Access Point Connection Failure Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, connection failures between access points and the core network lead to mobile devices entering idle mode and potentially overloading neighboring cells when transitioning to new access points, as existing solutions fail to manage these transitions effectively, causing strain and impacting neighbor cell relations.

Innovation Solution

An access point monitors its connection to the core network, broadcasts notifications to mobile devices with redirect information to alternate access points, including scheduled transition times to prevent simultaneous access and manage load, allowing controlled reselection and reducing the impact on neighboring cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mobile devices enter idle mode and attempt to access different access points upon connection failure, then communication continuity is maintained, but neighboring cells experience excessive load and strain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication continuityVSAvoidstrain on neighboring cells
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The access point detects connection failure to the core network and proactively notifies mobile devices before they attempt random access to neighboring cells. By providing redirect information in advance, the system guides mobile devices to appropriate target access points, preventing uncoordinated mass transitions that would overload neighboring cells while ensuring communication continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If mobile devices simultaneously access the same access point in a neighboring cell, then reestablishment of communications is achieved, but the affected neighboring cell experiences excessive strain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereestablishment of communicationsVSAvoidexcessive strain on neighboring cell
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The access point provides redirect information including scheduled transition times to target access points before mobile devices attempt reconnection. This preliminary coordination prevents simultaneous mass access to the same neighboring cell, distributing the load over time and preventing excessive strain while ensuring all devices can reestablish communications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the access point monitors connection status and actively communicates redirect information to mobile devices. This feedback loop enables coordinated reconnection behavior, allowing mobile devices to stagger their transitions to target access points based on scheduled times, thereby preventing overload while maintaining communication reestablishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-generated harmful factors

If access points provide redirect information with scheduled transition times, then load on neighboring cells is managed, but the complexity of the notification system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload management on neighboring cellsVSAvoidnotification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The access point uses existing broadcast notification mechanisms to convey multiple types of information including redirect information and scheduled transition times. By making the notification system multi-functional, the patent avoids creating separate complex systems while still providing coordinated reconnection guidance to manage load on neighboring cells.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2215860B1Connection failure notification method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2017.11.15 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2215860B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2215860B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2215860B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An access point according to the present invention generates and broadcasts a notification message to the mobile devices serviced by an access point upon detection of a connection failure between the serving access point and a network node. The notification message controls the impact of the connection failure on neighboring cells by including redirect information that identifies one or more alternate access points for the affected mobile devices. The affected mobile devices subsequently attempt to access the access points identified by the redirect information. The notification message may also include timing information that informs the affected mobile devices when they may attempt to access an alternate access point identified by the redirect information.