Access Network Device Decoupling Air and Terrestrial Interfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cross-system interoperability in mobile communications involves complex processes, excessive signaling, and long delays due to the one-to-one correspondence between air and terrestrial interfaces, which compromises user experience.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that decouples air and terrestrial interfaces by using access network devices to convert messages between different network standards, allowing direct communication between devices of different network standards, thereby simplifying the cross-system mobile communication process and reducing signaling and delay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If air interface and terrestrial interface maintain one-to-one correspondence according to network standards, then network compatibility and standard compliance are ensured, but the communication process becomes complex with excessive signaling and long delay

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork compatibilityVSAvoidcommunication process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the traditional one-to-one correspondence between air interface and terrestrial interface by introducing a mapping relationship mechanism. The access network device separately manages air interface messages and terrestrial interface messages, establishing a flexible mapping between them rather than a rigid one-to-one correspondence. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each interface while maintaining their coordination through the mapping relationship.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a message mapping mechanism as an intermediary between the air interface and terrestrial interface. The access network device acts as a mediator that converts air interface messages into corresponding terrestrial interface messages based on pre-established mapping relationships. This intermediary layer simplifies the interaction between different network standards (UMTS and LTE) by handling the conversion transparently, reducing signaling complexity and processing delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If cross-system handover follows existing inter-standard interoperation procedures, then network standard compliance is maintained, but user experience deteriorates due to complex process and long delay

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestandard complianceVSAvoidhandover delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing message mapping relationships between different network standards (UMTS and LTE) before handover occurs. The access network device prepares the mapping correspondence in advance, so that during actual handover, messages can be quickly converted and transmitted without extensive real-time processing. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces handover delay while maintaining standard compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If multiple network standards share a single radio access network device, then network cost is reduced, but interface complexity increases requiring decoupling of air and terrestrial interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork costVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the radio access network device to serve multiple network standards (UMTS and LTE) simultaneously through a universal message conversion mechanism. The access network device is designed with multi-functionality to handle both air interface protocols and terrestrial interface protocols, using a standardized message mapping framework that can accommodate different network standards without requiring separate dedicated devices for each standard. This universality reduces network deployment costs while managing interface complexity through systematic message conversion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3264858B1Mobile communications method, device and system
Publication Date: 2018.11.14 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3264858B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3264858B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP3264858B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to the field of mobile communications, and provides a mobile communications method, a device, and a system. The method includes: receiving, by an access network device by using a terrestrial interface of a first network standard between an access network and a first core network, a first terrestrial interface message of the first network standard sent by the first core network; generating, by the access network device according to an air interface protocol of an air interface of a second network standard between the access network and user equipment UE and the first terrestrial interface message, a first air interface message of the second network standard; and sending, by the access network device by using the air interface of the second network standard, the first air interface message to the UE. The method implements direct communication between network devices of different standards in a mobile communications system, thereby decoupling an air interface from a terrestrial interface, avoiding signaling and a delay that are caused by a cross-system operation, and forming a communications network supporting multiple network standards.