Proactive Downlink Data Forwarding in Cellular Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cellular communication systems, the conventional method of buffering downlink data until a terminal device is fully connected to the network leads to increased latency and memory usage, especially in scenarios with a large number of Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices that require sporadic data transmissions, causing inefficiencies in data routing.

Innovation Solution

Implementing proactive data forwarding from the data routing network element to the terminal device as soon as the device is successfully paged, without waiting for the full establishment of a bearer service, allowing downlink data to be transmitted before the RRC connection is fully configured, thereby reducing latency and memory consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If downlink data is buffered until the terminal device is fully connected to the network, then data transmission reliability is improved, but transmission latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by forwarding downlink data to the radio access network element in advance, before the bearer service is fully established. The data is transmitted as soon as the terminal device is successfully paged and the downlink data arrives at the data routing network element, rather than waiting for complete connection establishment. This reduces latency while maintaining reliability through subsequent data retransmission if needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If downlink data is buffered until full network connection is established, then data delivery accuracy is improved, but memory usage in the data routing network element increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata delivery accuracyVSAvoidmemory usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces memory usage by performing preliminary data forwarding to the radio access network element before full connection establishment. The data routing network element does not need to retain data in its buffers for extended periods, as data is forwarded promptly upon receiving the downlink data and successful paging confirmation, thereby reducing the quantity of data stored in memory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional buffering method is used, then network connection stability is maintained, but data routing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connection stabilityVSAvoiddata routing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent improves data routing efficiency by applying preliminary action - forwarding data before full connection establishment. This accelerates the data path while the system maintains connection stability through established protocols and potential retransmission mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3342222B1Data routing in cellular communication system
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP3342222B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3342222B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3342222B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

There is provided a solution for proactively transferring (206) downlink data addressed to a terminal device (120) from a data routing network element (e.g. S-GW) of a cellular communication system. According to an embodiment, a location of the terminal device is determined and an identifier associated with the determined location is delivered to the data routing network element. Then, the data routing network element may forward data to the eNB even before one or more services for the delivery of the downlink data to the terminal device have been completed.