Priority-Based Device Re-Registration After Network Outages

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Solution Overview

Problem

In large networks, the simultaneous re-registration of numerous devices following a network outage causes congestion and delays crucial devices from re-joining the network, potentially leading to dangerous consequences, such as in hospitals or broadcast studios.

Innovation Solution

A method for device registration that assigns priority levels to devices, allowing them to re-join the network in an ordered manner based on their criticality, using specific registration settings like back-off and retry periods tailored to each priority level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If all devices attempt to re-register on the network simultaneously after a power outage or failure, then the network can be quickly restored, but network congestion occurs and many devices fail to re-register

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork restoration speedVSAvoiddevice registration success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the device registration process into different time slots based on device priority levels. Critical devices register first in an initial time slot, while non-critical devices register in subsequent time slots. This segmentation prevents simultaneous registration attempts and reduces network congestion while ensuring critical devices are restored quickly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different registration strategies to different devices based on their criticality. Critical devices receive higher priority and use shorter back-off times, while non-critical devices use longer back-off times. This local differentiation ensures that critical infrastructure is restored first without preventing non-critical devices from eventually re-registering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If contention techniques such as back-off are used to reduce simultaneous registration attempts, then network congestion is reduced, but crucial devices are delayed from rejoining the network

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork stability during re-registrationVSAvoiddevice re-registration time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent differentiates back-off time based on device priority level. Critical devices are assigned shorter back-off times to minimize delay, while non-critical devices are assigned longer back-off times to prevent congestion. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring critical devices join quickly without causing network instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments registration into multiple time slots where critical devices register in the first slot with minimal back-off, while non-critical devices register in subsequent slots with increased back-off. This segmentation allows critical devices to rejoin quickly while maintaining network stability during the registration process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If priority levels are assigned to devices for ordered registration, then crucial devices re-register quickly, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecritical device re-registration timeVSAvoidregistration system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by having devices automatically determine their own priority level based on pre-configured settings or device characteristics. The registration system uses this self-determined priority to assign appropriate back-off times and time slots without requiring manual intervention or complex centralized control, thus reducing system complexity while achieving fast critical device registration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the registration parameter from uniform simultaneous registration to priority-based ordered registration. By introducing priority levels as a parameter and using it to modulate back-off times and time slot assignments, the system achieves fast critical device registration without requiring complex manual control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3939208B1A device, computer program and method
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3939208B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3939208B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3939208B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of joining a first device and a second device with a network, the method comprising: joining a first device with the network and subsequently joining a second device with the network, where a priority level for joining with the network associated with the first device is higher than the priority level for joining with the network associated with the second device.