Dynamic Physical Layer Switching for Wireless QoS

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless mobile communication devices face limitations in processing and storage capacity due to physical size constraints and power bottlenecks, which hinder their ability to maintain quality of service during communication sessions across varying wireless technologies.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that dynamically select and switch between multiple physical layers (such as cellular, Bluetooth, ZigBee, WLAN, and WiMAX) based on available resources and deadlines to maintain quality of service, utilizing transmission power levels and encoding schemes to optimize data transmission and reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple physical layers are utilized to maintain quality of service, then reliability and performance are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of serviceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic selection and switching between multiple physical layers (cellular, Bluetooth, WLAN, WiMAX) based on real-time QoS requirements and resource availability. The system continuously monitors communication conditions and adapts the physical layer configuration during operation, allowing the device to maintain high reliability while managing complexity through adaptive rather than static multi-layer management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal communication framework that can operate across multiple physical layers with different technologies and ranges. The system design allows a single device to universally support WPAN, WLAN, and cellular networks, enabling it to function effectively in diverse communication scenarios without requiring separate dedicated systems for each network type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If processing and storage capacity are increased to handle multiple physical layers, then quality of service is improved, but device size and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of serviceVSAvoiddevice size and weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple physical layer functionalities into a unified communication system with shared processing and storage resources. Instead of implementing separate dedicated processing units for each physical layer, the system combines them into a integrated architecture where resources are dynamically allocated based on current QoS requirements, reducing overall device size and weight while maintaining the capability to handle multiple layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts processing and storage resource allocation based on the active communication session requirements. When multiple physical layers are simultaneously active, resources are dynamically assigned to meet QoS demands without requiring permanent over-provisioning of hardware capacity, thereby minimizing device size and weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If transmission power is increased to maintain quality of service across varying wireless technologies, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of serviceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic transmission power control that adjusts power levels based on the specific physical layer being used, signal conditions, and QoS requirements. The system monitors communication quality in real-time and adapts transmission power accordingly, using higher power only when necessary to maintain QoS rather than operating at maximum power continuously, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes transmission power parameters dynamically based on the selected physical layer and current communication conditions. Different power levels are assigned to different physical layers (cellular, Bluetooth, WLAN, WiMAX) according to their specific requirements and signal characteristics, optimizing the balance between reliability and power consumption for each technology

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Use of energy by moving object

If data size is reduced through encoding schemes, then power consumption is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidencoding precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different data encoding schemes with varying compression ratios and precision requirements based on the selected physical layer and QoS needs. The system dynamically selects encoding parameters that achieve sufficient data reduction for power savings while maintaining error correction capabilities appropriate for each wireless technology's channel conditions, balancing power consumption against manufacturing precision requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2018006B1Method and system for utilizing plurality of physical layers to retain quality of service in a wireless device during a single communication session
Publication Date: 2013.08.14 BROADCOM INC
  • EP2018006B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2018006B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2018006B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless mobile communication (WMC) device may be determine a quality of service (QOS) required to communicate data. The WMC device may utilize a plurality of physical layers available in the WMC device to retain the QOS throughout the data communication. The physical layers may comprise a plurality of wireless technologies and/or a plurality of transmission power levels within each wireless technology. Selection of physical layers that may be utilized may comprise determination of available QOS through the physical layers, available power in the WMC device, and/or power requirement for communicating data via the physical layers. Data encoding may also be utilized to alter size of communicated data while retaining the required QOS. Data encoding may comprise utilizing encoding schemes, data compression, and/or redundancy bits. A set of deadlines may be utilized to enable switching between available physical layers to ensure maintaining and/or achieving required QOS.