Dynamic WPAN Radio Allocation for Multi-RAT User Equipment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional user equipment (UE) supporting multiple Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) Radio Access Technologies (RATs) employs dedicated WPAN radios for each RAT, leading to inefficient resource allocation and lack of coordination among different WPAN RATs.

Innovation Solution

A prioritization scheme for dynamically allocating a shared plurality of WPAN radios among multiple WPAN RATs, where a multi-WPAN controller enforces prioritization rules to allocate resources based on active sessions and channel quality, allowing WPAN radios to be shared and reallocated according to priority levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dedicated WPAN radios are assigned to each WPAN RAT, then each RAT has guaranteed resource availability, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates due to inability to share radios dynamically

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource availabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a shared radio pool where WPAN radios can serve multiple RATs dynamically. Instead of dedicating specific radios to specific RATs, the system allows any available radio from the shared pool to be allocated to any RAT that requires service, making the radio resources universal and multi-functional across different WPAN technologies.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic allocation mechanisms where the assignment of WPAN radios to specific RATs is not fixed but changes based on real-time conditions. The system continuously monitors service requirements, channel quality, and radio availability to dynamically reassign radios between different RATs, enabling adaptive resource management that responds to changing operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If multiple dedicated WPAN radios are used for different RATs, then each RAT operates independently without interference, but device complexity increases due to multiple separate radio components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent operationVSAvoidnumber of radio components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple dedicated radio components into a single shared radio pool. Instead of having separate physical radios for each RAT, the system combines the radio resources into a unified pool that serves all RATs collectively, reducing the total number of radio components while maintaining the ability to support multiple RATs simultaneously through time-multiplexed or frequency-multiplexed access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a radio resource management intermediary layer that sits between the WPAN radios and the various RATs. This intermediary controller allocates and manages the shared radio pool, mediating between different RATs to ensure proper resource distribution, conflict resolution, and coordinated operation without requiring direct dedicated hardware connections for each RAT.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If WPAN radios are shared dynamically among multiple RATs, then resource allocation flexibility improves, but coordination complexity increases requiring prioritization schemes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveallocation flexibilityVSAvoidcoordination mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different prioritization rules and allocation strategies to different RATs based on their specific requirements and service types. Instead of using a uniform allocation mechanism for all RATs, the system assigns different priority levels, quality of service parameters, and allocation policies to different RATs, allowing each to receive appropriate treatment according to its local needs while sharing the common radio pool.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3646661B1Dynamic allocation of wireless personal area network radios among a plurality of radio access technologies supported by a user equipment
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3646661B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3646661B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3646661B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an embodiment, a user equipment (UE) is configured to operate in accordance with different wireless personal area network (WPAN) radio access technologies (RATs). The UE prioritizes a plurality of WPAN RATs supported by the UE, and dynamically allocates a plurality of shared WPAN radios to the plurality of WPAN RATs based on the prioritization.