Group Address Switching for Low-Latency Service Access

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

When multiple terminal devices access the same service, the latency in data exchange between them is high, leading to poor quality of service due to the inability to efficiently utilize addresses corresponding to a device group.

Innovation Solution

A communication method and apparatus that facilitate a terminal device to access a service by using an address corresponding to its device group, with network elements managing address updates and associations to improve service quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If terminal devices access services using individual addresses, then each device can independently access services, but data exchange latency between devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange speedVSAvoidaddress management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges individual device addresses with device group addresses into a unified address management system. Terminal devices can access services using either their individual addresses or their device group's common address, enabling both independent access and grouped data exchange with reduced latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The address management system is designed to be universal, supporting multiple access modes: individual device access, device group access, and hybrid access. The same service can be accessed by individual devices or by the entire device group, providing flexibility and reducing data exchange latency for group-based services.

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

2Reliability

If terminal devices use individual addresses for service access, then address allocation is simple, but service quality and data exchange efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice qualityVSAvoiddata exchange latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines individual device addressing with device group addressing, allowing services to be accessed at the individual device level for reliability and at the group level for reduced latency. Device group addresses enable simultaneous data exchange among multiple devices, improving service quality and reducing communication delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If device group addresses are implemented, then data exchange efficiency improves, but address management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange efficiencyVSAvoidaddress management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary address management function that handles the complexity of device group address allocation and mapping. This intermediary layer manages the relationship between individual device addresses and device group addresses, automatically resolving address conflicts and optimizing data exchange paths without increasing operational complexity for end devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Stability of the object's composition

If comprehensive address clearing is performed, then address cache consistency improves, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress cache consistencyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements selective address clearing based on local conditions. Instead of universally clearing all addresses, the system clears only those addresses that are no longer valid or needed, determined by local validity checks and service context. This maintains address cache consistency while minimizing unnecessary signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4654670A1Communication methods, and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4654670A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4654670A1 patent drawingFigure 1c
  • EP4654670A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

This application provides a communication method and apparatus. The method includes: A first network element receives first information, where the first information indicates each terminal device in a device group to access a first service by using a first address. The first network element indicates a first terminal device in the device group to clear a second address, where the second address includes an address at which the first terminal device has previously accessed the first service. Further, the first network element indicates a second network element to provide the first address, so that the first terminal device accesses the first service by using the first address. According to this method, the first network element indicates the first terminal device that is in the device group and that has previously accessed the first service to access the first service by using the first address corresponding to the device group, to improve quality of service for the first terminal device.