Network Element API Selection for 4G-5G Terminal Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

When a terminal switches between 4G and 5G networks, third-party applications cannot determine the current network, leading to low API invoke success rates and poor user experience due to inability to select the appropriate APIs.

Innovation Solution

A communication method where network elements exchange identity and type information to enable the selection of appropriate APIs based on the serving network, ensuring API invoke success and improved user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal switches between 4G and 5G networks, then the terminal can flexibly support multiple access technologies, but the third-party application cannot determine the current network type, leading to low API invoke success rate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal's ability to support multiple access technologiesVSAvoidAPI invoke success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network element sends type information about the serving network (4G or 5G) back to the third-party application. This feedback mechanism allows the application to know which network the terminal is currently connected to, enabling it to select the appropriate API and invoke it successfully, thereby resolving the contradiction between multi-network support and API invoke reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A network element acts as an intermediary between the network and the third-party application. This intermediary obtains type information from the network and transmits it to the application, enabling the application to make informed decisions about API selection without directly accessing network information, thus maintaining both versatility and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the third-party application cannot learn the current network, then the terminal maintains flexibility to switch networks, but the application cannot select the appropriate API, resulting in poor user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal's network switching flexibilityVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback loop where the network element continuously provides type information to the third-party application. This allows the application to adapt its API selection based on the current network state, ensuring smooth operation and good user experience while the terminal maintains its flexibility to switch between 4G and 5G networks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11856469B2Communication method, communications apparatus, and communications system

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A communication method includes a first network element receiving identity information of a terminal from a second network element, where the identity information includes an identity of the terminal or an identity of a group of the terminal; the first network element obtaining, based on the identity information, type information of a serving network corresponding to the identity information; and the first network element sending API information of the first network element based on the type information. Based on this communication method, the second network element can select an available API based on the API information or the type information of the serving network and invoke the available API.