Network access by a reduced capability user equipment

A user equipment (UE) may camp on a base station of a network. The UE receives, from the base station of a wireless network, a broadcast including access restrictions, wherein the access restrictions include one or more predetermined criteria that must be satisfied to camp on the base station. The UE then determines whether the UE satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria.

BACKGROUND

5G new radio (NR) wireless communications support a variety of different types of user equipment (UEs). For example, in addition to mobile phones, 5G NR supports internet of things (IoT) devices, industrial IoT (IIoT) devices, wearable devices, etc. Some of these devices are known as reduced capability (RedCap) UEs, which have varying wireless capabilities compared to other UEs. There may be situations where the network would like to treat RedCap UEs differently than other types of UEs.

SUMMARY

Some exemplary embodiments are related to a user equipment (UE) having a processor and a transceiver communicatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to perform operations. The operations include receiving, from a base station of a wireless network, a broadcast including access restrictions, wherein the access restrictions include one or more predetermined criteria that must be satisfied to camp on the base station and determining whether the UE satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria.

Other exemplary embodiments are related to a method performed by a user equipment (UE) configured to connect to a base station of a wireless network. The method includes receiving, from the base station, a broadcast including access restrictions, wherein the access restrictions include one or more predetermined criteria that must be satisfied to camp on the base station and determining whether the UE satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria.

Still further exemplary embodiments are related to a baseband processor configured to perform operations. The operations include receiving, from a base station of a wireless network, a broadcast including access restrictions, wherein the access restrictions include one or more predetermined criteria that must be satisfied to camp on the base station and determining whether a user equipment (UE) satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments may be further understood with reference to the following description and the related appended drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments describe a device, system and method for a 5G new radio (NR) network to restrict access to the network by certain types of user equipment (UE).

The exemplary embodiments are described with regard to a network that includes 5G new radio NR radio access technology (RAT). However, the exemplary embodiments may be implemented in other types of networks using the principles described herein.

The exemplary embodiments are also described with regard to a UE. However, the use of a UE is merely for illustrative purposes. The exemplary embodiments may be utilized with any electronic component that may establish a connection with a network and is configured with the hardware, software, and/or firmware to exchange information and data with the network. Therefore, the UE as described herein is used to represent any electronic component.

As noted above, there are various UEs, each having different capabilities that connect to the 5G NR network. However, in a given area, it may not be beneficial to have different UEs having different capabilities camped on the same cell since reduced capability UEs may utilize different parameters for wireless communications (e.g., bandwidth parts, data rates, etc.) than other UEs (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, etc.), meaning the cell would need to tailor its communications to all types of UEs. Thus, there may be instances where the network would like to treat the reduced capability (RedCap) UEs differently from other types of UEs.

Prior to describing the exemplary embodiments, several examples of RedCap UEs and their characteristics will be described. In a first example, devices in industrial settings such as temperature or humidity sensors may be connected industry devices. However, such devices are stationary, are not latency critical, and are fairly uncomplex with respect to their capabilities and hardware. These devices typically do not require the low latency data exchange provided by ultra reliable low latency communication (URLLC) or IIoT. It is also expected that these devices will operate in the field for many years with little to no maintenance, including battery replacement. Thus, power saving operations may be critical for these types of devices.

Another example of RedCap type devices with capabilities that differ from other UEs are surveillance devices (e.g., cameras). These devices are similar to the devices in the first example in that they are typically stationary and do not have stringent latency requirements. However, they may differ from the first example because these devices may be connected to a permanent power supply (although not required) and may have much higher upload data rates than many other UEs because of, for example, the video upload feeds they are providing.

Yet another example of RedCap type devices with different capabilities than many other UEs are wearable devices. Unlike the above examples, wearables typically have similar mobility to mobile phones and operations related to the same types of applications that are executable on mobile phones. However, because of the smaller form factor resulting in smaller batteries, these devices have a more stringent power saving requirement than mobile phones.

These examples of different types of UEs are by no means an exhaustive list of 5G-capable devices, but are provided as an example of the varying capabilities of different UEs that are connected to the 5G NR wireless network at any given time. Devices that are considered RedCap devices may be determined in various manners. For example, RedCap devices may be defined by the class of device (e.g., wearables, surveillance device, etc.). In another example, RedCap devices may be defined by the capability/functionality of the devices (e.g., battery life, processing power, latency requirements, etc.). The definition of what qualifies a UE as a RedCap UE may be set by standards (e.g., 3GPP standards) or may be left to the individual network provider. Some examples of categorizing UEs will be provided below.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the 5G NR network may limit access by RedCap UEs to one or more cells of the network based on one or more predetermined criteria. If the criteria is met, the RedCap UE may be allowed to connect with (or camp on) the g-NodeB (gNB) and exchange data with the network. Otherwise, the RedCap UE is not allowed to connect to the gNB.

FIG.1shows an exemplary network arrangement100according to various exemplary embodiments. The exemplary network arrangement100includes a UE110. It should be noted that any number of UEs may be used in the network arrangement100. Those skilled in the art will understand that the UE110may alternatively be any type of electronic component that is configured to communicate via a network, e.g., mobile phones, tablet computers, desktop computers, smartphones, phablets, embedded devices, wearables, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, etc. It should also be understood that an actual network arrangement may include any number of UEs being used by any number of users. Thus, the example of a single UE110is merely provided for illustrative purposes.

The UE110may be configured to communicate with one or more networks. In the example of the network configuration100, the networks with which the UE110may wirelessly communicate are a 5G New Radio (NR) radio access network (5G NR-RAN)120, an LTE radio access network (LTE-RAN)122and a wireless local access network (WLAN)124. However, it should be understood that the UE110may also communicate with other types of networks and the UE110may also communicate with networks over a wired connection. Therefore, the UE110may include a 5G NR chipset to communicate with the 5G NR-RAN120, an LTE chipset to communicate with the LTE-RAN122and an ISM chipset to communicate with the WLAN124.

The 5G NR-RAN120and the LTE-RAN122may be portions of cellular networks that may be deployed by cellular providers (e.g., Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.). These networks120,122may include, for example, cells or base stations (Node Bs, eNodeBs, HeNBs, eNBS, gNBs, gNodeBs, macrocells, microcells, small cells, femtocells, etc.) that are configured to send and receive traffic from UE that are equipped with the appropriate cellular chip set. The WLAN124may include any type of wireless local area network (WiFi, Hot Spot, IEEE 802.11x networks, etc.).

The UE110may connect to the 5G NR-RAN120via the gNB120A and/or the gNB120B. During operation, the UE110may be within range of a plurality of gNBs. Thus, either simultaneously or alternatively, the UE110may connect to the 5G NR-RAN120via the gNBs120A and120B. Further, the UE110may communicate with the eNB122A of the LTE-RAN122to transmit and receive control information used for downlink and/or uplink synchronization with respect to the 5G NR-RAN120connection.

Those skilled in the art will understand that any association procedure may be performed for the UE110to connect to the 5G NR-RAN120. For example, as discussed above, the 5G NR-RAN120may be associated with a particular cellular provider where the UE110and/or the user thereof has a contract and credential information (e.g., stored on a SIM card). Upon detecting the presence of the 5G NR-RAN120, the UE110may transmit the corresponding credential information to associate with the 5G NR-RAN120. More specifically, the UE110may associate with a specific base station (e.g., the gNB120A of the 5G NR-RAN120).

In addition to the networks120,122and124the network arrangement100also includes a cellular core network130, the Internet140, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)150, and a network services backbone160. The cellular core network130may be considered to be the interconnected set of components that manages the operation and traffic of the cellular network, e.g. the 5GC for NR. The cellular core network130also manages the traffic that flows between the cellular network and the Internet140.

The IMS150may be generally described as an architecture for delivering multimedia services to the UE110using the IP protocol. The IMS150may communicate with the cellular core network130and the Internet140to provide the multimedia services to the UE110. The network services backbone160is in communication either directly or indirectly with the Internet140and the cellular core network130. The network services backbone160may be generally described as a set of components (e.g., servers, network storage arrangements, etc.) that implement a suite of services that may be used to extend the functionalities of the UE110in communication with the various networks.

FIG.2shows an exemplary UE110according to various exemplary embodiments. The UE110will be described with regard to the network arrangement100ofFIG.1. For purposes of this discussion, the UE110may be considered to be a reduced capability (RedCap) UE. However, it should be noted that the UE110may represent any electronic device and may include a processor205, a memory arrangement210, a display device215, an input/output (I/O) device220, a transceiver225and other components230. The other components230may include, for example, an audio input device, an audio output device, a battery that provides a limited power supply, a data acquisition device, ports to electrically connect the UE110to other electronic devices, one or more antenna panels, etc. For example, the UE110may be coupled to an industrial device via one or more ports.

The processor205may be configured to execute a plurality of engines of the UE110. For example, the engines may include a RedCap management engine235. The RedCap management engine235may perform various operations related to determining whether the UE110meets criteria identified in a broadcast received from a network, relaying capabilities of the UE110to the network, etc.

The memory arrangement210may be a hardware component configured to store data related to operations performed by the UE110. The display device215may be a hardware component configured to show data to a user while the I/O device220may be a hardware component that enables the user to enter inputs. The display device215and the I/O device220may be separate components or integrated together such as a touchscreen. The transceiver225may be a hardware component configured to establish a connection with the 5G NR-RAN120, the LTE-RAN122, the WLAN124, etc. Accordingly, the transceiver225may operate on a variety of different frequencies or channels (e.g., set of consecutive frequencies).

FIG.3shows an exemplary network cell, in this case gNB120A, according to various exemplary embodiments. The gNB120A may represent any access node of the 5G NR network through which the UEs110may establish a connection. The gNB120A illustrated inFIG.3may also represent the gNB120B.

The gNB120A may include a processor305, a memory arrangement310, an input/output (I/O) device320, a transceiver325, and other components330. The other components330may include, for example, a power supply, a data acquisition device, ports to electrically connect the gNB120A to other electronic devices, etc.

The processor305may be configured to execute a plurality of engines of the gNB120A. For example, the engines may include a RedCap access management engine335for performing operations including managing access to the gNB120A by RedCap UEs. Examples of managing access will be described in greater detail below.

The above noted engine being an application (e.g., a program) executed by the processor305is only exemplary. The functionality associated with the engines may also be represented as a separate incorporated component of the gNB120A or may be a modular component coupled to the gNB120A, e.g., an integrated circuit with or without firmware. For example, the integrated circuit may include input circuitry to receive signals and processing circuitry to process the signals and other information. In addition, in some gNBs, the functionality described for the processor305is split among a plurality of processors (e.g., a baseband processor, an applications processor, etc.). The exemplary aspects may be implemented in any of these or other configurations of a gNB.

The memory310may be a hardware component configured to store data related to operations performed by the UEs110,112. The I/O device320may be a hardware component or ports that enable a user to interact with the gNB120A. The transceiver325may be a hardware component configured to exchange data with the UE110and any other UE in the system100. The transceiver325may operate on a variety of different frequencies or channels (e.g., set of consecutive frequencies). Therefore, the transceiver325may include one or more components (e.g., radios) to enable the data exchange with the various networks and UEs.

FIG.4shows a signaling diagram400illustrating a registration procedure according to various exemplary embodiments. As will be described in greater detail below, the registration procedure for the RedCap UE may have two stages. The first stage may be considered to be a coarse filter, while the second stage may be considered to be a finer filter to determine whether the RedCap UE may access a particular gNB.

At405, the gNB broadcasts system information (SI) including access restrictions in system information block1(SIB1). The number and type of access restrictions may vary and some examples are provided below. However, as described above, the stage 1 access restrictions may generally be considered to be a coarse filter.

In some embodiments, to determine the access restrictions, the UEs may be classified into different categories. For example, UEs may simply be classified as either RedCap UEs or non-RedCap UEs. In such embodiments, the SIB1may include an access restriction that indicates that RedCap UEs are not allowed to access the gNB120A.

In other exemplary embodiments, UEs may additionally or alternatively be classified using UE categories (category 0, 1, 2, etc.) similar to those used in LTE, with each category having an allocated data rate. In such an embodiment, further details pertaining to parameters of the UE110may be utilized in addition to the UE category. For example, these details may include the bandwidth supported by the UE, downlink and uplink data rates supported by the UE, numerology support, minimum and maximum hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), and physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) latency requirements. Whether or not a UE110is a RedCap UE would depend on the UE category as well as these additional details regarding the UE's capabilities. In such embodiments, at405, the SIB1broadcast by the gNB120A may include the different allowable categories and/or the additional details regarding the UE capabilities such as the examples provided above. In some exemplary embodiment, the UE110may belong to more than one category.

In further exemplary embodiments, RedCap UEs may additionally or alternatively be classified based on their capabilities. For example, in some embodiments, RedCap UEs may be classified based on uplink and downlink bandwidths supported by the RedCap UE. In such an embodiment, the broadcast at405may include the minimum supported uplink and downlink bandwidths.

In some embodiments, RedCap UEs may be classified based on their uplink and downlink data rate capabilities. In such an embodiment, the broadcast at405may include minimum uplink and downlink data rates supported. Alternatively, a range of data rate values for uplink and downlink may alternative be broadcast at405instead of a minimum value.

In some embodiments, RedCap UEs may be classified based on their mobility. In such an embodiment, the broadcast at405would include an indication as to whether the network will support a stationary RedCap UE or a non-stationary RedCap UE. Alternatively, a variant of different classes of mobility (grouping UEs using a spectrum of mobility classes between stationary and non-stationary) may be utilized in the broadcast at405.

In some embodiments, RedCap UEs may be classified based on their power saving requirements. In such an embodiment, the broadcast at405identifies UE power classes that are allowed to connect to the network. From these examples it should be clear that the gNB120A may broadcast any type of access restriction at stage 1 and one or more access restrictions may be broadcast in the SIB1transmission.

Returning toFIG.4, after the gNB120A broadcasts the SIB1, the UE110, at410, determines whether or not the UE satisfies the criteria identified in the broadcast. If the UE does not satisfy the criteria, the UE110will not be allowed to camp on the gNB120A. If, however, the UE110does satisfy the criteria, the UE110proceeds with the registration procedure to camp on the gNB120A. As described above, stage 1 (e.g., the broadcast at405and the UE determination if the criteria is met at410) serves as a coarse or pre-filter to restrict access to the gNB120A to RedCap UEs that meet predetermined criteria.

At415, the UE110performs a random access channel (RACH) procedure to attach/camp on the gNB120A. At420, the network determines whether or not the core network130has the capabilities of the UE110stored. If the core network130has the capabilities of the UE110stored, then at425, these capabilities are retrieved from the core network130. If, however, the capabilities of the UE110are not stored on the core network130, then at430, the gNB120A requests the UE capabilities from the UE110. In response, at435, the UE110transmits its capability information to the gNB120A. At440, the capability information of the UE110is stored in the core network130for future use.

Stage 2 (the determination of the UE capability in420-440) serves as a secondary filter and includes an additional one or more predetermined parameters that a RedCap UE must satisfy to be allowed to exchange data with the core network130via the gNB120A. Although the one or more predetermined parameters that the RedCap UE110must satisfy in Stage 2 may include any desired parameters, some examples of such parameters may include downlink and uplink data rates supported by the UE, the number multiple in multiple out (MIMO) layers supported, numerology support, minimum and maximum HARQ, PDSCH or PUSCH latency requirements, etc. At445, the gNB120A configures the UE110based on the UE's capability. If the capabilities of the RedCap UE110meet the predetermined parameters in Stage 2, then the configuration of the RedCap UE110at445is a radio resource control (RRC) configuration allowing the RedCap UE110to exchange data with the core network130via the gNB120A. If, however, the capabilities of the RedCap UE110do not meet the predetermined parameters in Stage 2, then the configuration of the RedCap UE110at445is to deny the UE110access to the network130via the gNB120A. In some embodiments, in addition to denying the UE110access, the gNB120A may inform the RedCap UE110of a nearby cell that does support the capabilities of the RedCap UE110.

In some embodiments, the criteria that the RedCap UE110must meet in Stage 1 before being allowed to camp on the gNB120A is/are less stringent than those of Stage 2. While the Stage 1 criteria may include one or two parameters, the criteria of Stage 2 may include any number of parameters. If newer classes of RedCap UEs are defined at a later time than the initial configuration of the network, Stage 2 may be updated with these newer classes. Adding new criteria to the Stage 2 filtering instead of the stage 1 filtering allows updates to be made without having to rebroadcast the updated information or having to update any UEs that previously were denied access to the network because they did not meet the initial criteria defined in Stage 1.

Although this application described various aspects each having different features in various combinations, those skilled in the art will understand that any of the features of one aspect may be combined with the features of the other aspects in any manner not specifically disclaimed or which is not functionally or logically inconsistent with the operation of the device or the stated functions of the disclosed aspects.