Proxy Device for Linked Smart Devices Signaling Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Smart devices with cellular radio capability, belonging to the same user, often perform independent network procedures, leading to increased signaling overhead and battery power consumption, as each device manages mobility and session management independently.

Innovation Solution

A method where a primary smart device with cellular radio capability acts as a proxy for secondary smart devices, performing network procedures such as paging and tracking area updates on their behalf, using proximity interfaces like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, to reduce signaling overhead and conserve battery power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple smart devices perform independent network procedures for mobility management and session management, then each device can independently access the cellular network, but signaling overhead and battery power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent network access capabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a proxy device as an intermediary that performs network procedures on behalf of secondary devices. The proxy device receives paging messages and forwarding information from the network, then relays them to secondary devices through proximity interfaces (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi). This intermediary approach allows secondary devices to maintain independent network access capability while significantly reducing their battery power consumption by avoiding direct participation in energy-intensive network procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple smart devices perform independent network procedures, then each device can be individually managed by the network, but control-plane signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual device managementVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple device identities and network procedures into a single proxy device. The network treats the proxy device as the primary point of contact for all linked devices, consolidating paging messages, tracking area updates, and other control-plane signaling into a single device. This merging approach maintains individual device management capability through the linking relationship while dramatically reducing the total signaling overhead by processing all procedures through one device rather than multiple independent devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Use of energy by moving object

If a primary device acts as a proxy for secondary devices, then signaling overhead and power consumption are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoidproxy function implementation
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by enabling a single device to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a regular user device for its own network access and as a proxy device for managing linked secondary devices. The proxy functionality is integrated into the existing device architecture, allowing the same hardware and software resources to serve dual purposes. This multi-functionality approach reduces the need for separate dedicated proxy infrastructure while maintaining the energy-saving benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3389322B1Method and device for transmitting/receiving signal between linked devices
Publication Date: 2022.02.02 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3389322B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3389322B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3389322B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Disclosed is a 5G or a pre-5G communication system provided so as to support a higher data transmission rate higher than that of a 4G communication system such as LTE. Disclosed is a method for transmitting/receiving a signal between a plurality of linked devices including a first device and a second device, comprising the steps of: allowing the first device to pair with the second device through a near field radio interface, and to share identification information of the second device; allowing the first device to receive from a cellular network through a cellular wireless interface, a paging message including a page record for the second device; and allowing the first device to transmit a page request message to the second device through the near field wireless interface based on the received paging message.