Wireless Device Dual Network Resource Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Single radio wireless devices can only access one network at a time, leading to inefficient use of downlink resources and potential penalties when they temporarily tune away from a network to monitor another, as the original network lacks knowledge of the device's status.

Innovation Solution

A method where a wireless mobile device notifies the first network of its capability to temporarily tune away and maintain a signaling connection, allowing it to monitor another network, and upon returning, sends a scheduling request or buffer status report to update the first network on its status, thereby reducing unnecessary resource allocation and penalties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single radio device tunes away from the first network to monitor the second network, then the device can access multiple radio access technologies, but the first network wastes downlink capacity by allocating resources to the device during tune-away and may penalize the device by reducing future allocations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to access multiple radio access technologiesVSAvoidwaste of downlink capacity and resource allocation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs preliminary action by notifying the first network of its tune-away capability and intended tune-away periods before actually tuning away. This allows the network to proactively avoid allocating downlink resources during known tune-away intervals, preventing waste of downlink capacity before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device provides feedback to the first network by reporting its tune-away status and capability. This feedback mechanism enables the network to adjust its resource allocation decisions based on the device's actual availability, optimizing downlink capacity utilization and avoiding unnecessary resource reservations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single radio device tunes away from the first network to monitor the second network, then the device can access multiple radio access technologies, but the first network may penalize the device by reducing future downlink allocations since the device does not respond to commands during tune-away

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to access multiple radio access technologiesVSAvoiddevice responsiveness to network commands

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device notifies the first network in advance of its tune-away capability and intended tune-away periods before actually tuning away. This preliminary notification ensures the network is aware of the device's unavailability and will not interpret the lack of response during tune-away as a reliability issue or connection problem, thereby preventing penalization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device establishes a feedback mechanism with the first network by reporting its tune-away status. This feedback allows the network to distinguish between intentional tune-away periods and actual connection failures, maintaining accurate knowledge of device responsiveness and preventing unwarranted penalties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If a single radio device maintains signaling connection to the first network while tuning away to monitor the second network, then the device can efficiently manage dual network access, but the device must coordinate resource allocation and timing between networks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of dual network accessVSAvoidcoordination of resource allocation and timing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device implements multi-functionality by maintaining signaling connection capability with the first network while simultaneously performing tune-away operations to monitor the second network. This universal approach allows the device to handle multiple network access functions through a single radio, improving productivity while managing complexity through unified resource coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9386488B2Method for implementing autonomous management of radio resources across dual networks

Publication Date: 2016.07.05 APPLE INC

AI summary

Managing radio resources across dual networks includes a wireless mobile device connecting to a first wireless network using a first radio access technology. The wireless device may notify the first network of a capability to be temporarily non-responsive to the first network while maintaining a signaling connection to the first network. The wireless device may communicate with a second network. The wireless device may return to communicating with the first network subsequent to communicating with the second network, and in response to communicating with the second network for less than a predetermined amount of time, the wireless device may send a scheduling request to the first network. In response to receiving a grant acknowledgement from the first network, the wireless device may send a buffer status report that includes a value such as zero to indicate that the wireless device has returned to and can communicate with the first network.