Dynamic Broadcast-Unicast Switching for Wireless Service Continuity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless technologies face challenges in maintaining continuous streaming of multimedia content, particularly premium video content, when a mobile device moves between broadcast and unicast service areas, leading to potential service interruptions and battery life issues due to intensive processing requirements.

Innovation Solution

A system that dynamically switches between broadcast and unicast services by detecting movement between service areas and initiating a unicast transmission using a unicast enabled access point, establishing a bearer communication channel, and buffering data to ensure continuous streaming without service interruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If broadcast service is used for streaming multimedia content, then service coverage and battery life are improved, but service continuity is worsened when moving between broadcast and unicast service areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidservice area coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between broadcast and unicast services based on the mobile device's location and service area coverage. The network determines whether to use broadcast or unicast mode by evaluating coverage information and device position, enabling adaptive service delivery that maintains continuity across different service areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The network acts as an intermediary that manages the transition between broadcast and unicast services. It receives coverage information from the mobile device, determines the appropriate service mode, and coordinates the switching process to ensure continuous content delivery without interruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If unicast service is used to ensure continuous streaming, then service continuity is improved, but battery drain increases due to intensive processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestreaming continuityVSAvoidbattery drain

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the service mode based on coverage availability. When broadcast service is available and the device is within coverage area, it uses energy-efficient broadcast mode. When moving outside broadcast coverage, it automatically switches to unicast mode to maintain continuity, thus optimizing energy consumption while ensuring continuous streaming

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the service delivery parameter (broadcast vs. unicast mode) based on the mobile device's coverage status. This parameter switching allows the system to leverage the energy efficiency of broadcast mode when available while maintaining the reliability of unicast mode when needed, balancing energy consumption with service continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If broadcast service is used for multimedia streaming, then energy efficiency is improved, but service reliability is worsened when transitioning between service areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidservice reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary actions by receiving coverage information from the mobile device before service area transitions occur. It proactively determines the appropriate service mode (broadcast or unicast) based on predicted coverage status, preparing the necessary transmission parameters in advance to ensure reliable and efficient service delivery during transitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from coverage information provided by the mobile device to continuously monitor and adjust service delivery. This feedback mechanism enables the network to real-time determine whether broadcast or unicast mode is appropriate, ensuring both energy efficiency and service reliability by adapting to changing coverage conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10375528B2Dynamically switching between broadcast and unicast services for service continuity between wireless networks

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Dynamically switching between broadcast and unicast services for service continuity between wireless networks is presented herein. A system can comprise a detection component configured to determine that a mobile device is receiving a broadcast transmission of broadcast data from a broadcast enabled access point device configured to send, via a broadcast service wireless coverage area, the broadcast data to multiple devices via a point-to-multipoint communication protocol. Further, the detection component can detect a movement of the mobile device from the broadcast service wireless coverage area to a unicast service wireless coverage area. A transfer component can initiate, in response to the detection, a unicast transmission of the broadcast data from a unicast enabled access point device to the mobile device—the unicast enabled access point device configured to send, via the unicast service wireless coverage area, the broadcast data to a single device via a point-to-point communication protocol.