Application-Aware RAT Selection in User Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cellular network technologies, such as LTE, lack efficient methods to manage radio access technology (RAT) preferences for applications on user equipment (UE), leading to higher charges for data communication and inefficient resource utilization due to all applications using the highest available RAT, even if not necessary.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method in UE to determine and prioritize the preferred RAT for each application, allowing or disallowing communication based on the preferred RAT and the currently used RAT, and switching to the preferred RAT when available, while suspending or delaying lower priority applications if necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all applications use the highest available RAT, then communication quality is improved, but data communication costs increase and resource utilization becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoiddata communication costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different applications to have different RAT preferences based on their specific requirements. Instead of uniformly using the highest RAT for all applications, each application can specify its preferred RAT (e.g., LTE, WCDMA, GSM) according to its communication quality needs, thereby optimizing cost-efficiency while maintaining necessary service quality for each application type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the RAT selection based on application preferences, current network conditions, and available carriers. The system can switch between different RAT parameters (LTE, WCDMA, GSM) and carrier configurations to optimize both communication quality and cost, allowing flexible adaptation rather than fixed highest-RAT usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If all applications use the highest available RAT, then communication speed is improved, but network resource utilization becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidnetwork resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by matching different applications to appropriate RATs based on their speed requirements. Critical applications requiring high speed can use LTE, while less demanding applications can use WCDMA or GSM, thereby achieving adequate speed for each application while improving overall network resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by providing the highest communication speed (LTE) only to applications that specifically require it, rather than universally applying highest-speed connectivity to all applications. This selective approach ensures sufficient speed for each application's needs while preventing unnecessary consumption of high-speed network resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of energy

If the UE switches to the preferred RAT for an application, then communication cost is reduced, but connection establishment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication costVSAvoidconnection establishment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring application preference information and available carrier lists in the UE before actual data communication begins. When an application requests connectivity, the system can quickly match the application's preferred RAT with available carriers, significantly reducing connection establishment time compared to determining preferences in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by enabling flexible switching between different RATs and carriers based on real-time conditions. The system can dynamically adjust the connection strategy, switching between preferred RAT (for cost savings) and alternative RATs (for faster connection), thereby balancing communication cost reduction with acceptable connection establishment time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3254501B1Radio access technology (RAT) selection in user equipment (UE) based on application preference
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3254501B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3254501B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3254501B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The UE communicates with one or more base stations. The UE determines a first preferred RAT of a first application. The UE determines an RAT used on a first carrier in communication with the one or more base stations. The UE selectively allows and disallows the first application to communicate data with the one or more base stations on the first carrier based on the RAT used on the first carrier and the first preferred RAT.