IP Verse

Apparatus And Method For Acquisition Of Periodically Broadcasted System Information In Wireless Communication

Patent No. US11019557 (titled "Apparatus And Method For Acquisition Of Periodically Broadcasted System Information In Wireless Communication") was filed by Active Wireless Technologies Llc on May 10, 2019.

What is this patent about?

’557 is related to the field of wireless communication systems, specifically addressing the efficient acquisition and updating of system information (SI) by user equipment (UE) within a radio access network (RAN). In modern cellular networks like LTE and 5G NR, base stations broadcast essential information (MIB/SIBs) that UEs need to access the network. However, broadcasting all information periodically can waste valuable radio resources, especially in small cell deployments, motivating more efficient methods for SI transmission.

The underlying idea behind ’557 is to provide a mechanism for a UE to detect and respond to failures in acquiring system information, particularly when relying on periodic broadcasts. The key inventive insight is that if a UE repeatedly fails to receive a periodically broadcast SI message, it should re-acquire the first type SIB (containing scheduling and broadcast status) to ensure it has the most up-to-date information. This allows the UE to adapt to changes in the network, such as the base station ceasing to broadcast a particular SI message.

The claims of ’557 focus on a user equipment (UE) and a base station apparatus within a radio access network (RAN). The UE receives a first type system information block (SIB) that includes scheduling information for a system information (SI) message, an indication of the broadcast status of the SI message, and a parameter associated with a condition for determining failure of the SI message acquisition process. The UE initiates an SI message acquisition process based on the broadcast status and, upon failure to acquire the SI message, initiates a re-acquisition process to re-acquire the first type SIB. The base station transmits the first type SIB and broadcasts the SI message, enabling the UE to re-acquire the SIB if the SI message acquisition fails.

In practice, the invention allows a UE to intelligently handle situations where it cannot receive a periodically broadcast SI message. This could occur if the base station temporarily broadcasts the SI message in response to a request from another UE and then stops broadcasting it. By re-acquiring the first type SIB upon failure, the UE can determine if the SI message is still being broadcast and adjust its acquisition strategy accordingly. The termination condition parameter allows the network to configure how long the UE should attempt to acquire the SI message before giving up and re-acquiring the first type SIB.

This approach differs from prior solutions that assume SI messages are always broadcast periodically. By introducing a failure detection mechanism and a re-acquisition process, ’557 enables more efficient use of radio resources and improves the robustness of SI acquisition. The use of a counter or timer as a termination condition provides flexibility in configuring the failure detection mechanism, allowing the network to balance the need for timely SI acquisition with the desire to minimize unnecessary re-acquisition attempts.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the late 2010s when ’557 was filed, wireless communication systems commonly relied on base stations broadcasting system information to wireless terminals within their coverage area, at a time when LTE and LTE-A were widely adopted, and when hardware or software constraints made efficient use of radio resources in small cell deployments non-trivial.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The claims were rejected in a final office action based on 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over prior art references. The claims were also provisionally rejected for nonstatutory double patenting over a copending application. Applicant's arguments were considered moot. It is not clear from the prosecution record the specific claim changes or technical reasoning that led to allowance.

Claims

This patent contains 16 claims, of which claims 1, 5, 9, and 13 are independent. The independent claims are directed to a user equipment, a method for a user equipment, a base station apparatus, and a method for a base station apparatus, respectively, all relating to system information block (SIB) transmission and re-acquisition in a radio access network (RAN). The dependent claims generally elaborate on or further define the elements and steps recited in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
First type SIB
(Claim 1, Claim 5, Claim 9, Claim 13)		“In various aspects of the technology disclosed herein, system information is classified into plural categories or types. In an example embodiment and mode, a first type of the system information is Minimum System Information (Minimum SI), minimally containing information required for UEs initially access to the network, periodically broadcasted by each access node (e.g. eNB for LTE, gNB for 5G Radio System). In some configurations, Minimum System SI may consist of MIB and a limited number of SIBs.”A system information block that includes scheduling information for a system information message (SI message) and an indication of broadcast status for the SI message.
Second type SIB
(Claim 1, Claim 5, Claim 9, Claim 13)		“A second type of system information, e.g., “Other system information, “Other SI”, or second type system information contains all the other types of information, i.e., all types of system information except the Minimum System Information. The Other SI may comprise several system information blocks (SIBs) that are not categorized as Minimum SI. The Other SI may be also referred as “non-essential SI”.”A system information block included in the SI message, which is not part of the first type SIB.
SI message
(Claim 1, Claim 5, Claim 9, Claim 13)		“A second type of system information, e.g., “Other system information, “Other SI”, or second type system information contains all the other types of information, i.e., all types of system information except the Minimum System Information. The Other SI may comprise several system information blocks (SIBs) that are not categorized as Minimum SI. The Other SI may be also referred as “non-essential SI”.”A system information message that includes at least one second type SIB.
SI message acquisition process
(Claim 1, Claim 5, Claim 9, Claim 13)		“In one of its example aspects the technology disclosed herein concerns a wireless terminal which communicates over a radio interface with an access node of a radio access network (RAN). The processor circuitry is further configured to initiate an SI message acquisition process to receive the SI message. In a case that a stored version of one of the at least one second type SIB is not valid, the first type SIB acquisition process is initiated upon a failure of the SI message acquisition process.”A process to receive the SI message from the base station apparatus.
SI windows
(Claim 1, Claim 5, Claim 9, Claim 13)		“Each access node, such as an evolved NodeB (“eNB”) or a gNB in the 5G New Radio (NR) System, broadcasts such system information to its coverage area via a Master Information Block (MIB) and several System Information Blocks (SIBs) on downlink radio resources allocated to the access node. A wireless terminal (“UE”), after entering a coverage area of an eNB or gNB, is required to obtain all the MIB/SIBs which are necessary to access to the system. For sake of UEs under coverage, the eNB or gNB periodically broadcasts all MIB/SIBs relevant for offered services, where each type of MIB or SIBs is transmitted in a designated radio resource(s) with its own pre-determined/configurable frequency.”Periodically occurring time windows in which the SI message is transmitted.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
1:25-cv-01945Nov 26, 2025Active Wireless Technologies LLC v. Qualcomm Incorporated
2:25-cv-01174Nov 26, 2025Active Wireless Technologies LLC v. LG Electronics Inc.
2:25-cv-01171Nov 26, 2025Active Wireless Technologies LLC v. BLU Products, Inc.

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US11019557

ACTIVE WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Application Number
US16408922
Filing Date
May 10, 2019
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
May 10, 2039
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents