Wireless Connectivity Solicitation for Always-On Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless data networks using simple IP often disconnect always-connected devices like push devices due to inactivity timers, leading to resource savings but causing extra traffic and potential overload when devices send keep-alive messages, which is not suitable for devices needing continuous connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A connectivity solicitation apparatus and method that includes a transceiver module and processor to detect inactivity and send solicitation messages to the network, resetting the inactivity timer, thereby maintaining data connectivity without additional network traffic, and randomizing solicitation message intervals to prevent overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices send keep-alive messages to push data servers at a fixed interval to maintain connectivity, then continuous connectivity for push devices is improved, but extra traffic is generated at the push data server and network overload may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the wireless data device sends a connectivity maintenance indication to the PDSN (Packet Data Serving Node), which then resets the inactivity timer on the network side. This intermediary approach allows connectivity maintenance without requiring continuous traffic through the push data server, thereby reducing server traffic while maintaining device connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the push data server actively receive keep-alive messages from devices, the patent inverts the approach by having the device send a brief indication to the PDSN, which then proactively manages the inactivity timer. This reversal eliminates the need for continuous server-side traffic handling while maintaining the connectivity state.
2Loss of energy
If the PDSN uses an inactivity timer to recollect IP addresses when data traffic stops, then network resource savings are improved, but wireless data devices need to be disconnected from the network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the wireless data device send a connectivity maintenance indication to the PDSN before the inactivity timer expires. This pre-emptive action allows the device to maintain its IP address and data service privilege without actually using data traffic, thereby preserving both network resources and device connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs self-service by autonomously detecting its own data inactivity state and sending connectivity maintenance indications to the PDSN when needed. This self-service mechanism allows the device to manage its own connectivity state without requiring continuous network intervention or traffic, balancing resource efficiency with service continuity.
3Reliability
If multiple wireless data devices send keep-alive messages simultaneously to maintain connectivity, then continuous connectivity for all devices is improved, but the capacity of the wireless data network may be overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the connectivity maintenance function from the data traffic path. Instead of sending keep-alive messages through the data network path that could cause overload, the device sends a brief connectivity maintenance indication to the PDSN, which then handles timer management separately. This extraction allows connectivity maintenance without consuming data network capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of what constitutes a connectivity maintenance signal. Instead of using regular data traffic or keep-alive messages through the data path, it uses a specific connectivity maintenance indication sent to the PDSN's control plane. This parameter change allows the system to maintain connectivity states without generating data traffic that would consume network capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
According to the embodiments of the techniques of this application, a wireless data device or other data node sends solicitation messages periodically to a wireless gateway, such as a PDSN, when there is no data traffic between the wireless data device and a wireless data network. Each solicitation message resets the simple IP inactivity timer on the wireless gateway. When multiple wireless data devices send solicitation messages, the interval between subsequent transmissions of solicitation messages is randomised to reduce the probability of collision with the solicitations from other devices on the same wireless link. The solicitation timer, for instance, may be based on the simple IP inactivity timer setting on the wireless network, and the number of wireless data devices that the wireless data network serves. Expiration of the solicitation timer at the wireless data device or other data node causes the next solicitation message to be sent from or on behalf of the wireless data device.