Unacknowledged Connection Release for Out-of-Sync Wireless Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional connection release mechanisms for Out-of-Sync (OOS) wireless devices in cellular networks result in significant signaling overhead, leading to unnecessary battery power consumption and increased latency due to the requirement for acknowledgement messages.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an unacknowledged connection release procedure where the base station sends a connection release message to an OOS wireless device without waiting for acknowledgement, allowing for immediate release of resources and reducing signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional connection release mechanisms are used for OOS wireless devices, then connection release reliability is improved through acknowledgement messages, but signaling overhead increases and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection release reliabilityVSAvoidconnection release latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the acknowledgement message requirement from the connection release procedure for OOS devices. By taking out the HARQ ACK and RLC ACK requirements that are normally mandatory for reliable delivery confirmation, the system achieves faster release without the time-consuming acknowledgment exchange, specifically targeting the contradiction between reliability and latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the connection release procedure into different paths based on device synchronization state. For OOS devices, a simplified unacknowledged release path is created, separating them from IOS devices that follow the conventional acknowledged release path. This segmentation allows the system to apply different reliability-latency tradeoffs appropriate to each device state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If conventional connection release mechanisms are used for OOS wireless devices, then connection release reliability is improved through acknowledgement messages, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection release reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the acknowledgement messaging layer from the connection release procedure for OOS devices. By extracting the HARQ ACK and RLC ACK signaling elements that normally provide reliability confirmation, the system eliminates the associated signaling overhead while accepting that unacknowledged release is appropriate for devices already in an out-of-sync state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a segmented signaling approach where OOS devices follow a simplified release procedure without acknowledgement exchanges, while IOS devices continue with the full acknowledged procedure. This segmentation reduces overall network signaling overhead by applying the lighter protocol only where appropriate for devices already experiencing synchronization issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of information

If acknowledgement messages are required for connection release, then delivery confirmation is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery confirmationVSAvoidwireless device power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the power-consuming acknowledgement transmission requirement from the connection release process for OOS devices. By removing the need for devices to transmit HARQ ACK and RLC ACK messages during release, the system significantly reduces wireless device power consumption, which is particularly beneficial for mobile devices that may already be experiencing radio link issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the wireless device to send acknowledgements to confirm receipt of the release message, the system inverts the approach by having the network proceed with release without waiting for device confirmation. This inversion eliminates the device's power-consuming transmission requirement while still achieving the release objective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10575363B2Signaling reduction for out-of-sync users

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Systems and methods relating to an unacknowledged connection release in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a base station in a cellular communications network comprises sending a connection release message to a wireless device that is in an Out-of-Sync (OOS) state and releasing a connection with the wireless device without receiving, from the wireless device, an acknowledgement of receipt of the connection release message. In this manner, signaling overhead for releasing the connection of the wireless device that is in OOS state is substantially reduced.