Network Terminal Device Proxy for Wireless Power Saving

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile edge computing, wireless terminal devices experience power wastage and air interface resource consumption due to the need for direct involvement in service transmission processes, such as heavy-traffic uploads and downloads.

Innovation Solution

A network terminal device uses a user plane bearer established between a base station and a packet data network gateway to transmit user plane data, allowing the wireless terminal device to release air interface connections or enter a power-saving state, thereby avoiding unnecessary power consumption and resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a wireless terminal device directly participates in service transmission processes (such as heavy-traffic uploads and downloads), then service transmission can be performed, but power of the terminal is wasted and wireless air interface resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice transmission capabilityVSAvoidterminal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a network terminal device as an intermediary between the wireless terminal device and the network. The network terminal device assumes the terminal device identifier and establishes a user plane bearer with the network, allowing service data to be transmitted through this intermediary without requiring the wireless terminal device to maintain active air interface connections, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining service transmission capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The network terminal device copies and assumes the terminal device identifier of the wireless terminal device. By using this copied identifier, the network terminal device can establish bearers and transmit service data on behalf of the wireless terminal device, enabling the original terminal to enter power-saving states without losing service capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If a wireless terminal device maintains air interface connections for service transmission, then service can be transmitted, but wireless air interface resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice transmission capabilityVSAvoidwireless air interface resource
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The network terminal device serves as an intermediary that handles service transmission through non-air interface means. It establishes user plane bearers with the network using the wireless terminal's identifier, thereby transmitting service data without occupying wireless air interface resources, while the wireless terminal can release its air interface connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the service transmission function from the wireless terminal device and transfers it to the network terminal device. The wireless terminal device only needs to establish initial control plane connections, after which the network terminal device handles all service data transmission, separating the signaling function from the data transmission function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3328127B1Method and apparatus for carrying communication by network terminal device
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3328127B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3328127B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3328127B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A network terminal device communication method is provided, to resolve a problem that power of a wireless terminal device and a wireless air interface resource are wasted in service transmission. After the wireless terminal device establishes an RRC connection to a base station, a control plane connection to an MME, and a user plane bearer with a P-GW, the base station determines that a network terminal device uses a user plane bearer that is between the base station and the P-GW and that is established by the wireless terminal device to transmit user plane data of the network terminal device. In this way, the base station releases an air interface connection between the wireless terminal device and the base station in time, or the wireless terminal device enters a power saving state.