RAT Manager Tune Away Handling for Voice Call Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in managing voice calls by frequently switching between cellular and non-cellular connections, leading to increased power consumption and signaling load, particularly during cellular 'tune away' scenarios where signal quality metrics are transient or unreliable.

Innovation Solution

A RAT manager is configured to ignore or not report cellular quality metrics during cellular tune away intervals, preventing the establishment or termination of WLAN connections based on these metrics, thereby reducing power consumption and signaling load by maintaining connections only when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the device uses cellular tune away to monitor for incoming voice calls on a second cellular RAT, then voice call capability is improved, but signal quality metrics become transient and unreliable during the tune away interval

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice call capabilityVSAvoidsignal quality metrics

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic transient signal quality metrics during tune away intervals and separates them from the decision-making process. The RAT manager ignores cellular quality metrics reported during tune away periods, effectively removing unreliable data from the system's voice call determination logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the baseband processor explicitly indicate when it is in a tune away state before quality metrics are reported. This advance notification allows the RAT manager to preemptively ignore the metrics, preventing incorrect voice call decisions based on transient signal conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If the RAT manager uses cellular quality metrics to determine when to set up or bring down WLAN connections, then connection management is automated, but unnecessary handovers occur during transient conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection managementVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the feedback mechanism by having the baseband processor provide a tune away indication alongside quality metrics. The RAT manager uses this feedback to dynamically adjust its decision-making, suppressing automated connection changes during tune away intervals when metrics are unreliable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic behavior to the connection management system by making the RAT manager responsive to the tune away state. The system automatically adjusts its automation level based on current conditions, reducing automated handovers during transient tune away periods while maintaining full automation during stable conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the device frequently sets up and tears down WLAN connections for voice calls, then adaptability to signal conditions is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal condition adaptabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by having the RAT manager anticipate unreliable signal conditions during tune away intervals and suppress connection setup decisions in advance. This prevents unnecessary WLAN connection establishments that would consume additional power, while still maintaining adaptability to genuine signal conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS10045259B2Call setup techniques using WLAN radio and shared cellular radio

Publication Date: 2018.08.07 APPLE INC

AI summary

In some embodiments, a cellular baseband processor communicates wirelessly and reports cellular metrics for both a first cellular RAT and a second cellular RAT. The cellular baseband processor may be configured to tune away, for a time interval, from the first cellular RAT to monitor for communications on the second cellular RAT. In some embodiments, the cellular baseband processor is configured not to report cellular metrics during the time interval to prevent a RAT manager from setting up a connection for voice calls on a WLAN RAT during the time interval. In some embodiments another processing element the RAT manager is configured to ignore cellular metrics from the cellular baseband processor during the interval. This may reduce signal load and power consumption, in some embodiments.