Uplink Handover Key Switching for Low-Latency Wireless Nodes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless telecommunications systems face challenges in efficiently managing handovers between network nodes, particularly for devices with stringent latency requirements like URLLC, due to the break-before-make approach causing data transmission delays during handovers.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a shared grant-free resource pool for uplink transmissions that is common to both source and target network access nodes, allowing terminal devices to transmit data using resources selected from this pool during handovers, and using an end marker to indicate the switch from one security key to another.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If wireless communication systems increase data transmission rates and user capacity, then network performance improves, but path loss and interference increase due to higher frequencies and dense deployment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidpath loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the wireless communication system into multiple hierarchical layers including macro cells, micro cells, and femto cells. Each layer handles different traffic types and frequency ranges, allowing the system to achieve high data rates while managing path loss through distributed architecture rather than relying solely on high frequency transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces three-dimensional wireless communication by utilizing vertical space through multi-story building deployments and elevated antenna structures. This spatial dimensionality allows signals to propagate through different vertical layers, reducing path loss and interference by distributing transmission paths in three-dimensional space rather than confined to two-dimensional horizontal planes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If wireless communication systems operate at higher frequencies to increase capacity, then network capacity improves, but signal propagation and coverage deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidsignal propagation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the network into heterogeneous cell types (macro, micro, femto) that operate at different frequency ranges. Macro cells use lower frequencies for wide-area coverage and reliable propagation, while micro and femto cells use higher frequencies for capacity enhancement in specific zones, thereby achieving both high network capacity and reliable signal propagation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different frequency allocations and transmission characteristics to different spatial locations and cell types. High-frequency signals are deployed locally in dense urban areas where capacity is needed, while lower-frequency signals are used for broader coverage areas, optimizing both network capacity and signal propagation reliability for each local context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If wireless communication systems deploy more base stations to improve coverage, then coverage area improves, but device complexity and deployment cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs base stations with multi-functional capabilities that can operate across multiple frequency ranges and serve different cell types (macro, micro, femto). This universal design allows a single base station platform to provide wide-area coverage and high-capacity services simultaneously, reducing the total number of specialized devices needed and simplifying deployment while maintaining extensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested cell structure where femto cells are deployed within micro cells, which are in turn deployed within macro cells. This hierarchical nesting allows the system to achieve extensive coverage through macro cells while providing enhanced capacity in specific zones through nested smaller cells, avoiding the need for numerous independent base stations and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3603144B1Wireless telecommunications apparatus and methods
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS INC
  • EP3603144B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3603144B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3603144B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A first network access node (206) for use in association with a handover procedure for a terminal device (208) involving the first network access node (206) and a second network access node (204) in a wireless telecommunications network comprising the first network access node (206), the second network access node (204), the terminal device (208), and a core network part, wherein the first network access node (206) comprises controller circuitry and transceiver circuitry configured to operate together such that the first network access node (206) is operable to: receive a block of uplink data from the terminal device (208); establish whether the block of data has been ciphered by the terminal device (208) using a cipher key corresponding to a first cipher key associated with the first network access node (206) or corresponding to a second cipher key associated with the second network access node (204); in response to establishing the block of data has been ciphered using a cipher key corresponding to the first cipher key (206), decipher the block of data using the first cipher key, and to forward the deciphered block of data to the core network part; and in response to establishing the block of data has been ciphered using a cipher key corresponding to the second cipher key, forward the block of data to the second network access node (204).