Proximity Discovery Control via Pre-filtered Terminal Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile communication systems lack efficient methods for a terminal device to discover and establish direct communication paths with proximity terminals, leading to unnecessary power consumption and inability to provide proximity communication services due to lack of permission management and information coordination between mobile communication providers and service providers.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communication system that includes a terminal device, a server device, and a control device, which enables the terminal device to request and establish direct communication paths with proximity terminals by managing different Access Point Names (APNs) for permitted and prohibited communication, and utilizing a ProSe Server to manage identification and permission information for direct communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal device starts discovery at random to discover communication target UE, then the terminal device can potentially find proximity terminals, but the terminal device wastes power consumption when communication target UE is not in proximity or cannot perform direct communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproximity terminal discovery accuracyVSAvoidterminal device power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device receives information about proximity terminals and direct communication path capability from the control device before starting discovery. This preliminary action allows the terminal to filter out terminals that cannot perform direct communication, avoiding unnecessary discovery processes and reducing power consumption while maintaining discovery accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device provides feedback information to the terminal device about which proximity terminals are capable of direct communication. This feedback mechanism enables the terminal to make informed discovery decisions, preventing wasted power on terminals that cannot establish direct communication paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal device performs discovery without permission management, then the terminal device can freely discover proximity terminals, but the mobile communication provider cannot manage and control direct communication services

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect communication service flexibilityVSAvoidpermission management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device acts as an intermediary between the terminal device and the mobile communication provider. It manages permission information and provides controlled access to discovery capabilities, enabling service flexibility while maintaining manageable system complexity through centralized control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments discovery permissions by terminal device and service type. The control device maintains separate permission information for different terminal devices, allowing fine-grained control over which devices can discover which proximity terminals, thereby balancing flexibility and manageability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of information

If the terminal device discovers all proximity terminals without filtering, then complete discovery information is obtained, but unnecessary discovery processes are performed for terminals that cannot perform direct communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproximity terminal information completenessVSAvoiddiscovery process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device receives pre-filtered information from the control device identifying which proximity terminals are capable of direct communication before initiating discovery. This preliminary filtering prevents time-wasting discovery processes on incompatible terminals while preserving information about all potentially discoverable terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial discovery by focusing only on terminals that have been pre-identified as capable of direct communication. This selective approach reduces unnecessary discovery processes and time consumption while maintaining sufficient information for establishing direct communication paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10516984B2Terminal device, base station device, and control device

Publication Date: 2019.12.24 SHARP KK

AI summary

In a proximity service, when positional information is notifies to a server in advance and the proximity service is started, UE that transmits and receives data receives the proximity degree including a communication target UE from the server before proximity discovery is performed to discover the communication target UE, and the UE controls unnecessary proximity discovery by discovering the communication target UE based on the proximity degree.