Multiflow Data Transmission Mechanism for Robust VoIP and RRC Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multiflow transmission in communication networks, while improving data rates, may lead to worse performance for certain traffic types like VoIP and RRC control messages, especially at cell edges, due to increased reliance on weaker links, and lacks robustness for critical data transmission.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a mechanism that uses bicasting and dynamic flow switching in multiflow connections, where data is transmitted over multiple links with intelligent selection based on radio link reliability measures such as packet error rate, latency, or signal quality, to ensure robust and efficient data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional multiflow transmission is used to maximize data rates, then throughput is improved, but reliability deteriorates for critical traffic types like VoIP and RRC control messages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidtransmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating transmission treatment based on data type. Critical data (VoIP, RRC messages) receive enhanced reliability treatment through bicasting over multiple paths, while non-critical data use conventional single-path multiflow transmission. This selective application of quality measures resolves the contradiction by ensuring high reliability for critical traffic while maintaining high data rates for other traffic types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic path selection and switching mechanisms that adapt transmission paths based on real-time radio link conditions. For critical data, the system dynamically switches to more reliable paths or activates bicasting when link quality deteriorates, while maintaining efficient single-path transmission when conditions are good. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain both high throughput and reliability as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multiflow transmission routes data over separate cells, then data rate is improved, but latency increases for short critical messages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing differentiated transmission paths for different data types. Critical short messages receive priority treatment through direct routing over reliable single paths, avoiding the latency overhead of bicasting and path switching. Non-critical data can utilize multi-path multiflow transmission for higher throughput. This selective quality differentiation resolves the latency issue for critical traffic while maintaining the throughput benefits of multiflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If bicasting is used for all data units, then reliability is improved, but network resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selectively applying bicasting only to critical data types (VoIP, RRC control messages) that require high reliability, while using conventional single-path transmission for non-critical data. This selective approach ensures that the additional network resources consumed by bicasting are justified only where they provide meaningful reliability improvements, resolving the contradiction between reliability and resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by applying bicasting to only the extent necessary for critical traffic types, rather than universally to all data. This partial application of the reliability-enhancing mechanism avoids the excessive resource consumption that would result from universal bicasting, while still providing sufficient reliability for time-sensitive and control-critical communications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2829117B1Data transmission mechanism with improved robustness using multiflow connection
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 CIENA CORP
  • EP2829117B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2829117B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2829117B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a mechanism for conducting data transmission from a network management entity of communication network control element to a terminal or UE with improved robustness. After a multiflow connection for data units via at least one network transceiver device and via at least two different paths is set up towards a terminal, selection criteria are applied so as to decide which data units are sent on which transmission path. Specifically, dependent on the applied selection criteria, data units of specific data are selected to be subjected either to bicasting each selected data unit using the at least two paths, or to dynamic flow switching so as to transmit each selected data unit using one of the at least two paths and wherein each selected data unit can be independently chosen to be transmitted over either of the at least two paths.