F1 Interface Signaling Priority Escalation for Delayed Responses

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Solution Overview

Problem

The 3GPP F1 interface in 5G mobile communication systems faces challenges in timely and accurately transmitting high-priority control commands and states due to delays in signaling responses, leading to issues such as UE going offline in extreme situations.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that send first process signaling to a unit, followed by second process signaling with higher priority if a response is not received, ensuring timely execution of high-priority tasks by adding preset information elements in the interface message to adjust signaling processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system waits for a signaling response from the peer side before continuing processing, then signaling accuracy is maintained, but system time delay increases and cannot meet time delay requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling accuracyVSAvoidsystem time delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by sending process signaling without waiting for response messages. The sending side transmits signaling proactively based on current state information, and the receiving side executes tasks and sends response signaling independently. This eliminates the waiting time while maintaining reliability through the response mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by allowing the receiving side to autonomously execute tasks and send response signaling based on local judgment. The system transitions from a static wait-response model to a dynamic autonomous execution model, where the receiving side can independently determine when to send response signaling, thereby reducing delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the system processes signaling sequentially waiting for responses, then processing accuracy is maintained, but productivity decreases due to inability to handle concurrent scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing accuracyVSAvoidconcurrent scenario handling capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables parallel processing by allowing the receiving side to execute multiple tasks concurrently without waiting for response messages. The receiving side can process multiple process signaling in parallel, significantly improving productivity while maintaining accuracy through the response mechanism that ensures proper sequencing and state tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving side autonomously executes tasks and manages its own state without requiring continuous confirmation from the sending side. This self-service capability allows the system to handle concurrent scenarios efficiently, as each receiving unit can independently process multiple signaling streams, improving overall system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the system uses standard process signaling without priority differentiation, then system complexity is reduced, but responsiveness to high-priority control commands deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling system complexityVSAvoidresponse speed to high-priority commands
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by introducing priority indicators and time stamp fields in process signaling for specific high-priority scenarios. Rather than making the entire signaling system complex, only critical signaling messages include these additional fields, allowing the system to maintain simplicity for standard operations while achieving fast response for urgent commands through local enhancement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by adding priority level parameters and time stamp parameters to process signaling. These parameter changes enable the receiving side to identify and prioritize high-priority commands, improving response speed for critical operations while maintaining the basic simple signaling structure for routine operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4207826B1Flow signaling sending method and apparatus, storage medium, and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 ZTE CORP
  • EP4207826B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4207826B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4207826B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a process signaling sending method and apparatus, a storage medium, and an electronic device. The method includes: sending first process signaling to a first unit, wherein the first process signaling is used for instructing the first unit to execute a first to-be-executed task; and sending, in a case where a first response message for the first process signaling is not received, second process signaling to the first unit, wherein the second process signaling is used for instructing the first unit to execute a second to-be-executed task, and a priority of the second to-be-executed task is higher than a priority of the first second to-be-executed task.