Adjustable Delay Injector for Packet-Switched Backhaul Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile telephony backhaul networks face challenges with differential delay and jitter due to the transition from circuit-switched to packet-switched technologies, which can disrupt communication systems and cause dropped calls in overlapping coverage areas.
Innovation Solution
A network management system with an Adjustable Delay Injector (ADI) is implemented to identify and manage communication paths between wireless base terminals and mobile telephone switching offices, injecting delays to ensure desired differential delay and jitter thresholds are met, using a controller and database to provision network elements and routers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If packet-switched backhaul networks are used to reduce cost and increase features, then network flexibility and cost-effectiveness are improved, but differential delay and jitter increase causing dropped calls
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores multiple alternative communication paths between WBTs and MTSO in a database before actual call routing is needed. When a call is established, the system quickly selects from pre-evaluated paths based on current network conditions, avoiding real-time path computation delays and ensuring rapid response to differential delay issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors communication path performance metrics including differential delay and jitter in real-time. Based on this feedback, the network management system dynamically adjusts path selection and can switch to alternative paths when degradation is detected, maintaining call stability despite packet-switched network variability.
2Reliability
If multiple wireless base terminals cover overlapping geographic areas, then coverage reliability is improved, but differential delay between multiple paths increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the backhaul network into multiple independent communication paths between WBTs and MTSO, each with measurable delay characteristics. By treating each path as a separate segment with known performance properties, the system can calculate and compensate for differential delay through selective path assignment and delay injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the delay parameter of communication paths by injecting artificial delays in the ADI device. This allows the system to equalize arrival times of signals from multiple WBTs at the MTSO, ensuring that differential delay remains within acceptable thresholds while maintaining overlapping coverage benefits.
3Manufacturing precision
If artificial delay is injected to equalize path delays, then differential delay compliance is improved, but total transmission time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies delay injection locally and selectively only to specific communication paths that exceed the differential delay threshold, rather than uniformly delaying all paths. The ADI device measures the delay characteristic of each path and injects delay only where needed to achieve compliance, minimizing the impact on overall transmission time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies delay injection only to the extent necessary to meet differential delay requirements, using minimal delay where possible. By measuring actual path delays and calculating the precise delay needed for compliance, the system avoids excessive delay injection that would unnecessarily increase total transmission time while still achieving the required precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for managing a communication system is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system having a network configuration element that identifies for each of a plurality of wireless base terminals (WBTs) a resultant communication path to a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) according to a plurality of performance characteristics and a delay injected into at least one of a plurality of alternative communication paths connecting combinations of the WBTs to the MTSO. Additional embodiments are disclosed.