Device Proxy for Wireless Data Delivery via Potential Bearer

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless networks, efficiently utilizing radio resources to transmit content data to wireless devices while minimizing costs and ensuring timely delivery, especially when radio conditions and traffic load vary, is challenging due to the need for varying transmission power and coding bits, leading to higher costs for less important data.

Innovation Solution

A device proxy is implemented to classify data as 'potential' or 'non-potential' based on delay sensitivity, using a potential data bearer when available and switching to other bearers during high traffic or poor conditions, allowing proactive data fetching and storage in an intermediate buffer for efficient and cost-effective delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is transmitted over radio interface in wireless network, then data delivery is achieved, but network cost increases due to varying transmission power and coding bits requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata deliveryVSAvoidnetwork cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The device proxy proactively fetches content data from the data source before the media player actually needs it for playout. By anticipating future data requirements and retrieving data in advance when radio conditions are favorable, the system avoids costly last-minute transmissions during high-traffic or poor radio condition periods, thus reducing overall network cost while ensuring data availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A device proxy is introduced as an intermediary component between the media player and the data source. The proxy handles the complexity of data retrieval by monitoring radio conditions, selecting appropriate data bearers, and managing buffer storage. This intermediary absorbs the variability of radio conditions and transmission costs, shielding the media player from these fluctuations while optimizing data delivery timing and path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If transmission power is increased to ensure data arrival in time, then data delivery reliability improves, but network cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata arrival timelinessVSAvoidtransmission power cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Data is fetched in advance during periods when radio conditions are good and transmission power requirements are lower. By retrieving data before the critical playout deadline rather than at the last moment, the system can use lower transmission power while still meeting delivery timing requirements, thus reducing energy cost without sacrificing timeliness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts the data retrieval strategy based on current radio conditions and traffic load. When conditions are favorable, data is fetched proactively with lower power requirements. When conditions deteriorate or traffic increases, the system adjusts by relying on previously buffered data or prioritizing critical data transmissions, thereby optimizing power usage while maintaining delivery reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If proactive data fetching is implemented, then efficient resource utilization is achieved, but device complexity increases due to buffer management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidbuffer management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device proxy serves as an intermediary that centralizes and manages the buffer storage and data retrieval logic. By concentrating buffer management functions in the proxy rather than distributing complexity across multiple components, the system achieves efficient resource utilization while containing complexity in a dedicated management entity that can optimize buffer operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The device proxy autonomously monitors radio conditions, determines optimal data fetching timing, manages buffer storage levels, and selects appropriate data bearers without requiring complex coordination with other system components. This self-service capability simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining high resource utilization efficiency through intelligent, autonomous decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3711452B1Method and device proxy for handling radio communication of data to a wireless device
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3711452B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3711452B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3711452B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method and a device proxy (206) for handling radio communication of content data from a data source (204) to be played out on a media player (208) of a wireless device (200) in a wireless network. When detecting that a potential data class is available, the device proxy (206) fetches segments of the content data from the data source over a potential data bearer dedicated for data of said potential data class. The potential data bearer is dedicated for data of the potential data class, which is less sensitive to delay than data of other data classes. The potential data bearer is also less costly to use compared to other data bearer(s). The fetched segments of content data are stored by the device proxy (206) in an intermediate buffer (206A), and the segments of content data are delivered from the intermediate buffer when requested by the media player (208).