Asset Tracking Initial Access via Assistance Information

Solution Overview

Problem

Asset tracking devices mounted on moveable platforms face challenges in reducing power consumption during initial access to wireless access networks, which is time-consuming and power-intensive.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an asset tracking system that utilizes assistance information provided by a remote service to streamline the initial access process, including prioritized lists of service providers, frequency bands, and carrier frequencies, to minimize power consumption and reduce access time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If asset tracking devices perform comprehensive initial access to wireless access networks, then network connectivity is established, but power consumption increases and access time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The remote service pre-acquires and provides assistance information including prioritized lists of service providers, frequency bands, and carrier frequencies before the asset tracking device needs to access the network. This preliminary preparation allows the device to skip extensive scanning and directly connect to suitable networks, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable connectivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A remote service acts as an intermediary between the asset tracking device and wireless access networks. The remote service collects network availability information and processes assistance data, then delivers optimized access parameters to the device. This intermediary layer eliminates the need for the device to perform power-intensive autonomous network discovery and selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If asset tracking devices perform comprehensive initial access to wireless access networks, then network connectivity is established, but access time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidaccess time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The remote service pre-acquires and provides assistance information including prioritized lists of service providers, frequency bands, and carrier frequencies before the asset tracking device needs to access the network. This preliminary preparation allows the device to skip extensive scanning and directly connect to suitable networks, significantly reducing access time while ensuring reliable connectivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A remote service acts as an intermediary between the asset tracking device and wireless access networks. The remote service collects network availability information and processes assistance data, then delivers optimized access parameters to the device. This intermediary layer eliminates the need for the device to perform time-consuming autonomous network discovery and selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3533260B1Initial access of wireless access network using assistance information

Publication Date: 2025.02.19 BLACKBERRY LTD

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AI summary

In some examples, a device sends first information to a service, the first information comprising location information of the wireless device, and receives, from the service, assistance information that is based on the first information. The device performs initial access of a wireless access network using the assistance information to achieve power saving at the wireless device, and transmits second information to the service over the wireless access network node.