Dynamic Timeslot Reduction in Mobile Communication Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication systems, dynamic timeslot reduction (DTR) is often asynchronous between the network and the mobile station, leading to inefficiencies and uncertainties, resulting in unnecessary battery power consumption and suboptimal resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

The method involves transmitting a radio block with an indication to enter DTR mode and, before confirming the mobile station's status, retransmitting blocks using non-monitored timeslots to ensure data delivery and minimize delays, thereby allowing the mobile station to enter DTR mode efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the mobile station enters DTR mode immediately upon receiving the indication, then battery consumption is reduced, but uncertainty and delays occur because the network has not yet confirmed the mobile station's status

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery consumptionVSAvoidsynchronization between network and mobile station
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary retransmissions of data blocks using non-monitored timeslots before the mobile station fully enters DTR mode. This preliminary action ensures that any data the mobile station might need is already transmitted, allowing the mobile station to safely enter DTR mode without waiting for network confirmation, thus reducing battery consumption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Non-monitored timeslots serve as an intermediary channel for retransmitting data blocks. These timeslots act as a buffer mechanism that allows the network to communicate essential data to the mobile station without requiring the mobile station to remain in a high-power monitoring state, thereby resolving the contradiction between early DTR entry and synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the network waits to confirm mobile station status before retransmitting blocks, then resource utilization is optimized, but delays occur in data delivery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoiddata delivery delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary retransmissions of data blocks using non-monitored timeslots before the mobile station fully enters DTR mode. This preliminary action ensures that any data the mobile station might need is already transmitted, allowing the mobile station to safely enter DTR mode without waiting for network confirmation, thus reducing battery consumption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the use of different timeslot types (monitored vs. non-monitored) based on the DTR mode status. When the mobile station is in DTR mode, non-monitored timeslots are utilized for retransmissions, optimizing resource utilization by avoiding unnecessary wake-ups while ensuring timely data delivery without confirmation delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the mobile station monitors all timeslots to ensure reliable reception, then data delivery reliability is improved, but battery consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata delivery reliabilityVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The timeslots are segmented into monitored timeslots and non-monitored timeslots. The mobile station monitors only the necessary timeslots (those carrying new data or control information) while allowing non-monitored timeslots to carry retransmissions. This segmentation enables the mobile station to maintain data delivery reliability through selective monitoring while significantly reducing battery consumption by avoiding continuous monitoring of all timeslots.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Non-monitored timeslots serve as an intermediary channel for retransmitting data blocks. These timeslots act as a buffer mechanism that allows the network to communicate essential data to the mobile station without requiring the mobile station to remain in a high-power monitoring state, thereby resolving the contradiction between early DTR entry and synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If the network uses non-monitored timeslots for retransmission, then resource utilization is optimized, but uncertainty remains about whether the mobile station is in DTR mode

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoiduncertainty about mobile station status
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary retransmissions of data blocks using non-monitored timeslots before the mobile station fully enters DTR mode. This preliminary action ensures that any data the mobile station might need is already transmitted, allowing the mobile station to safely enter DTR mode without waiting for network confirmation, thus reducing battery consumption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the absence of acknowledgment from the mobile station as implicit confirmation of DTR mode entry. When the network transmits on non-monitored timeslots and receives no response (since the mobile station is not monitoring these timeslots in DTR mode), it self-confirms that the mobile station has entered DTR mode, eliminating the need for explicit status confirmation messages and optimizing resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2460305B1System and method for dynamic timeslot reduction
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2460305B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2460305B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2460305B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for communicating with a mobile station is presented. The method includes transmitting a first radio block to the mobile station. The first radio block including an indication instructing the mobile station to enter a DTR mode. Before receiving an indication of whether the mobile station is in DTR mode, the method includes retransmitting to the mobile station at least one of the first radio block and a radio block previously transmitted to the mobile station using a timeslot that is not monitored by the mobile station when the mobile station is in the DTR mode.