Mobile Device Handover Priming and Parallel Buffering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vertical handovers in wireless communication often experience significant delays and data loss due to sudden changes in network connection quality, leading to reduced service quality and call failures.

Innovation Solution

Implementing parallel buffering of data across both networks during handover, allowing seamless transitions by synchronizing data between primary and secondary connections, even if one network fails or deteriorates, and enabling proactive priming of a secondary network based on channel condition monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional handover methods are used, then handover between networks can be executed, but significant delays and data loss occur due to sudden changes in network connection quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice qualityVSAvoidhandover delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a secondary connection in advance (before handover is needed) and performs preliminary data buffering on both the primary and secondary connections. This preliminary action ensures that when handover becomes necessary, the data is already prepared and synchronized, eliminating delays and preventing data loss during the transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If traditional handover methods are used, then network resource management is simplified, but data loss occurs during transition periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidbuffering system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data transmission system into two independent parallel buffering channels (primary connection buffer and secondary connection buffer). Each buffer operates independently, allowing data to be captured and stored on both connections simultaneously. This segmentation ensures that if one connection fails or deteriorates, the other buffer still contains the necessary data, preventing data loss while managing complexity through modular buffer design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If parallel buffering is implemented, then seamless handover is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover seamlessVSAvoidbuffer management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a handover controller that continuously monitors connection quality and buffer status, receiving feedback from both the primary and secondary connections. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically determines when to switch from the primary to the secondary connection, ensuring seamless handover while managing buffer complexity through intelligent, adaptive control rather than rigid predetermined rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2472953B1Methods and apparatus for primed handover
Publication Date: 2016.07.13 U-BLOX
  • EP2472953B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2472953B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2472953B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one embodiment, a mobile device in communication with multiple networks, scans networks for suitable candidate networks for handover. If the mobile device experiences signal loss below a first threshold (304), the mobile device primes itself for a handover. Once the signal loss drops below a second threshold (307), the mobile device executes the handover (308). The priming of the device enables very low-level hardware to detect and initiate the handover (rather than higher layer software). Consequently, software applications data loss is greatly improved (i.e., reduced) during a vertical handover. Data from the first and second networks is captured and buffered at a client device. In case of sudden changes in network quality, the handover can either be carried on with or canceled.