Sensor Capability Grouping in Mobile Networks by Sensing Area

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile communication networks, particularly in 5G, lack efficient methods to utilize the wide variety of sensing information provided by diverse communication stations and sensors, including terrestrial, flying, and relay stations, leading to suboptimal utilization of sensor capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A communication control apparatus and method that recognizes and manages the sensing capabilities of a plurality of sensors within a mobile communication network, setting a sensing area to improve the utilization efficiency of these sensors by integrating a sensing capability recognizer and a sensing area setter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If diverse communication stations and sensors are deployed in 5G networks, then the variety of sensing information increases, but the utilization efficiency of sensor capabilities deteriorates due to lack of management methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariety of sensing informationVSAvoidutilization efficiency of sensor capabilities
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the heterogeneous sensor group into multiple sensing areas based on spatial distribution and sensing ranges. Each sensing area contains sensors with similar characteristics or overlapping coverage, allowing independent management and optimization. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by organizing the diverse sensor variety into manageable units while maintaining overall utilization efficiency through coordinated management of multiple sensing areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal sensing capability management system that can handle diverse sensor types (terrestrial base stations, flying base stations, relay stations, IAB nodes) through a common framework. The system provides multi-functional capabilities including sensing capability recognition, sensing area setting, and resource allocation that work across all sensor types, thereby improving utilization efficiency without limiting the variety of sensing information that can be collected.

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

2Device complexity

If sensing capabilities of multiple sensors are managed individually, then the complexity of management increases, but the utilization efficiency of sensor groups deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplexity of sensor managementVSAvoidutilization efficiency of sensor group
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the management of multiple individual sensors into a unified sensing capability management system. By combining sensors into sensing areas and managing them as coordinated groups, the system reduces management complexity while improving utilization efficiency. The unified system handles resource allocation, capability recognition, and coordination across all sensors in a sensing area, achieving economies of scale that neither individual sensor management nor complete centralization can provide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of organization by creating sensing areas as intermediate layers between individual sensors and the overall network. This spatial dimension allows sensors to be grouped based on geographic coverage and sensing ranges, transforming the management structure from flat individual sensor management to a hierarchical organization. This dimensional change enables efficient resource allocation and coordination while maintaining manageable complexity through localized sensing area management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4664914A1Recognition of measurement capability of sensor group in mobile communication network
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 RAKUTEN MOBILE INC
  • EP4664914A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4664914A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4664914A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication control apparatus includes at least one processor that performs: by a sensing capability recognizer, causing a mobile communication network to recognize sensing capabilities of a plurality of sensors that can communicate in the mobile communication network; and by a sensing area setter, setting a sensing area, and managing, in the mobile communication network, the sensing capabilities of the plurality of sensors whose sensing ranges are included in the sensing area, as a sensing capability group in the sensing area. The at least one processor performs, by a sensing information outputter, outputting sensing information based on the sensing capability group in the sensing area.