Aggregation Mechanism for Wireless Background Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Background traffic in wireless devices generates a significant load on network resources and drains battery charge due to frequent transitions between Idle and Connected modes, as each instance of background traffic requires separate connection requests and control-plane network signaling.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an aggregation mechanism at the radio layer to combine multiple instances of background traffic into a single aggregate instance, reducing the need for multiple connection requests and transitions between RRC modes, thereby minimizing control-plane network signaling and battery drain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate connection requests are made for each background traffic instance, then data packets can be transmitted reliably, but control-plane network signaling load increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate connection requests into a single connection request by buffering background data packets and consolidating them into one aggregate transmission. This combines the functionality of multiple individual connections into one unified connection, reducing control-plane signaling while maintaining reliable data delivery through the aggregated connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by buffering background data packets in advance before establishing a connection. The system collects and stores multiple background packets during idle periods, then transmits them all together once a connection is established. This preliminary buffering action eliminates the need for separate connection requests for each packet.
2Productivity
If the wireless device transitions to Connected mode for each background traffic instance, then data can be transmitted, but battery charge is drained significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple background traffic instances into a single aggregate transmission, which requires only one transition to Connected mode instead of multiple separate transitions. By merging the transmission operations, the system maintains data transmission capability while significantly reducing the frequency of mode transitions and associated energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary buffering of background packets during idle periods when the device is in low-power mode. This preliminary action allows the device to remain in idle mode longer without needing to transition to connected mode for each packet, thereby reducing energy consumption while preserving the ability to transmit data when connected.
3Loss of time
If background traffic is transmitted immediately upon generation, then latency is minimized, but control-plane signaling resources are over-utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary buffering of background packets during idle periods before establishing a connection. This buffering action temporarily stores packets without requiring immediate connection establishment, thereby reducing control-plane signaling overhead while maintaining acceptable transmission timing through the aggregation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates on a periodic basis by collecting background packets during idle periods and then establishing connections periodically to transmit accumulated packets. This periodic action pattern reduces the frequency of connection requests compared to immediate transmission for each packet, improving signaling efficiency while maintaining timely data delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication apparatus includes a wireless transceiver that transmits data packets including background traffic data packets and a transceiver control unit that controls transmission by the wireless transceiver of the data packets. The transceiver control unit receives, prior to their transmission, all data packets that are to be transmitted by the wireless transceiver. The transceiver control unit includes an aggregation unit that aggregates all background traffic data packets received by the transceiver control unit over an aggregation period of a certain maximum duration and causes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly transmit the aggregated background traffic data packets only after the aggregation period has expired.