Network Slice Switching for Failed Wireless Line Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

5G terminals connected to multiple wireless communication lines cannot accurately determine whether a failure has occurred in the wireless communication line provided by the carrier, leading to continued connection to a faulty line.

Innovation Solution

A communication control apparatus that acquires communication information about assigned network slices and switches to a different network slice when a deterioration in communication quality is detected, using a processor to manage network slice switching between different carriers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the terminal switches wireless communication lines based only on information acquired by the terminal, then the terminal can respond to communication quality issues, but the terminal cannot accurately detect actual failures in the wireless communication line

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a management device as an intermediary between the terminal and the wireless communication line. This management device acquires accurate failure information directly from the wireless communication line and provides it to the terminal, enabling accurate failure detection without requiring the terminal to directly monitor the communication line. This resolves the contradiction by adding a mediator that bridges the information gap.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the management device continuously monitors the wireless communication line status and provides real-time failure information to the terminal. This feedback loop enables the terminal to accurately detect failures and make informed switching decisions, resolving the measurement precision issue while maintaining manageable system complexity through centralized management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the terminal continues to connect to the wireless communication line based on indirect information, then connection stability is maintained, but the terminal connects to failed lines causing service degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice reliabilityVSAvoidfailure status information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The management device acts as an intermediary that possesses accurate failure status information about the wireless communication line. It provides this information to the terminal, preventing the terminal from making switching decisions based on incomplete or indirect information. This resolves the information loss problem while maintaining connection stability through informed decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The management device performs preliminary monitoring of the wireless communication line status and prepares failure information before the terminal needs to make switching decisions. This preliminary action ensures that when the terminal needs to switch lines, it has accurate failure status information available, preventing connection to failed lines and maintaining service reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple wireless communication lines are available for selection, then communication continuity can be maintained, but the terminal cannot determine which line is actually functional

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication line selection flexibilityVSAvoidline status detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The management device serves as an intermediary that has direct access to and accurate knowledge of the status of multiple wireless communication lines. It provides this accurate status information to the terminal, enabling the terminal to make informed selections among multiple available lines. This resolves the contradiction by centralizing the information-gathering function in the management device while maintaining the terminal's flexibility in line selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The management device provides real-time feedback information about the status of multiple wireless communication lines to the terminal. This feedback mechanism enables the terminal to accurately determine which lines are functional and make appropriate selection decisions, maintaining both adaptability in line selection and precision in status detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11930440B2Communication control apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium storing communication control program, and communication control system for preventing terminal from connecting to failed wireless communication line

Publication Date: 2024.03.12 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A communication control apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire communication information representing connection information of a first network slice, which is assigned as a connection destination of a terminal used by a user, among wireless communication lines respectively provided by communications carriers, from a control apparatus that controls the first network slice; and perform control to switch a network slice such that a second network slice different from the first network slice is assigned to the terminal, in a case where a deterioration of a communication quality of the first network slice is notified by using the communication information.