Backup Communication Session Resource Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication methods waste resources by maintaining redundant communication paths that are not needed unless a failure occurs, as they are always active, which is inefficient when no failure happens.

Innovation Solution

A method where a second communication session is established as a backup for the first session but kept inactive until needed, avoiding resource allocation for data exchange until a failure is detected in the first session, allowing swift activation of the backup path without wasting resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If redundant communication connections are provided in parallel for safeguarding against failure, then reliability is improved, but communication resources are wasted when no failure occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication resource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the backup communication connection transitions between inactive (resource-saving) and active (resource-consuming) states based on the operational status of the primary connection. Resources are allocated to the backup path only when failure is detected, making the system adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes the backup communication connection in advance but keeps it inactive with resources not allocated, allowing immediate failover capability. The backup path is prepared beforehand (registration and session establishment) but resources are only consumed when actually needed, combining prevention with resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If backup communication resources are always allocated, then failure recovery speed is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure recovery timeVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts resource allocation timing - resources are allocated to the backup connection at the moment of failure detection rather than continuously. This dynamic approach minimizes the time resources are not being used productively while ensuring rapid failover capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the resource allocation parameter from a constant state (always allocated) to a conditional state (allocated only upon failure detection). This parameter change optimizes the balance between recovery speed and resource efficiency by adjusting resource availability based on system conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a second communication session is established as backup, then service continuity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidsession management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions of registering the backup access network and establishing the second PDU session in advance, but keeps these sessions inactive with no resources allocated. This preliminary setup reduces failover time while the inactive state prevents complexity from manifesting in resource management during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the backup session management from the active resource allocation process. The second PDU session is established and maintained separately from the active first session, with resource allocation decoupled - the backup session exists independently but consumes resources only when activated upon failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4307826A1Method for safeguarding against communication failure
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP4307826A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4307826A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4307826A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a method for safeguarding against communication failure is described comprising receiving a first request from a mobile terminal for an establishment of a communication session, establishing a first communication session via a first radio access network, receiving a second request from the mobile terminal for a communication session, determining whether the second communication session is to be a backup communication session for the first communication session, and establishing a second communication session via the second radio access network, wherein, if the second communication session is to be a backup communication session for the first communication session, the second radio access network is controlled to avoid allocation of communication resources for data exchange between the mobile terminal and the terminal via the second communication until being notified otherwise.