Predictive Link Adaptation for Low-Latency Communication Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for handling communication link failures and performance degradation in automation control and monitoring systems are not fast enough to prevent application failures, particularly for low latency applications, as they react after the application is affected rather than anticipating and adapting to potential link issues.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that predict future link performance using current link parameters to adapt operations before the application is impacted, allowing for quicker handling of potential link failures and ensuring the execution of critical low-latency applications over unreliable communication links.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current methods are used to handle communication link failures, then the system reacts after application failure occurs, but the response time is too slow to prevent low-latency application failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication execution reliabilityVSAvoidresponse time to link failure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by predicting future link performance using current link parameters before actual failures occur. The system proactively adapts operations based on predicted degradation, moving the adaptation point from after application impact to before, thereby preventing low-latency application failures and reducing response time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the system adapts operation after application is affected, then the application has already failed, but adapting before requires predicting link performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication link reliabilityVSAvoidlink performance prediction system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary link performance prediction using current link parameters to anticipate future degradation. This allows the communication device to adapt operations proactively before applications are impacted, improving reliability while managing complexity through predictive rather than reactive adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring current link parameters and using this information to predict future link performance. The system feeds this prediction back into the operation adaptation mechanism, creating a closed-loop system that dynamically adjusts operations based on predicted link conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the system monitors link parameters continuously, then prediction accuracy improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink parameter measurement precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption for monitoring
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by monitoring and predicting only the specific link parameters that are most critical for application performance. Rather than continuously monitoring all possible parameters, the system focuses on key parameters that provide sufficient prediction accuracy for adapting operations, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective prediction capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2802171B1Communications links assessment
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2802171B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2802171B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2802171B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

There is provided a method, a communications device, a vehicle and a computer program for adaptation of operation for communication between communications devices. An application is executed by a first communications device. The application involves data communications with a second communications device. A predicted impact on at least one communications link used for the data communications is acquired. The predicted impact is based on information of current link parameters of the at least one communications link. Operation of the first communications device is adapted based on the predicted impact.