Mobile Terminal Data Pre-fetching via Neighboring Base Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face challenges in improving the data receive rate for mobile terminals, especially when the data receive rate of secondary communication devices is low, leading to delayed or incomplete data transfer.
Innovation Solution
A control method and system that predict the future position of a mobile terminal and identify suitable secondary communication devices to pre-fetch data from a primary device before the mobile terminal enters their communication range, allowing for efficient data transfer by distributing the load across multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is downloaded from a file server to a mobile terminal through a base station, then the mobile terminal can receive data, but the data receive rate is low and download time is long when the mobile terminal is located outside a communication area or when network congestion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having neighboring base stations pre-fetch data before the mobile terminal actually needs it. The control device predicts the mobile terminal's future position and identifies neighboring base stations that will be able to communicate with the terminal, then causes these base stations to receive data in advance from the file server. This eliminates waiting time during the actual download phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces neighboring base stations as intermediary devices that act as buffers between the file server and the mobile terminal. These intermediary base stations receive data in advance and store it, then transmit it to the mobile terminal when it enters their communication area, thereby bridging the gap caused by the terminal being outside the communication area.
2Productivity
If Wi-Fi off-load is used to access a file server through a wireless access point, then traffic is distributed to base stations, but the system complexity increases and requires additional infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing base stations multi-functional by enabling them to serve dual purposes: acting as both serving base stations for current connections and as neighboring base stations for pre-fetching operations. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated pre-fetching infrastructure while expanding the functionality of existing network elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables base stations to perform self-service by automatically identifying themselves as neighboring base stations and participating in pre-fetching operations without requiring manual configuration. The control device automatically manages the pre-fetching process, and base stations autonomously receive and store data, reducing the need for complex centralized control.
3Productivity
If a mobile terminal directly communicates with neighboring terminals to form an ad-hoc network, then data can be transferred without passing through base stations, but the reliability decreases when terminals are moving or out of communication range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses base stations as reliable intermediaries rather than relying on direct terminal-to-terminal communication. Base stations provide stable, infrastructure-based connectivity that maintains reliability even when terminals are moving, whereas ad-hoc networks between mobile terminals are inherently less reliable due to mobility and communication range limitations.
Data Source
AI summary
A control method includes: acquiring information that indicates a predicted position of a mobile terminal that requests data that is able to be received from a first communication device; identifying, based on the acquired information, a second communication device that is able to communicate with the mobile terminal located at the predicted position; and causing, by a processor, the second communication device to start receiving the data from the first communication device before the identified second communication device becomes able to communicate with the mobile terminal, and to transmit the received data to the mobile terminal after the second communication device becomes able to communicate with the mobile terminal.