Master UE Relay Grouping for Wearable LTE Service Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE technologies face challenges in efficiently managing communication between wearable devices and the network without relying on smartphones, particularly in terms of direct cellular connection capabilities and ensuring secure data transmission and service continuity.

Innovation Solution

A grouping procedure is introduced where a master mobile terminal can serve as a relay for a remote mobile terminal, enabling them to connect directly to the radio base station, with the master terminal discovering and initiating a group request to the network, and the network validating the grouping through core network entities to ensure authorization and secure communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wearable devices connect directly to the network via LTE, then service continuity and security are improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a master UE as an intermediary device that relays communications between remote wearable UEs and the network. The master UE handles power-intensive operations such as maintaining LTE connections and performing measurements, while remote UEs can operate with lower power consumption by communicating through the master UE. This mediator approach allows wearables to maintain service continuity without directly consuming high power for network connectivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If wearable devices use direct LTE connection, then network control and security are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork controlVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of multiple wearables into a single master UE that acts as a group head. Instead of each wearable independently managing LTE connections and network protocols, the master UE consolidates these complex functions. Remote UEs can simplify their design by relying on the master UE for network management, thereby reducing individual device complexity while maintaining overall network control through the grouped structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Use of energy by moving object

If wearable devices group with master UE, then power consumption is reduced, but communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments communication traffic into different types and routes them appropriately. Control-plane communications and group management messages are handled through the master UE to remote UEs, while user-plane data can be efficiently relayed. This segmentation allows the system to manage communication overhead structurally, with the master UE processing only necessary control signals while maintaining reduced power consumption for remote UEs compared to direct LTE connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3440883B1Procedures for grouping wearable devices with LTE master ues
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • EP3440883B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3440883B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3440883B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to an improved grouping procedure performed by a master mobile terminal for grouping with a remote mobile terminal. The master mobile terminal and the remote mobile terminal are connected to a radio base station. The master mobile terminal may serve as a relay for remote mobile terminals so as to relay communication between the remote mobile terminals and the radio base station. A transmitter and receiver of the master mobile terminal discovers the remote mobile terminal and an identifier of the remote mobile terminal. The transmitter transmits a group request message to the radio base station, which comprises the remote mobile terminal identifier and a request to group the remote mobile terminal with the master mobile terminal. The receiver receives a group request confirm message from the radio base station, confirming that the remote mobile terminal and the master mobile terminal are grouped together.