Link Budget Limited Device Cellular Connection Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices and other link budget limited mobile devices face challenges in establishing efficient cellular network connections due to limited communication capabilities and power constraints, which hinder their performance in high-priority and high-data-rate applications.

Innovation Solution

A method where these devices identify their device class to the cellular communication network, allowing the network to establish connections using optimized parameters such as NAT session timeout, RACH preamble, and QoS settings specified in device class profiles, enabling efficient resource allocation and power management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If wearable devices use standard cellular connection parameters, then they can establish basic cellular connectivity, but their limited battery life and transmit power prevent effective handling of high-priority and high-data-rate applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rate capabilityVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes cellular connection parameters (NAT session timeout, RACH preamble, QoS settings) based on device class identification. Link budget limited devices receive optimized parameters that enable higher data rates and priority handling without proportionally increasing power consumption, as the optimizations focus on efficiency rather than raw power usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If link budget limited devices use optimized cellular parameters, then they can effectively handle high-priority and high-data-rate applications, but this requires pre-negotiation and device class identification mechanisms that increase network complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication performanceVSAvoidnetwork configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by negotiating and storing device class profiles and optimized parameters before the link budget limited device actually establishes cellular connections. The network pre-determines appropriate settings based on device class, so when connections are needed, the device can immediately use pre-configured optimal parameters without real-time negotiation overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces device class profiles as an intermediary layer between the device and network configuration. These profiles act as pre-negotiated agreements that simplify the interaction, allowing the network to automatically apply appropriate parameters based on device class identification without complex real-time negotiations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If standard NAT session timeout values are used, then network configuration is simple, but link budget limited devices experience unnecessary power consumption from frequent connection re-establishments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidconnection management
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifically optimizes NAT session timeout values for link budget limited devices based on their device class profile. By extending the timeout period appropriately, the device maintains cellular connections longer without needing to re-establish connections, significantly reducing the power consumption associated with connection management while the network manages multiple device classes with different timeout values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3694251B1Providing special radio provisions to link budget limited user equipment at activation
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 APPLE INC
  • EP3694251B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3694251B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3694251B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Method and apparatuses for providing special radio provisions to link budget limited devices. A network node receives from a link budget limited cellular communication device, prior to initiation of a cellular connection between the link budget limited cellular communication device and a base station of the cellular network, requested values of one or more cellular settings for the cellular connection. The network node determines approved values for the one or more cellular settings in response to receiving the requested values of the one or more cellular settings from the link budget limited cellular communication device. The network node communicates the approved values for the one or more cellular settings to the link budget limited cellular communication device, prior to initiation of the cellular connection. The network node communicates the approved values for the one or more cellular settings to the base station of the cellular network, prior to initiation of the cellular connection.