Path Control Device for TDD Network Timing Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cellular systems with time division duplex (TDD) communication, low priority traffic experiences waiting times due to unsynchronized and misaligned uplink and downlink communication timings, and varying low priority signal transmissible periods across paths and directions, leading to inefficient utilization of available transmission periods.

Innovation Solution

A path control method and device that calculate and set low priority signal transmissible periods for each path, synchronizing path switching with high priority traffic direction changes and incorporating a protection time to manage delay differences, ensuring low priority traffic is transmitted during available periods without waiting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If path selection is performed based on minimum number of hops, then routing efficiency is improved, but low priority traffic experiences waiting times due to unsynchronized transmission periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting efficiencyVSAvoidwaiting time for low priority traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the path selection criterion from minimum number of hops to matching low priority signal transmissible periods. The path control device calculates transmissible periods for multiple paths and selects paths where low priority traffic can be transmitted during available time windows, thereby eliminating waiting times while maintaining routing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The path control device performs preliminary calculation of low priority signal transmissible periods for each path before actual traffic transmission. By pre-computing which paths have available transmission periods and storing this information, the device can quickly select appropriate paths without causing waiting times during actual data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple paths are used for high priority and low priority traffic, then network utilization is improved, but path timing synchronization becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork utilizationVSAvoidpath timing synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The path control device acts as an intermediary between the communication device and signal transfer devices. It centralizes the function of calculating and determining low priority signal transmissible periods for multiple paths, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture. Instead of each device independently managing complex timing synchronization, the path control device performs this function centrally and provides path selection information to other devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If path switching is performed without protection time, then transmission speed is improved, but delay differences between paths cause transmission errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission speedVSAvoidtransmission accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a protection time period when switching from one path to another. During this protection time, no low priority traffic is transmitted, which cushions against the delay differences between paths. This prevents packets transmitted on different paths from arriving in incorrect order or causing transmission errors, thereby maintaining reliability while still enabling fast path switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS11706664B2Route control method and route control device

Publication Date: 2023.07.18 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

Provided is a path control method of controlling a path of communication in a network including a high priority device dealing with high priority traffic, a high priority control device communicating with the high priority device through a plurality of signal transfer devices transferring signals by periodically repeating a high priority signal transmissible period in which high priority traffic is transmissible and a low priority signal transmissible period in which low priority traffic is transmissible, a low priority device dealing with the low priority traffic, and a low priority control device communicating with the low priority device through the plurality of signal transfer devices, the path control method including calculating a low priority signal transmissible period in each of paths between the low priority device and the low priority control device, and performing setting for switching the path between the low priority device and the low priority control device so that the low priority traffic is transmitted in any one of the calculated low priority signal transmissible periods.