5G Broadcast Mode Switching Without Session Re-Establishment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing 5G broadcast service switching between broadcast and unicast modes causes interruptions and affects performance due to the need for disconnecting and re-establishing network connections, limiting flexibility and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method involving trigger coordination between a terminal and an application server to initiate mode switching, with network elements configuring parameters to enable seamless transitions between broadcast and multicast modes, using 5G network architecture components like NEF, NRF, PCF, UDM, AF, AUSF, AMF, SMF, and UPF, and RAN devices to manage radio resources dynamically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal disconnects from the network side and re-establishes a session to switch between broadcast mode and unicast mode, then mode switching is achieved, but the broadcast service is interrupted and performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemode switching capabilityVSAvoidbroadcast service continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal pre-establishes a unicast connection in advance before mode switching is needed. This preliminary action ensures that when switching from broadcast to unicast mode is required, the terminal can immediately utilize the pre-established unicast connection without disconnection or re-establishment, thereby avoiding service interruption and maintaining broadcast service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal disconnects and re-establishes connection for mode switching, then mode flexibility is achieved, but service fluency and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemode switching flexibilityVSAvoidbroadcast service efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal pre-establishes a unicast connection in advance before mode switching is needed. This preliminary action ensures that when switching from broadcast to unicast mode is required, the terminal can immediately utilize the pre-established unicast connection without disconnection or re-establishment, thereby avoiding service interruption and maintaining broadcast service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By pre-establishing the unicast connection, the patent ensures continuous service delivery during mode transitions. The unicast connection remains active and ready to carry broadcast service data seamlessly, eliminating gaps or interruptions in the service flow, thus maintaining continuous useful action during mode switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If the terminal maintains both broadcast and unicast connections simultaneously, then seamless mode switching is achieved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice fluencyVSAvoidconnection management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by maintaining different types of connections (broadcast and unicast) with distinct characteristics for different purposes. The broadcast connection is maintained for efficient group communication, while a separate unicast connection is pre-established for individualized service delivery. Each connection type has its own optimization characteristics, allowing seamless switching without requiring both connections to be fully active simultaneously, thus managing complexity locally rather than globally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4002918B1Mode switching method for broadcasting services and related device
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP4002918B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4002918B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4002918B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A mode switching method for broadcasting services and a related device: trigger coordination with an application server is established by means of a terminal so as to determine an trigger instruction configured to instruct the switching of a broadcast mode of the terminal; then according to the trigger instruction, an access network device is enabled to send a switching request to a functional network element, and the functional network element configures corresponding mode parameters according to a switched mode; the mode parameters are used to instruct the access network device to update execution parameters so as to determine configuration parameters and send same to the terminal; next, the terminal is switched to a corresponding broadcast mode according to the configuration parameters so as to establish a wireless connection with the access network device. Thus, a communication system implements switching between broadcast and multicast modes to support service flexibility and improve the fluency of the communication process.