Timeslot Assignment in Wireless Networks Without Timing Advance Offset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current GSM/EDGE radio access networks face limitations in timeslot assignment, particularly for high multislot classes, where the use of timing advance offset is required for efficient resource allocation, but without it, existing standards restrict the number of uplink and downlink timeslots, limiting flexibility and efficiency in timeslot configurations.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of new multislot configurations and techniques, such as shifted USF and alternative switching times combinations (Tra/Ttb and Tta/Trb), allow for flexible timeslot assignment (FTA) and enhanced flexible timeslot assignment (EFTA) without relying on timing advance offset, enabling more flexible and efficient allocation of uplink and downlink timeslots for mobile stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If timing advance offset is used for timeslot assignment, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the timing advance offset mechanism from the timeslot assignment process. By eliminating this component, the system achieves simpler device implementation and reduced signaling overhead while maintaining effective resource allocation through alternative methods that do not require timing advance calculations or offset management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables mobile stations to autonomously determine their timeslot assignments based on pre-configured multislot classes and network parameters without requiring complex timing advance offset calculations. This self-service approach reduces the need for extensive signaling between network and mobile station while maintaining allocation efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If timing advance offset is required for timeslot assignment, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the timing advance offset signaling requirement from the timeslot assignment process. Network nodes assign timeslots based on mobile station multislot classes and pre-agreed configurations without exchanging timing advance offset information, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining allocation flexibility through the standardized multislot class framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the assignment parameters from timing advance offset-based to multislot class-based allocation. By using predefined multislot classes that encode timeslot patterns, the system achieves comparable flexibility with significantly reduced signaling requirements, as mobile stations can autonomously interpret their assignments from standardised class definitions.
3Device complexity
If standard timeslot assignment is used without timing advance offset, then device complexity is reduced, but timeslot allocation flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal timeslot assignment framework using standardized multislot classes that can accommodate various uplink-downlink configurations without requiring complex device logic. Each multislot class represents a pre-defined timeslot pattern that can be directly applied, enabling simple device implementation while maintaining diverse allocation flexibility through the standardized class system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration by defining multiple predefined multislot classes that encode different timeslot assignment patterns. Mobile stations select from these pre-configured classes based on their capabilities and network requirements, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations while maintaining allocation flexibility through the variety of predefined patterns.
4Productivity
If existing standards restrict the number of uplink and downlink timeslots, then system simplicity is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic timeslot allocation by enabling mobile stations to operate with different multislot classes that can be activated based on traffic conditions and network requirements. This dynamic capability allows the system to optimize resource utilization for varying uplink-downlink traffic patterns without requiring complex real-time reconfiguration, as mobile stations can switch between pre-defined multislot classes to match current needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the allocation parameters by introducing multislot class identifiers that encode different timeslot distribution patterns. Network nodes can assign different multislot classes to mobile stations based on their service requirements, enabling flexible resource utilization across multiple timeslots while maintaining simple device implementation through standardized class definitions and autonomous interpretation.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile station in a communications system includes hardware and software stored on a tangible computer readable medium that, during operation, cause the mobile station to receive a timeslot assignment from a wireless network and operate based on the received timeslot assignment. The timeslot assignment may be based on whether a timing advance offset is used by the wireless network. The mobile station may also receive an indication from the wireless network, indicating whether a timing advance offset is used by the wireless network. The mobile station may subsequently operate based on the received indication.