Uplink Path Switching Control for Dual-Connected Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems with dual connectivity, frequent uplink-path switching between connections can lead to excessive battery drain in user equipment (UE) with low remaining battery energy, potentially causing connectivity issues or device shutdown.

Innovation Solution

A mechanism is implemented to detect and prevent further uplink-path switching when the primary uplink path has been switching at a high rate and the UE's battery energy is low, thereby conserving energy and maintaining connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If uplink-path switching is enabled to maintain optimal connectivity, then connection quality is improved, but battery energy is depleted faster

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection qualityVSAvoidbattery energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the uplink-path switching behavior based on real-time battery energy conditions. When battery energy falls below a threshold, the UE disables further uplink-path switching despite potential connectivity benefits, creating a dynamic adaptation to energy constraints that resolves the contradiction between maintaining connection quality and conserving battery energy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters of the uplink-path switching mechanism by introducing battery energy level as a control parameter. The switching behavior is modified based on the battery energy parameter, transitioning from aggressive switching to disabled switching when energy is low, thereby resolving the contradiction through parameter-based adaptation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If uplink-path switching control process continues to operate, then connectivity optimization is maintained, but device shutdown risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconnectivityVSAvoiddevice shutdown risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary anti-action by disabling the uplink-path switching control process before the device reaches a shutdown state. When battery energy falls below the threshold, the UE proactively prevents further switching operations that would otherwise accelerate energy depletion and potentially cause device shutdown, thereby eliminating the harmful effect before it manifests

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS11277797B1Disabling uplink leg switching of dual-connected device in response to low battery energy and high rate of uplink leg switching

Publication Date: 2022.03.15 SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC

AI summary

A method and system for controlling uplink-path switching of a user equipment device (UE) when the UE has at least two co-existing air-interface connections including a first air-interface connection with a first access node and a second air-interface connection with a second access node, where one of the connections defining a primary uplink path of the UE and an uplink-path-switch control process dynamically controls switching which one of the air-interface connections is the UE's primary uplink path. An example method includes (a) detecting that both (i) the switching of which one of the air-interface connections is the UE's primary uplink path has been occurring at a threshold high rate and (ii) the UE's remaining battery energy threshold low, and (b) responsive to at least the detecting, disabling further switching of which one of the air-interface connections is the UE's primary uplink path while the UE maintains the co-existing air-interface connections.