Multi-Carrier Network Acknowledgement Resilience

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-carrier wireless telecommunications networks, the reconfiguration of carrier configurations can lead to inefficiencies and reduced functionality due to misinterpretation of feedback messages by base stations, especially when secondary carriers are deactivated or activated, as existing methods lack sufficient resilience and reliability in acknowledging control messages.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves receiving a control message, encoding an acknowledgement of safe receipt, transmitting the acknowledgement, and re-transmitting it after a predetermined period, with additional coding to reduce misinterpretation, allowing for increased reliability and successful receipt by the base station, even in scenarios with multiple active carriers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a base station deactivates or activates secondary carriers using control messages, then carrier configuration flexibility is improved, but message misinterpretation by user equipment increases leading to reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier configuration flexibilityVSAvoidfeedback message accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where user equipment sends acknowledgment messages to base stations confirming receipt of carrier configuration control messages. This feedback loop allows the base station to verify successful message delivery and configuration application, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining carrier configuration flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces preliminary acknowledgment transmission before the actual carrier reconfiguration takes effect. By sending and confirming receipt of control messages in advance, the system ensures both ends are synchronized before changing operational state, preventing misinterpretation and ensuring reliable configuration deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If acknowledgment messages are transmitted repeatedly to ensure reliability, then message delivery certainty is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacknowledgement delivery certaintyVSAvoidretransmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic retransmission of acknowledgment messages at predetermined intervals rather than continuous transmission. This periodic action maintains reliability by ensuring messages are sent at regular intervals while minimizing time consumption by stopping transmission after sufficient confirmation or maximum retry attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates retransmission capability as a built-in safety mechanism that activates only when needed. By preparing the retransmission protocol in advance but executing it selectively based on delivery status, the system cushions against transmission failures without unnecessarily consuming time on successful first-attempt deliveries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Measurement precision

If additional coding is applied to acknowledgment messages to reduce misinterpretation, then message accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage interpretation accuracyVSAvoidencoding processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies additional coding to acknowledgment messages by modifying message parameters such as adding error detection bits, changing message format identifiers, or using encoded message types. These parameter changes increase interpretation accuracy without requiring complete redesign of the communication protocol, thus managing complexity while improving precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2398176B1Multi carrier network configuration

Publication Date: 2013.05.15 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

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AI summary

A method of acknowledging receipt of a control message instructing a change in carrier configuration in a multi-carrier wireless telecommunication network. The multi-carrier wireless telecommunications network comprises a plurality of network nodes operable to simultaneously transmit and receive signals on more than one radio frequency carrier within a sector of the telecommunications network. The method comprises the steps of: receiving the control message, encoding an acknowledgement of safe receipt of the control message, transmitting the acknowledgement of safe receipt, and a predetermined period after the transmission of the acknowledgement of safe receipt, re-transmitting the acknowledgement of safe receipt.