Selective joinder of user equipment with wireless cell

• US 8,923,880 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Yiu, Candy
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US13/802,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20140094185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 455/453, 455/450, 455/512, 455/513
• US Class Current: 455/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/00 Orthogonal multiplex systems, e.g. using WALSH codesH04J13/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0086 Search parameters, e.g. search strategy, accumulation length, range of search, thresholds code acquisition in DSSS H04B1/7075
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1864 ARQ related signaling H04L1/1607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1893 Physical mapping arrangements physical resource mapping in general H04L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/069 using logs of notifications; Post-processing of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5032 Generating service level reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0057 Physical resource allocation for CQI
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0073 Allocation arrangements that take into account other cell interferences for intercell interference mitigation or co-ordination in orthogonal multiplex systems H04J11/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 : Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 : at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0205 : at the air interface dynamic wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 : based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0221 : power availability or consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0252 : per individual bearer or channel dynamic wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 : Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 : of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 : of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0083 : Determination of parameters used for hand-off, e.g. generation or modification of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 : Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0088 : Scheduling hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 : Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 : Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 : for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/005 : Routing actions in the presence of nodes in sleep or doze mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 : Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 : using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 : in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 : managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 : using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 : where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 : controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 : managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 : TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/14 : Separate analysis of uplink or downlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 : Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 : based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 : in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 : Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 : based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 : using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 : Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 : in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 : Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 : Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 : Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 : Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 : Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 : Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 : adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 : Access point controller devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 : Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 : Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Embodiments are described herein for selective joinder, by a user equipment (“UE”), to a wireless cell of a plurality of wireless cells. In various embodiments, this may include transitioning, by the UE, from an idle mode to a connected mode, and contemporaneously with the transition of the UE from the idle mode to the connected mode, measuring, by the UE, signals of a first plurality of cells. In various embodiments, the UE may identify, from within the first plurality of cells, a second plurality of cells having measured signals that satisfy a channel condition criterion and frequency priorities that satisfy a priority criterion. In various embodiments, the UE may be configured to select and join a cell of the second plurality of cells, randomly or based on respective loads of the second plurality of cells.

Claims

1. A user equipment (“

UE”

) comprising;

radio resource control (“

RRC”

) circuitry to transition the UE from an RRC idle mode to an RRC connected mode; and

load balancing circuitry coupled to the RRC circuitry to;

measure signals of a first plurality of cells;

identify, from within the first plurality of cells, a second plurality of cells having measured signals that satisfy a channel condition criterion and priorities that satisfy a priority criterion; and

select a cell of the second plurality of cells to join.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the load balancing circuitry is to select the cell from the second plurality of cells based on an instruction received via network signaling.

3. The UE of claim 2, wherein the load balancing circuitry is to select the cell from the second plurality of cells randomly or based on a load of the cell, responsive to the instruction.

4. The UE of claim 2, wherein the instruction comprises a positive integer m, and the load balancing circuitry is further to select the cell from m selected cells of the second plurality of cells.

5. The UE of claim 4, wherein the m selected cells are selected from the second plurality of cells based on their channel conditions or loads.

6. The UE of claim 1 wherein the load balancing circuitry is further to randomly select the cell from the second plurality of cells.

7. The UE of claim 1, wherein the load balancing circuitry is to select the cell from the second plurality of cells based on a load of the cell.

8. The UE of claim 1, wherein the channel condition criterion is satisfied by a cell when a measured signal of the cell has a channel condition measurement that exceeds a threshold channel condition measurement.

9. The UE of claim 1, wherein the priority criterion is satisfied by a cell when the cell is associated with a priority that is greater than or equal to all other priorities of the first plurality of cells.

10. The UE of claim 1, wherein the priority criterion is satisfied by a cell when the cell is associated with a priority that is greater than a threshold priority.

11. The UE of claim 1, wherein the load balancing circuitry is to save priorities received via dedicated signaling during an RRC Connection Release.

12. The UE of claim 11, wherein the load balancing circuitry is further to selectively join the cell of the second plurality of cells based on the saved priorities.

13. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

transitioning, by a user equipment (“

UE”

), from an idle mode to a connected mode;

measuring, by the UE, signals of a first plurality of cells

identifying, by the UE from within the first plurality of cells, a second plurality of cells having measured signals that satisfy a channel condition criterion and priorities that satisfy a priority criterion; and

selecting, by the UE, a cell of the second plurality of cells to join, randomly or based on respective loads of the second plurality of cells.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the UE via radio resource control (“

RRC”

) or non-access stratum (“

NAS”

) signaling, an instruction; and

selecting, by the UE, the cell from the second plurality of cells based on the instruction.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising selecting, by the UE, the cell from the second plurality of cells randomly or based on a load of the cell, responsive to the instruction.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the instruction comprises a positive integer m, and the method further comprises selecting, by the UE, the cell from m selected cells of the second plurality of cells.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the m selected cells are selected from the second plurality of cells based on their channel conditions or loads.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising randomly selecting, by the UE, the cell from the second plurality of cells.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising selecting, by the UE, the cell from the second plurality of cells based on a load of the cell.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising saving priorities received via dedicated signaling during an RRC Connection Release.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising selectively joining the cell of the second plurality of cells based on the saved priorities.