "core network node” is any type of node in a core network or any node that implements a core network function.
  • Some examples of a core network node include, e.g., a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW), a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF), a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), or the like.
  • MME Mobility Management Entity
  • P-GW Packet Data Network Gateway
  • SCEF Service Capability Exposure Function
  • HSS Home Subscriber Server
  • a core network node examples include a node implementing an Access and Mobility Function (AMF), a User Plane Function (UPF), a Session Management Function (SMF), an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), a Network Exposure Function (NEF), a Network Function (NF) Repository Function (NRF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), a Unified Data Management (UDM), or the like.
  • AMF Access and Mobility Function
  • UPF User Plane Function
  • SMF Session Management Function
  • AUSF Authentication Server Function
  • NSSF Network Slice Selection Function
  • NEF Network Exposure Function
  • NRF Network Exposure Function
  • NRF Network Exposure Function
  • PCF Policy Control Function
  • UDM Unified Data Management
  • a communication device include, but are not limited to: mobile phone, smart phone, sensor device, meter, vehicle, household appliance, medical appliance, media player, camera, or any type of consumer electronic, for instance, but not limited to, a television, radio, lighting arrangement, tablet computer, laptop, or Personal Computer (PC).
  • the communication device may be a portable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehiclemounted mobile device, enabled to communicate voice and/or data via a wireless or wireline connection.
  • Wireless Communication Device One type of communication device is a Wireless Communication Device (WCD), which may be any type of wireless device that has access to (i.e., is served by) a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network).
  • a wireless communication device include, but are not limited to: a User Equipment (UE) device in a 3GPP network, a Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, and an Internet of Things (loT) device.
  • UE User Equipment
  • MTC Machine Type Communication
  • LoT Internet of Things
  • Such wireless communication devices may be, or may be integrated into, a mobile phone, smart phone, sensor device, meter, vehicle, household appliance, medical appliance, media player, camera, or any type of consumer electronic, for instance, but not limited to, a television, radio, lighting arrangement, tablet computer, laptop, or PC.
  • the wireless communication device may be a portable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile device, enabled to communicate voice and/or data via a wireless connection.
  • Network Node As used herein, a "network node” is any node that is either part of the RAN or the core network of a cellular communications network/system.
  • IDLE and INACTIVE states e.g., RRC_IDLE, RRC_INACTIVE, etc.
  • WCDs in IDLE/INACTIVE independently perform measurements of the signal strengths of neighboring cells in a cell selection/reselection process to camp on suitable cells. These measurements of signal strength in IDLE/INACTIVE state consume a significant portion of the overall power consumed by the WCD in RRC_IDLE/INACTIVE state.
  • WCDs in IDLE/INACTIVE state need to both monitor for paging and perform measurements of the signal strength of neighboring cells according to the Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle of that WCD.
  • DRX Discontinuous Reception
  • Cooperative transmission is a technique in which closely located devices form groups in order to perform cooperative Uplink (UL) transmissions to enhance coverage and capacity.
  • a group of WCDs is first registered to the network and a coordinating role is appointed to one of the WCDs in the group.
  • the coordinating WCD can be a device located in the center of the group or be a device in good coverage or be a device of high capability (e.g., larger battery or a combination of these, etc.).
  • the coordinating WCD's task is to schedule the devices in the group on the side link (SL) and possibly also on the UL.
  • the coordinating WCD will possess knowledge of the devices that belong to the group.
  • when a device has data to transmit it transmits the data to the other devices in the group over SL and then all devices transmit the data jointly over the UL to the gNB.
  • a WCD generally possesses the capability to perform measurements on different frequencies.
  • CA Carrier Aggregation
  • DC Dual-Connectivity
  • RAT inter-Radio Access Technology
  • WCDs can measure different frequencies.
  • the WCD requires time and proper radio frequency (RF) components for switching between frequencies and then measuring signal strength of cells on different frequencies.
  • RF radio frequency
  • a group of WCDs is formed from a number of WCDs that are located close together and share a same, or substantially similar, mobility pattern. This group is then registered to the network and a coordinator WCD is selected. Next, the group of WCDs cooperatively measure the received signal strength of the serving cell and neighboring cell(s) of the group of WCDs. For example, the coordinator WCD may measure the received signal strength of serving cell and neighboring cells on behalf of the whole group.
  • the coordinator WCD may delegate signal strength measurement for portions of the network (i.e., different subsets of the serving and neighbor cells of the group) to one or more WCDs within the group of WCDs. Additionally, the WCDs in the group may be informed when the coordinator WCD reselects (e.g., to a new cell, new Tracking Area, new RAN Notification Area, etc.). In one embodiment, the coordinator WCD may send and receive data to/from the WCDs of the group via sidelink (e.g., signal strength measurements, instructions, indications of reselection, etc.).
  • sidelink e.g., signal strength measurements, instructions, indications of reselection, etc.
  • embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods in which, for a group of WCDs in IDLE/INACTIVE mode, only one WCD in the group sends User Equipment (UE) Registration Area Update (URAU) or RAN-based notification area update (RNAU) signaling to the network and informs the network about the updated location of all the WCDs in the group.
  • UE User Equipment
  • URAU Registration Area Update
  • RNAU notification area update
  • FIG 3 is a block diagram illustrating performance of cooperative idle/inactive mode signal strength measurement for a group of WCDs according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • WCD 304A, WCD 304B, and WCD 304C are grouped together due to each WCD sharing a same or substantially similar movement, or mobility, pattern.
  • the movement pattern maybe a stationary movement pattern.
  • each of WCD 304A, WCD 304B, and WCD 304C may be WCDs that are stationary (e.g., WCDs embedded in stationary objects, etc.).
  • the WCDs may be moving together, e.g., in a transportation vehicle.
  • WCD 404A, WCD 404B, and WCD 404C may be smartphones located within a bus moving in the same mobility pattern and communicating via sidelink 406.
  • a mobility pattern can represent any general pattern of movement, and is not necessarily limited to WCDs moving in an identical manner or specific proximity.
  • a number of WCDs located in vehicles moving in the same direction on a road may share a mobility pattern.
  • WCDs held by pedestrians navigating a certain geographic area e.g., a neighborhood of a city, etc.
  • the group of WCDs 304 performs signal strength measurement for a serving cell and neighboring cells cooperatively.
  • WCD 304A may be a coordinating WCD that measures the signal strength of network cells (e.g., serving and neighbor cells of the group of WCDs 304) on behalf of the group of WCDs 304.
  • WCD 304A may be a coordinating WCD that provides instructions to WCD 304B and WCD 304C via a sidelink to measure portions of a plurality of network cells (e.g., measure signal strength on different subsets of the serving and neighboring cells of the group of WCDs 304). In such fashion, WCDs 304 cooperatively measure signal strength from a serving cell and neighboring cells to perform cell reselection procedure.
  • a single WCD the group of WCDs 304 sends UE URAU or RNAU signaling to the network and informs the network about the updated location of all the WCDs in the group.
  • embodiments of the present disclosure enable the exploitation of the opportunity presented by a group of WCDs moving in a same or similar mobility pattern (e.g., when located in a same car/bus/train, etc.), as a same or similar signal strength from serving cell and the neighboring cells is necessarily experienced by all WCDs in the group of WCDs.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a number of technical advantages and benefits.
  • One example technical effect and benefit is substantial power savings for WCDs that perform fewer (or zero) measurements for cell selection/ re-selection in idle and inactive modes due to membership in a group of WCDs that cooperatively measure signal strength. For example, as mentioned previously, measuring signal strength can require a significant expenditure of power and computational and/or network resources.
  • only the coordinating WCD performs measurements for cell selection/reselection and other WCDs in the group do not measure.
  • signals strength measurement to a single WCD in the group, measurements in idle and inactive modes for the other WCDs in the group are substantially reduced or eliminated. Rather, these other WCDs only need to monitor for paging according to the DRX cycle but do not need to do measurements according to the cycle, leading to significant reductions in power, battery, computational, and/or network resource expenditures.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an example of conventional URAU signaling for multiple WCDs moving in a same or similar mobility pattern using existing solutions.
  • WCD 504A, WCD 504B, and WCD 504C are located in a bus and are depicted leaving Tracking Area 1,RAN Notification Area 1 502 and entering Tracking Area 2, RAN Notification Area 2 506.
  • the WCDs 504 move from Tracking Area 1 502 to Tracking Area 2 502, which necessitates URAU or RNAU signaling to alert the network to the location of the WCDs 504.
  • each WCD 504 individually spends power and computational I network resources to respectively perform URAU/RNAU signaling 507A, 507B, and 507C.
  • Figure 6 illustrates URAU signaling for multiple WCDs moving in a same or similar mobility pattern according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the WCDs 604 of Figure 6 move from Tracking Area 1 502 to Tracking Area 2 502.
  • the WCDs 504 of Figure 6 only one URAU/RNAU signaling 508 is sent to the network by one of WCDs in the group of WCDs 604 (e.g., a coordinating WCD, etc.).
  • embodiments of the present disclosure significantly reduce the amount of URAU/RNAU signaling required by existing solutions, therefore significantly reducing power, computational, and network resource costs.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates one example of a cellular communications system 700 in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.
  • the cellular communications system 700 is a 5G system (5GS) including a Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN) and a 5G Core (5GC) or an Evolved Packet System (EPS) including an Evolved Universal Terrestrial RAN (E-UTRAN) and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC).
  • 5GS 5G system
  • NG-RAN Next Generation RAN
  • 5GC 5G Core
  • EPS Evolved Packet System
  • E-UTRAN Evolved Universal Terrestrial RAN
  • EPC Evolved Packet Core
  • the RAN includes base stations 702-1 and 702-2, which in the 5GS include NR base stations (gNBs) and optionally next generation eNBs (ng-eNBs) (e.g., LTE RAN nodes connected to the 5GC) and in the EPS include eNBs, controlling corresponding (macro) cells 704-1 and 704-2.
  • the base stations 702- 1 and 702-2 are generally referred to herein collectively as base stations 702 and individually as base station 702.
  • the (macro) cells 704-1 and 704-2 are generally referred to herein collectively as (macro) cells 704 and individually as (macro) cell 704.
  • the RAN may also include a number of low power nodes 706-1 through 706-4 controlling corresponding small cells 708-1 through 708-4.
  • the low power nodes 706-1 through 706-4 can be small base stations (such as pico or femto base stations) or RRHs, or the like.
  • one or more of the small cells 708-1 through 708-4 may alternatively be provided by the base stations 702.
  • the low power nodes 706-1 through 706-4 are generally referred to herein collectively as low power nodes 706 and individually as low power node 706.
  • the small cells 708-1 through 708-4 are generally referred to herein collectively as small cells 708 and individually as small cell 708.
  • the cellular communications system 700 also includes a core network 710, which in the 5G System (5GS) is referred to as the 5GC.
  • the base stations 702 (and optionally the low power nodes 706) are connected to the core network 710.
  • the base stations 702 and the low power nodes 706 provide service to wireless communication devices 712-1 through 712-5 in the corresponding cells 704 and 708.
  • the wireless communication devices 712-1 through 712-5 are generally referred to herein collectively as wireless communication devices 712 and individually as wireless communication device 712. In the following description, the wireless communication devices 712 are oftentimes UEs, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
  • FIG. 8 is a data flow diagram for cooperative signal strength measurement among a group of WCDs according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Optional steps are represented by dashed lines/boxes.
  • a coordinating WCD 1300 obtains signal strength measurements for a plurality of network cells including a serving cell and one or more neighboring cells on behalf of a group of WCDs 712.
  • the group of WCDs 712 includes coordinating WCD 1300 and one or more additional WCDs that have a same (or similar) mobility pattern as the coordinating WCD 1300.
  • similar mobility patterns are mobility patterns for which signal strength measurements for the serving cell and neighbor cells for respective WCDs 712 are expected to be the same (or only differ by at most a predefined threshold amount).
  • Each WCD in the group of WCDs 712 is in an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode. The formation of the group of WCDs 712 will be discussed in greater detail with regards to Figure 9.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 measures the received signal strength (e.g., Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), etc.) of the serving cell and the neighboring cells (including cells on multiple frequencies and RATs if configured).
  • RSRP Reference Signal Received Power
  • RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality
  • the group of WCDs 712 listen to paging messages, they are not required to perform serving cell and neighboring cell measurements (although, in some embodiments, can perform measurements if instructed to do so by a coordinating WCD).
  • the paging messages may be legacy paging messages or paging messages sent over the sidelink by the coordinating WCD 1300.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 is required to read system information (SI), except once after each cell re-selection.
  • SI system information
  • the other WCDs in the group of WCDs 712 are informed of this by the coordinating WCD 1300 (e.g., via sidelink, etc.).
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 at step 806A1 performs signal strength measurements on a first subset of the plurality of network cells and, at step 806A2, receives signal strength measurements for a second subset of the plurality of network cells from a second coordinating WCD 712-2 via a sidelink relay.
  • the multiple WCDs may be assigned to measure the received signal strength by one of the following methods:
  • Each coordinating WCD (e.g., 1300, 712-2, etc.) measures the received signal strength of a subset of neighboring cells, then the coordinating WCDs share their measurements.
  • each coordinating WCD measures only one RAT, or one frequency, etc., and then the coordinating WCDs share their measurements.
  • the WCDs in the group of WCDs communicate and decide which WCD to perform measurements on which frequencies or on which neighboring cells.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 at step 806B1 provides, to one of the one or more additional WCDs of the group of WCDs 712 via a sidelink, data indicative of instructions to measure a signal strength of at least a first subset of the plurality of network cells.
  • the WCD of the one or more additional WCDs measures the signal strength of the at least the first subset of the plurality of network cells, and at step 806B3, provides the signal strength measurement(s) for the at least the first subset of the plurality of network cells to the coordinating WCD 1300.
  • the first subset of the plurality of network cells corresponds to (a) a subset of the plurality of network cells, (b) a subset of the plurality of network cells that use a particular Radio Access Technology (RAT), or (c) a subset of the plurality of network cells that operate on a particular carrier frequency.
  • RAT Radio Access Technology
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 performs, based on the signal strength measurements, a cell reselection procedure for the group of WCDs 712 to a neighboring cell of the plurality of network cells.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 provides, to each WCD in the group of WCDs 712 via a respective sidelink, data indicative of performance of the cell reselection procedure to the neighboring cell of the plurality of network cells.
  • each WCD 712 in the group of WCDs 712 is informed (e.g., over SL) by the coordinating WCD 1300 when cell re-selection is performed either (a) before the WCD 712 is about to enter Connected state, (b) when the WCD 712 requests updated information (e.g., SI) of the present cell from the coordinating WCD 1300, or (c) at the WCDs first paging occasion that follows after the coordinating WCD 1300 has re-selected a new cell.
  • updated information e.g., SI
  • Figure 9 is a data flow diagram for a method performed by a WCD for cooperation among a group of WCDs for increased network signaling efficiency according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 detects a group formation condition.
  • the group formation condition includes (a) a number of WCDs within a certain proximity of the coordinating WCD 1300, (b) the coordinating WCD 1300 being located within a transportation vehicle, or (c) the coordinating WCD 1300 being located within a certain geographic area.
  • the group formation condition can be receipt of data indicative of formation condition detection from network node 702.
  • the group of WCDs 712 is determined, created, or otherwise formed for a variety of reasons. For example, one reason is that a group of devices are located in the same geographical area. This determination can be done by, e.g. sharing device positions in the area, selecting all devices that are located in a particular location (e.g., a group of skiers in some remote mountain, etc.), having devices send discovery messages in a certain way, such as limiting the SL UL power to reduce the distance between possible group members, etc.
  • one method to trigger the forming of a group is to use sensors or short range communication which can indicate that the WCD has entered a bus or train.
  • a WCD e.g., coordinating WCD 1300, a WCD of the group of WCDs 712, etc.
  • the group uses a group C-RNTI to transmit data to the network node 702 (e.g., a gNB).
  • the WCDs in the group of WCDs 712 have the right to communicate over sidelink without requesting resources from the network node 702 (e.g., a gNB(. This can be achieved by providing sidelink resources (e.g., on unlicensed spectrum or semi-persistent scheduling over sidelink or be scheduled by the coordinating WCD 1300;
  • the network node 702 e.g., a gNB(. This can be achieved by providing sidelink resources (e.g., on unlicensed spectrum or semi-persistent scheduling over sidelink or be scheduled by the coordinating WCD 1300;
  • the WCDs in the group of WCDs 712 have the same mobility pattern, i.e. they move in a similar pattern across cells.
  • a typical scenario may be that each WCD of the group of WCDs 712 is located within the same transportation vehicle (e.g., the same bus, car, train, etc.); and
  • One WCD of the group of WCDs 712 is assigned as a coordinating WCD (e.g., coordinating WCD 1300) for the group of WCDs 712.
  • the coordinating WCD will know the WCD IDs of the WCDs in the group of WCDs 712. It may further be able to schedule the WCDs in the group of WCDs 712 on the sidelink resources.
  • WCD(s) of the group of WCDs 712 transitions from a current mode to an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode.
  • the WCD(s) provide data indicating the transition(s) from the current mode(s) to the INACTIVE mode(s) or the IDLE mode(s).
  • this may include sending the WCDs I-RNTI, C-RNTI from the cell where it transited to INACTIVE and the Cell-ID of this cell to the coordinating WCD 1300. Additionally, or alternatively, in some embodiments it may further include the current value of the T380 timer and its configured timer setting and the WCDs RNA.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 determines the group of WCDs 712. In some embodiments, to determine the group of WCDs 712 at step 902, the coordinating WCD 1300 at step 902A receives, from network node 702, data indicative of the group of WCDs 712 and of a coordinator role for the coordinating WCD 1300, and at step 902C, forms the group of WCDs 72 including the coordinating WCD 1300 and the one or more additional WCDs.
  • the network node 702 e.g., gNB
  • can possess access to information that assists in grouping e.g., network node 702 has access to positions of WCDs, etc.).
  • the network node 702 may construct the group and inform the WCDs in the group 712 by RRC configuration or dynamically by Downlink Control Information (DCI).
  • the network node 1300 may also inform the coordinator UE WCD 1300 about the list of WCD IDs under its control.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 at step 902B1 broadcasts a shortdistance message for WCDs within an area.
  • WCDs of the group of WCDs 712 provide response messages to the coordinating WCD 1300, which then forms the group of WCDs at step 902C.
  • the coordinating WCD provides data indicative of formation of the group of WCDs to the WCDs of the group of WCDs 712. More generally, the group is established by WCDs and the network node 702 is not aware of the establishment of the group.
  • the WCDs can construct the group by one of the following methods:
  • the WCDs share their positions and the coordinating WCD 1300 construct the group of WCDs 712 from WCDs that are close by.
  • WCDs share their position, they inform the coordinating WCD 1300 about their WCD IDs.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 knows the WCD IDs under its control.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 broadcasts a message that has limited short- distant coverage (e.g., as described with regards to step 902B1). WCDs that respond to the broadcast message will be included in the group of WCDs 712 and those that do not respond are deleted. In the response message (e.g., as described with regards to step 902B2), WCDs also send their WCD IDs. Thus, the coordinating WCD 1300 knows the WCD IDs under its control.
  • the coordinating WCD determines that a location update message is to be provided to the network node 702 as a result of movement of the group of WCDs 712 or as a result of expiration of a time.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 receives, from at least one of the additional WCD(s) of the group of WCDs 712 via the respective sidelink, a message that indicates that a location update is to be provided to the network node 702 either due to movement of the group of WCDs or expiry of a timer.
  • the determination is made due to determining that the location update has been triggered by either by a WCD in the group of WCDs 712 or the coordinating WCD 1300.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 provides a single location update message to network node 702 for the group of WCDs 712.
  • the group of WCDs 712 includes the coordinating WCD 1300 and one or more additional WCDs that have a same mobility pattern as the coordinating WCD 1300.
  • Each WCD in the group of WCDs 712 is in an INACTIVE mode or an IDLE mode.
  • the location update message is provided to the network node 702 responsive to determining that the location update message is to be provided to the network node at step 904A.
  • the location update message is provided to the network node 702 responsive to receiving the message from the at least one of the one or more additional WCDs of the group of WCDs 712 at step 904B.
  • the group of WCDs 712 moves from one Tracking area to another Tracking area or from one RAN-based notification area to another RAN- based notification area, or when the T380 expires (triggering a RNAU)
  • only one of the WCDs in the group 712 e.g., the coordinating WCD 1300
  • the location update is triggered by either by a WCD in the group 712 or the coordinating WCD 1300.
  • the location update message is a tracking area update message that indicates that the group of WCDs 712 has moved to a particular tracking area.
  • the location update message is a RAN-based notification area update message that indicates that the group of WCDs 712 has moved to a particular RAN-based notification area.
  • the location update message includes a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) that is associated to the group of WCDs 712.
  • the RNTI is a Cell RNTI (C-RNTI) that is associated to the group of WCDs 712.
  • the location update message comprises RNTIs of the WCDs in the group of WCDs 712.
  • the location update message is triggered by the coordinating WCD 1300.
  • the location update message is triggered by at least one of the one or more additional WCDs in the group of WCDs 712 via a respective sidelink between the coordinating WCD 1300 and the at least one of the one or more additional WCDs.
  • the location update message is triggered due to movement of the group of WCDs 712 to a new RAN-based notification area.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 provides, to the network node (702), one or more RRCResumeRequest messages.
  • the coordinating WCD at step 908A, provides a RRCResumeRequest message with a resumecause parameter set to RNA-Update to the network node 702.
  • the RRCResumeRequest message includes (a) one or more of an Inactive Radio Temporary Identifier (I-RNTI) or a resumeMAC-I authentication token, for the coordinating WCD 1300, or (b) one or more I-RTNIs and one or more resumeMAC-I authentication tokens for one or more respective WCDs of the group of WCDs 712.
  • I-RNTI Inactive Radio Temporary Identifier
  • resumeMAC-I authentication token for the coordinating WCD 1300
  • I-RTNIs and one or more resumeMAC-I authentication tokens for one or more respective WCDs of the group of WCDs 712.
  • the coordinating WCD at step 908B, provides a plurality of RRCResumeRequest messages for a respective plurality of WCDs of the group of WCDs 712.
  • Each of the plurality of RRCResumeRequest messages includes a resumecause parameter set to RNA-Update.
  • Each of the plurality of RRCResumeRequest messages includes a I-RNTI and a resumeMAC-I authentication token for a respective WCD of the plurality of WCDs.
  • the location update is triggered by either by a WCD in the group of WCDs 712 or the coordinator WCD 1300.
  • the information needed for triggering i.e. current value of the T380 timer and its configured timer setting and the WCDs RNA have been previously supplied to the coordinating WCD from the WCD.
  • the RNAU is triggered by the WCD, it will send an indication of this over the SL to the coordinating WCD 1300.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 will then transmit an RRCResumeRequest message with resumecause set to rna-Update to gNB containing the WCDs I-RNTI and ResumeMAC-I.
  • RNAU RNAU
  • RRCResumeRequest message can be used which can include the I-RNTIs and ResumeMAC-Is from all the WCDs triggering the RNAU.
  • a single RRCResumeRequest message is sent on behalf of each WCD triggering RNAU.
  • the ResumeCause is the same for all WCDs (so only one is included) but each WCD doing the RNAU has its own I-RNTI and resumeMAC-I.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 receives message(s).
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 receives a RRCRelease with suspend configuration message.
  • the RRCRelease with suspend configuration message includes a new C-RNTI and cell Identifier (ID) for each WCD in the group of WCDs.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 at step 910B, receives a RRCRelease with suspend configuration message for each WCD of the group of WCDs.
  • Each respective RRCRelease with suspend configuration message includes a new C-RNTI and cell ID for a respective WCD of the group of WCDs.
  • the network node 702 can respond with a new RRCRelease message which contains a suspend configuration for each WCD of the group of WCDs 712 that performed a RNAU.
  • This message will be either a new type including configurations for all WCDs or a single message for each WCD.
  • the RRCRelease with suspend configuration will contain new C-RNTIs and cell IDs for the WCDs to be stored in the WCDs AS context for the next transmission of RRCResumeRequests. In contrast to the normal RRCRelease with suspend configuration, this RRCRelease message does not contain new security material.
  • the coordinating WCD 1300 provides, via a sidelink, the RRCRelease message to each WCD in the group of WCDs 712.
  • the coordinator UE will forward the new C-RNTIs and cell IDs to the WCDs of the group of WCDs 712 that triggered the RNAU.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a radio access node 1000 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the radio access node 1000 may be, for example, a base station 702 or 706 or a network node that implements all or part of the functionality of the base station 702 or gNB described herein.
  • the radio access node 1000 includes a control system 1002 that includes one or more processors 1004 (e.g., Central Processing Units (CPUs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and/or the like), memory 1006, and a network interface 1008.
  • the one or more processors 1004 are also referred to herein as processing circuitry.
  • the radio access node 1000 may include one or more radio units 1010 that each includes one or more transmitters 1012 and one or more receivers 1014 coupled to one or more antennas 1016.
  • the radio units 1010 may be referred to or be part of radio interface circuitry.
  • the radio unit(s) 1010 is external to the control system 1002 and connected to the control system 1002 via, e.g., a wired connection (e.g., an optical cable).
  • the radio unit(s) 1010 and potentially the antenna(s) 1016 are integrated together with the control system 1002.
  • the one or more processors 1004 operate to provide one or more functions of a radio access node 1000 as described herein.
  • the function(s) are implemented in software that is stored, e.g., in the memory 1006 and executed by the one or more processors 1004.
  • FIG 11 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a virtualized embodiment of the radio access node 1000 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is equally applicable to other types of network nodes. Further, other types of network nodes may have similar virtualized architectures. Again, optional features are represented by dashed boxes.
  • a "virtualized" radio access node is an implementation of the radio access node 1000 in which at least a portion of the functionality of the radio access node 1000 is implemented as a virtual component(s) (e.g., via a virtual machine(s) executing on a physical processing node(s) in a network(s)).
  • the radio access node 1000 may include the control system 1002 and/or the one or more radio units 1010, as described above.
  • the control system 1002 may be connected to the radio unit(s) 1010 via, for example, an optical cable or the like.
  • the radio access node 1000 includes one or more processing nodes 1100 coupled to or included as part of a network(s) 1102. If present, the control system 1002 or the radio unit(s) are connected to the processing node(s) 1100 via the network 1102.
  • Each processing node 1100 includes one or more processors 1104 (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and/or the like), memory 1106, and a network interface 1108.
  • functions 1110 of the radio access node 1000 described herein are implemented at the one or more processing nodes 1100 or distributed across the one or more processing nodes 1100 and the control system 1002 and/or the radio unit(s) 1010 in any desired manner.
  • some or all of the functions 1110 of the radio access node 1000 described herein are implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in a virtual environment(s) hosted by the processing node(s) 1100.
  • additional signaling or communication between the processing node(s) 1100 and the control system 1002 is used in order to carry out at least some of the desired functions 1110.
  • the control system 1002 may not be included, in which case the radio unit(s) 1010 communicate directly with the processing node(s) 1100 via an appropriate network interface(s).
  • a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of radio access node 1000 or a node (e.g., a processing node 1100) implementing one or more of the functions 1110 of the radio access node 1000 in a virtual environment according to any of the embodiments described herein is provided.
  • a carrier comprising the aforementioned computer program product is provided. The carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium such as memory).
  • Figure 12 is a schematic block diagram of the radio access node 1000 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the radio access node 1000 includes one or more modules 1200, each of which is implemented in software.
  • the module(s) 1200 provide the functionality of the radio access node 1000 described herein. This discussion is equally applicable to the processing node 1100 of Figure 11 where the modules 1200 may be implemented at one of the processing nodes 1100 or distributed across multiple processing nodes 1100 and/or distributed across the processing node(s) 1100 and the control system 1002.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication device 1300 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the wireless communication device 1300 includes one or more processors 1302 (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and/or the like), memory 1304, and one or more transceivers 1306 each including one or more transmitters 1308 and one or more receivers 1310 coupled to one or more antennas 1312.
  • the transceiver(s) 1306 includes radio-front end circuitry connected to the antenna(s) 1312 that is configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna(s) 1312 and the processor(s) 1302, as will be appreciated by on of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the processors 1302 are also referred to herein as processing circuitry.
  • the transceivers 1306 are also referred to herein as radio circuitry.
  • the functionality of the wireless communication device 1300 described above may be fully or partially implemented in software that is, e.g., stored in the memory 1304 and executed by the processor(s) 1302.
  • the wireless communication device 1300 may include additional components not illustrated in Figure 13 such as, e.g., one or more user interface components (e.g., an input/output interface including a display, buttons, a touch screen, a microphone, a speaker(s), and/or the like and/or any other components for allowing input of information into the wireless communication device 1300 and/or allowing output of information from the wireless communication device 1300), a power supply (e.g., a battery and associated power circuitry), etc.
  • user interface components e.g., an input/output interface including a display, buttons, a touch screen, a microphone, a speaker(s), and/or the like and/or any other components for allowing input of information into the wireless communication device 1300 and/or allowing output of information from the wireless communication device 1300
  • a power supply e.g., a battery and associated power circuitry
  • a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of the wireless communication device 1300 according to any of the embodiments described herein is provided.
  • a carrier comprising the aforementioned computer program product is provided.
  • the carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium such as memory).
  • FIG 14 is a schematic block diagram of the wireless communication device 1300 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the wireless communication device 1300 includes one or more modules 1400, each of which is implemented in software.
  • the module(s) 1400 provide the functionality of the wireless communication device 1300 described herein.
  • any appropriate steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein may be performed through one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual apparatuses.
  • Each virtual apparatus may comprise a number of these functional units.
  • These functional units may be implemented via processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like.
  • the processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc.
  • Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein.
  • the processing circuitry may be used to cause the respective functional unit to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

Des systèmes et des procédés de la présente divulgation concernent un procédé mis en oeuvre par un dispositif de communication sans fil (WCD) de coordination pour une coopération entre des WCD pour une efficacité de transmission accrue. Le procédé comprend l'obtention de mesures d'intensité de signal pour une pluralité de cellules de réseau comprenant une cellule de desserte et une ou plusieurs cellules voisines, pour le compte d'un groupe de WCD comprenant le WCD de coordination et un ou plusieurs WCD supplémentaires qui ont le même motif de mobilité. Chaque WCD dans le groupe de WCD est en mode INACTIF ou IDLE. Le procédé comprend, sur la base des mesures d'intensité de signal, la réalisation d'une procédure de resélection de cellule pour le groupe de WCD à une cellule voisine des cellules de réseau. Le procédé consiste à fournir, à chaque WCD dans le groupe de WCD par l'intermédiaire d'une liaison latérale respective, des données indicatives de la performance de la procédure de resélection de cellule à la cellule voisine des cellules de réseau.
PCT/SE2021/051083 2021-10-28 2021-10-28 Systèmes et procédés de coopération entre des wcd pour une efficacité de transmission accrue WO2023075655A1 (fr)

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