Mobility Management for IoT Devices via Inventory Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobility management systems in 3GPP 5G networks face challenges in timely location tracking of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, as these devices often do not support the existing NAS protocol stack and cannot actively communicate with the network.

Innovation Solution

A mobility management method and apparatus that involve a network element determining and sending information to a target inventory device to inventory a specific IoT device, enabling the network to obtain the IoT device's location information in a timely manner.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If IoT devices do not support the existing NAS protocol stack and cannot actively communicate with the network, then device compatibility and ease of deployment are improved, but the network's ability to track device location and maintain mobility management deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of deploymentVSAvoidlocation information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network initiates communication with IoT devices through downlink messages rather than requiring uplink communication from the devices. The network side device acts as an active agent that can page and locate IoT devices even when they cannot actively communicate, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of deployment and location tracking capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional communication model by having the network initiate the interaction instead of the device. Rather than devices sending registration requests upward, the network sends downlink messages to devices, effectively reversing the communication direction to accommodate devices that cannot actively communicate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Use of energy by moving object

If IoT devices cannot actively communicate with the network, then device simplicity and energy consumption are improved, but mobility management efficiency and response time deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidmobility management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic mobility management where the network periodically pages or checks on IoT devices rather than requiring continuous two-way communication. This periodic action allows the network to maintain mobility management efficiency while devices remain in a low-power state, resolving the contradiction between energy consumption and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If the network uses traditional registration procedures requiring NAS protocol stack, then connection management reliability is improved, but device complexity and protocol requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection management reliabilityVSAvoidprotocol stack complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential mobility management functionality from the complex NAS protocol stack, implementing a simplified procedure that achieves the same reliability goals without requiring the full protocol stack. By taking out only the necessary components, the patent maintains connection management reliability while reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20250039648A1Mobility Management Method, Terminal, and Network Side Device

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD

AI summary

A mobility management method includes determining, by a first network element, first information. The first information is used to indicate a target inventory device to inventory a target Internet of Things device; and sending, by the first network element, the first information to the target inventory device.