Inter-Operator Mobile Terminal Handover via Eligibility Scoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile network technologies fail to dynamically transfer a mobile terminal from one base station to another, especially across different operators, leading to poor connectivity and inefficient resource utilization, as existing handover mechanisms do not account for data traffic conditions, resulting in suboptimal communication quality and increased electromagnetic interference.

Innovation Solution

A method for transferring a mobile terminal from a first access entity to a second access entity controlled by a different operator, involving a control device that receives connectivity messages, determines eligibility values based on transmission quality and cooperation factors, and selects the second entity for transfer, ensuring better connectivity and load management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mobile terminal is served by a single operator's base station, then the terminal can maintain stable attachment, but connectivity quality deteriorates when the base station is overloaded or out of range

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidconnectivity quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple operators' base stations into a cooperative network where terminals can be dynamically transferred between operators. The control device coordinates multiple access entities from different operators to serve a single terminal, combining their resources to improve connectivity quality while maintaining attachment stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic transfer mechanisms where the terminal's serving base station changes based on real-time conditions. The control device continuously monitors connectivity parameters and dynamically transfers terminals between operators' base stations to optimize performance, making the attachment relationship flexible rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If operators deploy base stations sparsely over large territories, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but coverage area increases leaving white areas without service

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrastructure costVSAvoidcoverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes base stations universal by enabling them to serve terminals from different operators through inter-operator transfer. A base station from operator A can serve terminals from operator B when conditions favor it, making each base station multi-functional and effectively extending coverage without additional infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device acts as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple operators' base stations. It manages the transfer of terminals between operators and optimizes the use of available base stations across operator boundaries, enabling sparse infrastructure to provide broader coverage through intelligent resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If handover mechanisms are implemented within a single operator's network, then terminal can switch between base stations, but transfer to other operators' base stations is not supported

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase station switching capabilityVSAvoidhandover mechanism scope

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handover mechanism is extended to work across multiple operators' networks. The control device manages transfers between access entities of different operators, making the handover capability universal rather than operator-specific. This allows terminals to leverage any available base station regardless of operator boundaries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If a terminal increases transmission power to improve connection quality, then connectivity quality improves, but electromagnetic interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection qualityVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device acts as an intermediary that finds optimal base station assignments without requiring terminals to increase transmission power. By coordinating transfers between operators' base stations, it enables terminals to connect to better-suited base stations using normal power levels, avoiding the harmful electromagnetic effects of power boosting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11350332B2Method for transferring a mobile terminal between access stations in a multi-operator context

Publication Date: 2022.05.31 ORANGE SA

AI summary

A method is provided for transferring a mobile terminal attached to a first access entity of an operator to a second access entity of a set of access entities controlled by at least one other operator within a communication network, the method implemented by a control device for routing data of the terminal. The method includes receiving, a connectivity message from entities of the set, determining an eligibility value relative to each entity based on at least one received parameter and a cooperation factor between the first entity and each other entity, selecting the second entity on the basis of the determined eligibility value, transmitting a transfer message to the first entity and to the second entity.