Access Terminal DAP Handoff via Feedback and Partial Initiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, the existing DAP handoff process is inefficient and prone to errors due to asynchronous operations among communication entities, leading to incorrect DAP assignment and inefficient resource utilization, especially when the Access Terminal (AT) lacks knowledge of the handoff process, resulting in unnecessary signaling and resource tying up.
Innovation Solution
The Access Terminal initiates the DAP handoff process by considering link conditions and time stamps, and communicates with communication entities to ensure accurate DAP registration status, thereby preventing race conditions and ensuring efficient resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the DAP handoff is initiated by the network entity (AN-initiated handoff), then the handoff process is transparent to the Access Terminal, but the Access Terminal lacks knowledge of the handoff which may lead to incorrect DAP assignment and unnecessary signaling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the Access Terminal reports its observed DAP assignments and handoff events back to the network entity. This allows the network to verify and correct DAP assignments, resolving the contradiction by maintaining transparency while improving accuracy through terminal feedback on actual handoff outcomes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordination mechanism where the Access Terminal acts as an intermediary that observes and reports handoff events to the network entity. This intermediary role allows the terminal to provide valuable information about actual handoff outcomes without taking control of the handoff initiation, thus maintaining network control while improving assignment accuracy
2Reliability
If the Access Terminal initiates the DAP handoff process, then the accuracy of DAP assignment is improved, but the complexity of the terminal device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial initiation where the Access Terminal initiates handoff based on observed conditions (such as detecting when it has been assigned a different DAP than expected), but the final DAP assignment is still confirmed and controlled by the network entity. This partial action approach improves accuracy without requiring full terminal control, thus limiting the increase in terminal complexity
3Reliability
If the network entity continuously monitors and manages DAP assignments, then the reliability of DAP assignment is improved, but the signaling overhead and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring where the network entity and Access Terminal check DAP assignment consistency at specific intervals or triggered events (such as handoff events), rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic approach maintains reliability by detecting assignment errors while significantly reducing signaling overhead compared to continuous monitoring
Data Source
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AI summary
In a communication system in which a gateway entity (32) is linked to a plurality of infrastructure entities which in turn are operable to communicate with an access terminal (44), the access terminal needs first to establish a data attachment point (DAP) with one of the infrastructure entities (34). Handoff of the DAP from one infrastructure entity (34) to another infrastructure entity (36) is initiated by the access terminal (44). The access terminal weighs factors such as the link conditions with the various infrastructure entities, the time since the last DAP handoff, and time duration communicating with the current infrastructure entity before proceeding with the DAP handoff.