Logical User Equipment Functions for Lower-Complexity Telecom Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional user equipments in telecommunications networks are complex and costly, with short usage cycles, high battery consumption, and significant resource requirements due to increased hardware and software complexity, making them difficult to manage and update.

Innovation Solution

Distribute user equipment functionalities across the telecommunications network, initializing or providing a logical user equipment entity or functionality at the core, edge, or access network levels, reducing the need for complex hardware and software on the terminal device by offloading specific functionalities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional user equipments are designed with higher hardware and software requirements to provide specific functionalities, then the functionality is achieved, but the device complexity increases and usage cycle shortens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser equipment functionalityVSAvoidhardware and software complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments user equipment functionalities into two parts: basic functionalities remain in the terminal device, while specific functionalities are offloaded to network entities (access network, core network, or other terminal devices). This segmentation allows the terminal device to be simpler while still providing comprehensive functionality through network-based services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces network entities (access network, core network) and logical user equipment entities as intermediaries between the terminal device and the required functionalities. These intermediaries provide specific functionalities that would otherwise require complex hardware and software in the terminal device itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional user equipments include all necessary functionalities internally, then functionality is self-contained, but battery consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality self-containmentVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts specific functionalities from the terminal device and places them in network entities. By taking out power-intensive functionalities (such as signal processing, encryption, decryption) from the terminal device to the network, the terminal device's battery consumption is reduced while the network provides these functions with more abundant power resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional user equipments are designed with higher resource requirements, then functionality is achieved, but resource footprint increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality capabilityVSAvoidresource requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality at the network level, where a single network entity or logical user equipment entity can serve multiple terminal devices with different functionality requirements. This universal approach allows the network to provide diverse functionalities without requiring each terminal device to have dedicated resources for all possible functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If conventional user equipments are updated frequently to maintain functionality, then functionality remains current, but management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality currencyVSAvoidupdate management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic architecture where functionalities can be dynamically allocated, reallocated, or deactivated in the network without affecting the terminal device. The network can adapt functionality availability based on current needs, and terminal devices simply need to request or receive updated functionality assignments rather than managing complex software updates themselves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250317727A1Using a terminal device in a telecommunications network, wherein, regarding a specific user equipment functionality, the telecommunications network initializes or provides a logical user equipment entity or functionality

Publication Date: 2025.10.09 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG

AI summary

A telecommunications network comprises an access network and a core network. Regarding a specific user equipment functionality, the telecommunications network initializes or provides a logical user equipment entity or functionality such that a terminal device, together with the logical user equipment entity or functionality, provides or realizes or is able to provide or realize the specific user equipment functionality. A method for using the terminal device in the telecommunications network includes the following steps: in a first step, logical user equipment identifier information is assigned to the terminal device; and in a second step, subsequent to the first step, the logical user equipment identifier information is transmitted to the terminal device.