Direct Mode Communication Probe Token Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems lack an efficient method to determine whether a direct radio communication link is preferable over a network connection between user equipment, especially when users are close to each other, leading to potential battery consumption and charging issues, and privacy concerns with global identifiers.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the exchange of probe signaling information and tokens between user equipment to evaluate the feasibility of a direct radio communication link, using probe tokens to compare and generate a probing report that can be evaluated by either the user equipment or a network node to decide on switching to a direct communication link.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If direct mode communication is used between two UEs, then battery consumption is reduced and bandwidth is increased, but the system complexity increases due to the need for probe signaling exchange and link evaluation mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery consumptionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by exchanging probe signaling messages and evaluating radio conditions before establishing direct mode communication. This preliminary evaluation ensures that the complexity of direct mode setup is only incurred when beneficial, thereby reducing overall battery consumption while managing system complexity effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where UEs exchange probe tokens and evaluate probing reports to determine whether to switch to direct mode. This feedback loop allows the system to dynamically adjust communication paths based on real-time conditions, optimizing energy usage while maintaining manageable complexity through automated decision-making

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If probe signaling messages are exchanged to evaluate direct link feasibility, then communication decisions are optimized, but the signaling overhead and time delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidsignaling time delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by exchanging only essential probe signaling messages containing probe tokens rather than full communication payloads. This partial exchange provides sufficient information for link evaluation while minimizing signaling overhead and time delay, thereby optimizing communication efficiency without excessive time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If global identifiers such as WLAN BSSID/SSID or Bluetooth Device Name are used for UE identification, then device discovery is simplified, but user privacy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice discoveryVSAvoiduser privacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary identifying information (probe tokens) from full device identifiers. By taking out just the essential elements needed for matching and identification while removing global identifiers, the system maintains ease of device discovery while protecting user privacy from exposure to traceable information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Loss of energy

If UEs switch from network connection to direct mode, then charging costs are reduced, but the reliability of communication may deteriorate due to lack of network infrastructure support

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging costsVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback mechanisms where UEs evaluate probing reports containing radio condition information before switching to direct mode. This feedback ensures that direct mode is only selected when radio conditions are favorable, maintaining communication reliability while reducing charging costs by avoiding unnecessary network usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary evaluation of radio conditions and link quality through probe signaling exchange before committing to direct mode communication. This preliminary action ensures that the switch to direct mode occurs only when reliability conditions are met, thereby reducing charging costs without compromising communication reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8934892B2Methods and arrangements for direct mode communication

Publication Date: 2015.01.13 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A method in a first user equipment (UE 1) connectable to a second user equipment (UE 2) via a communication network or via a direct radio communication link, of using a direct radio communication link for communication between the UEs is initiated when one of the UEs receives probe signaling information comprising a first probe token via the communication network. The UEs exchange probe signaling messages including a second and/or the first probe token at least partly according to the probe signaling information, such that one of the UEs can compare the probe tokens, generate a probing report and provide the probing report to the communication network, or to the opposite UE for evaluation in case of a successful comparison and such that a direct radio communication link can be used for communication with UE 2 in response to receiving instructions to use the second direct radio communication link from the entity by which the probing report was evaluated.