US 11,903,049 B2 · Apparatus and methods for cell identification in wireless networks

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for physical cell identification within one or more wireless networks. In one embodiment, conflicts in PCI values which may exist within two or more mobile networks (e.g., PLMNs) of respective different operators when unlicensed spectrum is utilized (e.g., according to 3GPP 5G NR-U technology) are resolved. In one implementation, this functionality is provided by specifying one or more mobility-related parameters associated with various UE, such that serving gNBs can determine whether a given UE requires a mobility context, and as such whether it should conduct subsequent RF measurement reporting to report back potential conflicts in PCI it may encounter to the gNB. In one variant, the measurement reporting is configured to comply with 5G NR-U required “listen-before-talk” or LBT protocols; i.e., to measure parameters consistent with the LBT protocols to detect any such PCI-based conflicts.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Computerized wireless network apparatus, comprising:

a digital processor apparatus;
wireless network interface apparatus configured for data communication with the digital processor apparatus, at least one wireless-enabled data network, and a plurality of computerized wireless client devices;
and
at least one storage device in data communication with the digital processor apparatus, the at least one storage device comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the computerized wireless network apparatus to:
identify at least one of the plurality of computerized wireless client devices for which a prescribed operational configuration is applicable, the identification based on at least one parameter indicating that no mobility is required for at least one of the plurality of computerized wireless client devices;
based on the identification, apply a cell identifier resolution mechanism to only one or more others of the plurality of computerized wireless client devices and not the at least one of the plurality of computerized wireless client devices;
cause instruction of the one or more others of the plurality of computerized wireless client devices to perform a measurement protocol pursuant to the cell identifier resolution mechanism;
and
based on one or more results of the performance of the measurement protocol, cause configuration of at least one data structure relating to cell identifiers.

6 more elements

A method of cell identifier conflict resolution relating to unlicensed spectrum utilization within a wireless system having a plurality of wireless-enabled client devices associated therewith, the method comprising:

specifying one or more mobility-related parameters associated with at least one wireless-enabled client device of the plurality of wireless-enabled client devices, the one or more mobility-related parameters comprising at least one of:
(i) at least one no mobility required parameter, (ii) at least one limited mobility required parameter, or (iii) at least one full mobility required parameter;
utilizing, via one or more apparatus of the wireless system, the one or more mobility-related parameters to determine whether the at least one wireless-enabled client device requires a mobility context;
and
determining, based at least on the determination of whether the at least one wireless-enabled client device requires the mobility context, that the at least one wireless-enabled client device should perform at least one RF (radio frequency) measurement protocol to enable reporting of data relating to performance of the at least one RF measurement protocol back to the one or more apparatus of the wireless system.

2 more elements

A computerized method for cell identification within a wireless network, the computerized method comprising:

causing an access and mobility management function (AMF) apparatus to initiate an initial context setup procedure with respect to one or more computerized client devices;
based at least on data received via use of the initial context setup procedure, identifying at least one of the one or more computerized client devices for PCI (physical cell identification) ambiguity resolution;
instructing the at least one of the one or more computerized client devices to perform a measurement protocol;
and
based on data relating to the measurement protocol, applying computerized logic to determine whether to update at least one then-current data structure to perform at least one of an inclusion or exclusion of at least one PCI value.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and methods for cell identification in wireless networks

Life of this patent

Apparatus and methods for cell identification in wireless networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20