Link Maintenance for IoT Devices via Unidirectional Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication methods for machine-type communication devices, such as NB-IoT devices, incur significant signaling overheads and energy consumption due to periodic bidirectional signaling interactions between remote devices and relay devices, especially when multiple remote devices are connected to the same relay device, and are not applicable in unidirectional relay modes.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device configured to determine the state of a link by measuring a link maintenance message without transmitting a feedback message, and notify a base station of the measurement result, allowing for optimized link maintenance by omitting unnecessary acknowledgments and adjusting the timing of subsequent link maintenance messages based on link state and historical data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If periodic bidirectional signaling interaction is implemented for link maintenance, then link state monitoring is ensured, but signaling overheads and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the feedback message transmission from the link maintenance procedure, allowing the remote device to determine link state by measuring only the incoming link maintenance message from the relay device, without requiring bidirectional signaling. This eliminates unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining link monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The link maintenance message serves multiple functions: it maintains the link state and simultaneously provides measurement reference for the remote device to determine link quality. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate feedback messages and reduces overall signaling overhead.
2Reliability
If periodic bidirectional signaling interaction is implemented for link maintenance, then link state monitoring is ensured, but signaling overheads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the feedback message component from the link maintenance signaling flow. The remote device unilaterally determines link state by measuring the incoming message, eliminating the need for acknowledgment signaling and reducing signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote device performs self-assessment of link state by measuring the received link maintenance message itself, without requiring the relay device to provide feedback. This self-service approach reduces signaling overhead while maintaining monitoring capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bidirectional link maintenance is implemented, then mutual message transmission is enabled, but applicability is limited to bidirectional relay mode only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal link maintenance mechanism that works in both bidirectional and unidirectional relay modes. The remote device measures the incoming link maintenance message to determine link state, which is applicable regardless of whether the relay mode is bidirectional or unidirectional, thus improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the relay device to send feedback to confirm link maintenance (bidirectional approach), the patent inverts the approach by having the remote device determine link state by measuring the incoming message (unidirectional approach), making it applicable to both relay modes.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in the present invention are a wireless communication method and a wireless communication device. An electronic device in communication with a counterpart communication device comprises a processing circuit, the processing circuit being configured to: determine the state of a link between the electronic device and the counterpart communication device by means of measuring a link maintenance message transmitted by the counterpart communication device when a predetermined condition relative to the counterpart communication device is met, but not to transmit a feedback message for the link maintenance message, wherein the link maintenance message is used for confirming that the link is maintained between the electronic device and the counterpart communication device.