Path Switching Control Using Wait Timers and Initiator Rules

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing PCS communication systems face conflicts in negotiation procedures when both UEs detect a threshold and initiate a switch to Uu interface communication, leading to signaling waste and inconsistent understanding.

Innovation Solution

A path switching method that uses target information such as timing information, switching thresholds, and random numbers to determine when and which UE initiates the path switching procedure, preventing simultaneous initiation and conflicts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If both UEs detect the threshold and initiate the negotiation procedure for switching from PCS communication to Uu interface communication, then the path switching can be triggered, but negotiation conflicts occur and signaling waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepath switching reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a wait timer that is started before the path switching negotiation procedure. When a UE detects that PCS link quality reaches or falls below a configured threshold, it starts the wait timer before initiating the negotiation procedure. This preliminary timing action prevents simultaneous initiation of negotiation procedures by both UEs, thereby avoiding negotiation conflicts and reducing signaling waste while maintaining reliable path switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If both UEs initiate the negotiation procedure simultaneously, then the path switching response is faster, but negotiation conflicts occur and consistent understanding is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepath switching speedVSAvoidconsistent understanding
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wait timer as a preliminary action that UEs must wait before initiating the negotiation procedure. This timing mechanism ensures that only one UE initiates the negotiation at a time, preventing negotiation conflicts and maintaining consistent understanding between UEs about which terminal is the initiator, while still enabling relatively fast path switching response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4694353A1Path switching processing method and apparatus, and terminal
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP4694353A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4694353A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4694353A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present application belongs to the technical field of communications and discloses a path switching processing method and apparatus, and a terminal. The method comprises: according to target information, a first terminal initiates a path switching process or executes a path switching process initiated by a second terminal, wherein the target information is used for indicating at least one of the following: timing information of a first switching wait timer of the first terminal; initiator information of the path switching process; a relationship between a sidelink quality value and a first switching threshold, the first switching threshold being a switching threshold dedicated to the first terminal; and a first random number carried in a first path switching request and a second random number carried in a second path switching request, the first path switching request being sent by the first terminal when it is detected that the sidelink quality value is less than or equal to a second switching threshold, and the second path switching request being sent by the second terminal when it is detected that the sidelink quality value is less than or equal to the second switching threshold.