MTC Device Relay for Fault-Tolerant Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machine type communication devices often lose measurement data when their connection with the mobile communication network fails, leading to data loss and retrieval issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where machine type communication devices establish a temporary radio connection via a further radio interface to another device, allowing data to be transmitted and stored in case of a connection failure, enabling fault-tolerant communication by using emergency mode messages and multiple hops for data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If machine type communication devices rely solely on direct radio connection to base station entity, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to data loss when connection fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay machine type communication device as an intermediary node between the source device and base station entity. When the direct radio connection fails, the relay device receives and forwards data packets, enabling indirect communication path. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing fault tolerance through alternative routing without requiring complex protocol changes at the source device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having machine type communication devices pre-configure alternative communication paths and relay nodes before connection failure occurs. The system proactively establishes backup routing information and maintains ready-to-use communication channels, so when the primary connection fails, the switch to alternative paths happens seamlessly without complex real-time decision-making.
2Reliability
If machine type communication devices establish alternative communication paths via further radio interface, then reliability improves through fault tolerance, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing machine type communication devices with multi-functional radio interfaces that can operate in both direct mode (connecting to base station entity) and relay mode (communicating with other MTC devices). The same radio interface hardware and protocol stack serve multiple purposes, enabling alternative communication paths without adding separate dedicated components, thus improving reliability while limiting complexity increase.
3Loss of information
If machine type communication devices store data locally in memory during connection failure, then loss of information is reduced, but use of energy increases due to additional transmission and storage operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by having machine type communication devices store only essential data packets locally in memory during connection failures, rather than storing all possible data. The system selectively buffers critical information that must not be lost, while non-critical data can be discarded. This selective storage approach reduces the energy consumption associated with memory operations and data management compared to storing all data, while still preventing information loss for important communications.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for enhancing machine type communication between a mobile communication network on the one hand, and a plurality of machine type communication devices on the other hand, wherein the mobile communication network comprises at least one base station entity, wherein – at least temporarily – a radio connection between each of the machine type communication devices and the base station entity is established via a radio interface of the machine type communication devices, respectively, to the mobile communication network, wherein the plurality of machine type communication devices comprises at least a first machine type communication device, and – besides the first machine type communication device – at least one further machine type communication device, wherein the first machine type communication device and the at least one further machine type communication device both comprise – besides the radio interface to the mobile communication network – a further radio interface, respectively, wherein the further radio interface of the first machine type communication device and the further radio interface of the at least one further machine type communication device provide a communication link between the first machine type communication device and the at least one further machine type communication device, wherein the method comprises the following steps in case that the radio connection between the first machine type communication device and the base station entity is dysfunctional: transmitting, in a first step, an emergency mode message from the first machine type communication device to the at least one further machine type communication device, the emergency mode message comprising an indication to receive machine type communication data from the first machine type communication device, transmitting, in a second step subsequent to the first step, machine type communication data of the first machine type communication device to the at least one further machine type communication device – via the communication link between the first machine type communication device and the at least one further machine type communication device -, and storing, in a third step subsequent to the second step, the machine type communication data of the first machine type communication device in a memory of the at least one further machine type communication device.