Network-Assisted Connection Transitions Across Multiple Access Technologies

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing transitions between different access technologies for wireless devices, particularly in 5G networks, leading to inefficiencies in connection setup, resume, and release operations.

Innovation Solution

A network-assisted approach is introduced, where network devices facilitate operations such as connection setup, resume, and release for wireless devices transitioning between access technologies, utilizing multiple access technologies like 3GPP and non-3GPP, with specific network functions like AMF and SMF managing registration and session management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless devices manage transitions between different access technologies autonomously, then device autonomy and simplicity are improved, but connection setup efficiency and reliability deteriorate due to increased complexity in multi-access technology management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice autonomyVSAvoidconnection setup efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a network device as an intermediary that assists the wireless device in managing connections across different access technologies. The network device receives indication information from the wireless device, determines appropriate connection operations (setup, resume, release), and executes these operations on behalf of the wireless device. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining device autonomy while improving connection setup efficiency through centralized network assistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If wireless devices handle connection operations independently across multiple access technologies, then device flexibility is improved, but connection reliability and state management deteriorate due to complexity in coordinating multiple access technologies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice flexibilityVSAvoidconnection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network device serves as a mediator that receives indication information from the wireless device and determines appropriate connection operations. This intermediary approach maintains device flexibility by allowing the device to initiate operations while improving connection reliability through centralized network coordination that properly manages state transitions across different access technologies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the wireless device sends indication information to the network device, which then determines and executes appropriate connection operations. This feedback loop ensures that connection state changes are properly coordinated and confirmed, improving reliability while preserving device flexibility in initiating operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If network devices assist in connection operations across multiple access technologies, then connection efficiency is improved, but network device complexity and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If wireless devices autonomously manage state transitions between access technologies, then operational simplicity is improved, but transition time and connection establishment duration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidtransition time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network device performs preliminary determination of connection operations based on indication information received from the wireless device. By pre-determining the appropriate operations (connection setup, resume, or release) before actual execution, the system reduces transition time while maintaining operational simplicity for the wireless device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250234420A1Network Assisted Connection

Publication Date: 2025.07.17 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC

AI summary

Wireless communications are described for connection setup resume, and/or release of a wireless device. The wireless device may communicate with a network device using more than one access technology. The network device may assist in an operation for the wireless device, such as for a transition from one state to another state for a first access technology, using a second access technology.