Terminal Protocol Fallback for Wireless Incompatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Incompatibility between terminal devices and network devices in wireless communication systems leads to communication failures, making it inefficient to diagnose and resolve issues due to the inability to predict whether problems are caused by incompatibility, resulting in time-consuming troubleshooting processes.

Innovation Solution

A communication method where network devices send indication information to terminal devices to fallback to a first protocol version, allowing the terminal devices to reduce capabilities explicitly, thereby quickly resolving compatibility issues and facilitating efficient problem-solving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If terminal devices use advanced protocol versions to achieve higher communication performance, then communication speed and functionality are improved, but compatibility with network devices supporting older protocol versions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidprotocol compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device dynamically adjusts its protocol version based on the network device's capability. The terminal first determines the network device's supported protocol version, then selects the appropriate version for communication, enabling adaptive compatibility across different network configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device changes its protocol version parameter according to the network device's capabilities. By detecting the network device's supported versions and selecting accordingly, the system resolves version mismatches while maintaining optimal performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If terminal devices automatically reduce capability to resolve compatibility issues, then communication problems can be solved, but the troubleshooting process becomes time-consuming due to inability to predict incompatibility causes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidtroubleshooting time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary detection of the network device's protocol version capability before establishing communication. By determining the network device's supported versions in advance and selecting the appropriate version proactively, the system prevents compatibility issues before they occur, eliminating the need for time-consuming troubleshooting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device receives feedback information about the network device's supported protocol versions and adjusts its behavior accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the terminal to automatically adapt to network capabilities, resolving compatibility issues without manual intervention or extended troubleshooting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4167681B1Communication method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4167681B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP4167681B1 patent drawingFigure 2b
  • EP4167681B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and discloses a communication method and apparatus. The method includes: A terminal device receives indication information from a first access network device. The indication information is used to indicate to fall back a capability of the terminal device to a first protocol version. The terminal device communicates, based on the indication information, with the first access network device by using first capability information. A protocol version corresponding to the first capability information is lower than or equal to the first protocol version. In this method, because a network device can explicitly indicate to fall back the capability of the terminal device to the first protocol version, the terminal device can specially reduce the capability, so as to quickly resolve a communication problem caused by incompatibility between the terminal device and the access network device.