Dual Priority Device Congestion Control via Timer Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication networks, dual-priority devices face issues with congestion control due to incorrect management of Session Management (SM) and GPRS Mobility Management (GMM) back-off timers, leading to potential network congestion when priority indicators are misinterpreted, causing inappropriate timer stoppages and subsequent service initiation for low-priority services.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a controller module in mobile communication devices to manage SM and GMM congestion control back-off timers by starting them for low-priority services when rejected and not stopping them for network-initiated procedures related to existing contexts, ensuring accurate priority-based service handling and preventing unnecessary congestion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the SM congestion control back-off timer is stopped in response to a network-initiated SM procedure for an existing PDP context, then the device can respond to network requests promptly, but network congestion occurs due to inappropriate timer stoppages for low-priority services

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveResponse speed to network requestsVSAvoidNetwork congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating timer stoppage behavior based on service priority. The controller module examines the priority indicator in each SM procedure and selectively stops the back-off timer only for high-priority services, while maintaining the timer for low-priority services. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing prompt response to important network requests while preventing congestion from low-priority service initiations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the device initiates SM procedures for low-priority services during the back-off timer period, then service availability is maintained, but congestion control effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveService availabilityVSAvoidCongestion control effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the back-off timer behavior adaptive to service priority conditions. The controller module dynamically adjusts timer operation based on the priority indicator: the timer is stopped for high-priority services to ensure availability, while the timer continues running for low-priority services to maintain congestion control effectiveness. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between service availability and congestion control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If the GMM congestion control back-off timer is stopped in response to receiving a paging request for GPRS services, then the device can access services quickly, but network congestion occurs due to premature timer stoppage

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveService access timeVSAvoidNetwork congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality to GMM procedure handling by differentiating timer stoppage based on procedure type and priority. The controller module selectively stops the GMM back-off timer only for specific high-priority procedures while maintaining it for low-priority service requests. This localized approach reduces service access time for critical operations while preventing network congestion from premature timer stoppage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Device complexity

If the device does not differentiate between MS-configured and non-MS-configured dual priority scenarios, then processing is simplified, but incorrect priority handling leads to inappropriate timer management

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveProcessing complexityVSAvoidPriority indicator accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the controller module check the priority indicator and determine MS configuration status before processing SM or GMM procedures. This preliminary assessment enables the device to correctly differentiate between MS-configured and non-MS-configured dual priority scenarios, ensuring accurate timer management decisions without adding significant processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2728925B1Congestion control methods for dual priority devices and apparatuses using the same

Publication Date: 2015.01.21 HTC CORP

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AI summary

A mobile communication device configured for dual priority is provided with a wireless module and a controller module. The wireless module performs wireless transmission and reception to and from a service network. The controller module starts an SM congestion control back-off timer for an APN in response to an SM procedure being rejected by the service network, which was initiated for the APN with a first low priority indicator indicating that the mobile communication device was configured for NAS signaling low priority. The controller module does not stop the SM congestion control back-off timer for the APN in response to a second SM procedure being initiated by the service network for the APN and being related to an existed PDP context previously requested by the mobile communication device with a second low priority indicator indicating that the mobile communication device was not configured for NAS signaling low priority.