Sidelink Device Activation for Wireless Connection Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless networks in manufacturing environments face challenges in providing reliable data connections for moveable devices, especially when they move out of line of sight or encounter obstacles, leading to signal degradation and potential loss of connection.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a sidelink device by predicting the need for a second data connection based on the mobility pattern of a moveable device and available wireless network connections, and sending a request to activate the sidelink device when certain criteria related to the first data connection are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single data connection is established for a moveable device, then the device can communicate when in line of sight, but the connection is lost when the device moves out of line of sight or encounters obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future connection needs based on mobility patterns before the device actually moves out of line of sight. The network controller pre-activates sidelink devices along the predicted trajectory, ensuring seamless connectivity without waiting for connection failure. This proactive approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through advance preparation while keeping the network configuration manageable through automated prediction algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
Sidelink devices serve as intermediaries between the moveable device and the core network infrastructure. When the primary connection is lost or predicted to be lost, these intermediary devices provide alternative communication paths, enabling the moveable device to maintain connectivity even when out of line of sight with main access nodes. This mediator approach enhances reliability without requiring complex reconfiguration of the entire network.
2Reliability
If sidelink devices are activated to provide alternative data connections, then connection reliability improves for moveable devices out of line of sight, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of activating all possible sidelink devices continuously, the system applies partial action by selectively activating only those sidelink devices that are predicted to be needed based on mobility patterns. This approach provides sufficient reliability coverage without the excessive energy consumption that would result from activating all available sidelink devices, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the activation state parameter of sidelink devices based on real-time mobility predictions and current connection status. Sidelink devices are activated only when prediction algorithms indicate they will be needed, and deactivated when no longer required. This dynamic parameter adjustment maintains connection reliability while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption from continuously active devices.
3Reliability
If the network controller continuously monitors and manages data connections, then connection reliability improves, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by enabling moveable devices to report their own mobility patterns and connection status to the network controller. Rather than requiring the controller to continuously monitor all devices, the devices autonomously provide relevant information, reducing the processing burden on the network controller while maintaining reliable connection management through collaborative monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method, computer program product and system for: receiving information relating to available connections in a wireless network, the wireless network including at least one access node and at least one sidelink device, collecting information relating to a mobility pattern of at least one moveable device within a predetermined area covered by the wireless network, establishing a first data connection to the wireless network for the moveable device, predicting, based on the mobility pattern of the moveable device and the information relating to the wireless network, a second data connection to be established to the wireless network for the moveable device, and sending, in response to determining that at least one criterion related to the first data connection is fulfilled, a request to the at least one access node to activate the at least one sidelink device for providing the second data connection.