Cellular Network Timeout Determination for Low-Latency Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern cellular networks face challenges in achieving low-latency communication while managing increased traffic loads, which complicates design requirements for future communication systems.

Innovation Solution

The technique involves determining a timeout point in time for communication services within a cellular network by tracking the transmission and processing delays of messages across the network, allowing for accurate latency estimation and appropriate action to ensure low-latency data delivery. This is achieved through time-synchronized communication channels, timestamp information, and discard timers to manage data delivery effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If low-latency communication is implemented in cellular networks, then latency is reduced to meet QoS requirements, but traffic load management becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by determining timeout points in advance based on transmission time and processing time calculations. The network node calculates the timeout point when a message is first transmitted, establishing a predetermined deadline for acknowledgment before actual communication delays occur. This proactive timing management enables low-latency communication by pre-planning retransmission schedules and resource allocation, avoiding complex real-time decision-making under traffic load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If timeout monitoring is implemented for low-latency services, then communication delays are accurately managed, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatency measurement accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network node acts as an intermediary that centralizes timeout determination and monitoring functions. Instead of requiring complex coordination between multiple network entities, the patent designates a specific network node to calculate timeout points based on transmission time and processing time, then monitor whether acknowledgments are received by these timeout points. This intermediary approach achieves precise latency measurement while avoiding distributed system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3375116B1Timeout of a communication radio link
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3375116B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP3375116B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3375116B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A message (302) is received via a time-synchronized communication channel (250) implemented on a radio link of a cellular network (100) from a terminal (130). The message (302) includes data (301) associated with the service implemented by the terminal (130) and a node (112) of the cellular network (100). The message (302) has been transmitted by the terminal (130) at a first point in time (352). A timeout point in time (371) of communication associated with the service is determined based on the first point in time (352).