Mobile Terminal Socket Management for Heterogeneous Network Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless network technologies face instability and fluctuations in service quality, leading to disconnections and reduced data reception speeds when using heterogeneous networks, which disrupt communication between mobile devices and remote servers.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communication terminal is equipped with an inward processing unit for local socket communication and an outward processing unit for creating sockets with access addresses from multiple heterogeneous networks, allowing for stable data transmission using a fixed internal address and switching to alternative networks upon disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mobile communication terminal uses a single network connection for data communication, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of communication is degraded due to network disconnections and quality fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication stabilityVSAvoidsocket management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network communication function into multiple independent socket connections, each associated with a different network. This allows the system to divide the communication task across multiple networks, improving reliability by ensuring that if one network fails, other sockets can continue to function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates multiple sockets that can universally handle data communication across different network types. Each socket is configured to work with specific network characteristics, and the system can select appropriate sockets based on current network conditions, making the communication system adaptable to various network environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the terminal switches to alternative networks upon disconnection, then the reliability is improved, but the loss of time occurs due to socket recreation and reconnection procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous connectivityVSAvoidreconnection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes multiple socket connections in advance, each pre-configured for different networks. When a network disconnection occurs, the system can immediately switch to a pre-established socket on an alternative network without needing to recreate connections, significantly reducing reconnection time and maintaining continuous connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sockets are created for different networks, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple socket management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork selection capabilityVSAvoidsocket management overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors network conditions and automatically selects the most appropriate socket for data transmission. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to changing network environments while maintaining simple operation for the user, as the system autonomously manages the complexity of multiple socket selections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If the socket uses a dynamic IP address from the current network, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the reliability deteriorates when network disconnection occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesession continuityVSAvoidapplication transparency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the system's network management component) that sits between the application and the physical network connections. This intermediary manages multiple sockets and handles network switching transparently, allowing applications to maintain reliable sessions without needing to be aware of the underlying network changes or socket management complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9455947B2Apparatus and method of enabling to transceive data using a plurality of heterogeneous networks selectively through a fixed host address

Publication Date: 2016.09.27 AIRPLUG

AI summary

The mobile communication terminal capable of accessing to a plurality of heterogeneous networks selectively, according to the present invention, comprises a process which communicates data with an application running on the mobile communication terminal, through a local socket created with its destination address set to a fixed internal address; and another process which creates at least one outward socket by setting its source address to an IP address assigned from one of the plurality of heterogeneous networks and its destination address to a remote address, and communicates data with an outside server of the remote address through the at least one outward socket. Data communication is made between the local socket and the at least one outward socket if the at least one outward socket is set as associated with the local socket.