Timer Mechanism for Blocking Excessive Preference Indicator Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cellular communications networks, especially in LTE Release 11, excessive signaling of assistance information from wireless devices to base stations leads to increased power consumption and poor service quality due to signaling overload, as there is no mechanism to block frequent changes in preference indicators effectively.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a timer mechanism that sets different expiration values based on the delay sensitivity of preference indicators, allowing only expired indicators to be transmitted, thereby preventing excessive signaling and optimizing resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the wireless device transmits preference indicators frequently to indicate changing configuration preferences, then the network can adapt quickly to user needs, but excessive signaling occurs leading to increased power consumption and network overload

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork adaptability to configuration preferencesVSAvoidpower consumption of wireless device

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a timer mechanism that enforces periodic action by blocking preference indicator transmissions until a predetermined time period has elapsed since the last transmission. This timer-based approach converts potentially continuous or frequent signaling into periodic signaling, reducing overall signaling frequency while ensuring that important configuration changes are still communicated to the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the wireless device transmits preference indicators frequently to indicate changing configuration preferences, then the network can adapt quickly to user needs, but signaling overload occurs leading to poor service quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork adaptability to configuration preferencesVSAvoidservice quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The timer mechanism enforces periodic action by blocking preference indicator transmissions until a predetermined time period has elapsed since the last transmission. This converts potentially continuous or frequent signaling into periodic signaling, reducing overall signaling frequency and preventing network overload while still ensuring that important configuration changes are communicated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively blocking preference indicator transmissions before they can contribute to signaling overload. The timer mechanism preemptively prevents excessive signaling by enforcing a minimum time interval between transmissions, thereby protecting the network from potential overload conditions before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Loss of time

If the timer value is set short to allow frequent preference indicator transmissions, then configuration updates are timely, but excessive signaling occurs increasing power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelay in configuration updatesVSAvoidpower consumption of wireless device

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes by allowing the timer value to be dynamically adjusted based on network conditions, device state, and service requirements. Different timer values can be configured for different scenarios (e.g., shorter timers for delay-sensitive services, longer timers for power-constrained scenarios), enabling flexible optimization between timeliness and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Use of energy by moving object

If the timer value is set long to reduce signaling frequency and power consumption, then power efficiency improves, but configuration updates are delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption of wireless deviceVSAvoiddelay in configuration updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The timer mechanism embodies dynamics by allowing the time interval between preference indicator transmissions to be flexible rather than fixed. The system can adapt the timer value based on current conditions, enabling the balancing act between power efficiency and update timeliness to be optimized in real-time according to actual network and device states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9832726B2Systems and methods for blocking excessive transmitter message signaling

Publication Date: 2017.11.28 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to transmitting assistance information from a first node to a second node. In one embodiment, a first node includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. In response to transmitting a preference indicator for a first configuration to a second node via the wireless transmitter or receiving a reconfiguration request associated with the preference indicator for the first configuration, the first node starts a timer set to a value that defines an amount of time before the first node is permitted to transmit a preference indicator for a second configuration to the second node. The first node then blocks transmission of the preference indicator for the second configuration to the second node until the timer has expired. In this manner, excessive signaling of preference indicators from the first node to the second node is avoided.