Mobile Network Control Loop Pause Points for Safe Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face issues with unintended consequences and the need for interactive monitoring due to automated control loop execution, lacking the ability to pause and manage control loops effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allow operators to pause and resume control loop execution with configurable pause points, providing notifications and enabling operators to review and manage control loops, reducing the need for human intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated control loop execution is implemented, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to unintended consequences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol loop execution efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol loop execution safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by notifying the operator before the control loop executes automated actions that could have unintended consequences. The notification is sent in advance, allowing the operator to review and approve or reject the proposed actions, thus preventing potential reliability issues before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by requiring operator approval for automated control loop actions. The operator receives notifications about upcoming actions and provides feedback through approval or rejection, creating a closed-loop system that ensures reliability while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If automated control loop execution is implemented, then loss of time is reduced, but loss of information increases due to lack of operator awareness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator monitoring timeVSAvoidoperator awareness of control loop actions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system compensates for the loss of operator awareness by implementing feedback through notifications. When the control loop reaches a pause point or is about to execute an action, the system notifies the operator with relevant information, ensuring the operator remains informed without requiring continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control loop system serves itself by automatically notifying the operator only when necessary, rather than requiring the operator to continuously monitor and query the system. This self-service approach maintains operator awareness while minimizing the time the operator needs to spend on monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If operator approval is required for control loop actions, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to additional review steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol loop execution safetyVSAvoidcontrol loop execution speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by requiring operator approval only for specific actions that could have unintended consequences, rather than requiring approval for every single control loop action. This selective approach maintains reliability for critical operations while preserving productivity for routine operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary notification to the operator, allowing them to prepare for approval decisions in advance. This preliminary action reduces the time required for actual approval by ensuring the operator is already aware and prepared when the request is presented.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If continuous operator monitoring is implemented, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to human intervention requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol loop execution safetyVSAvoidinteractive monitoring time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces continuous monitoring with feedback-based monitoring. Instead of requiring the operator to continuously watch the control loop, the system provides feedback notifications at specific pause points or before critical actions, allowing the operator to intervene only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts the monitoring function from continuous operator attention and implements it as event-driven notifications. The operator is taken out of continuous monitoring mode and only needs to engage when the system extracts and presents specific events requiring attention, reducing time loss while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12567995B2Method and system to pause control loop execution

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD

AI summary

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for pausing control loop execution. In various examples, an apparatus includes a management service producer for execution management of a control loop of a mobile network, the management service producer that communicates with an operator entity of the mobile network; and one or more pause points associated to the control loop that are configurable to pause or allow message flow between a service producer at a selected stage of the control loop and a service consumer at the next stage of the control loop in response to a selected pause point of the one or more pause points being reached based on whether the selected pause point is enabled or disabled.