Wireless Device Initial Access via Intermediary Connection Parameters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication devices, especially Internet-of-Things devices, face challenges in quickly and efficiently establishing connections to wireless networks, leading to significant battery drain and prolonged onboarding times, which do not scale well in large deployments.

Innovation Solution

A method where a first wireless communication device requests assistance from a second wireless communication device already connected to the network for initial network access, allowing the second device to perform initial signaling and provide connection parameters, thereby reducing the burden on the first device's battery and processing power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wireless communication device performs traditional initial network access procedures including scanning all supported frequency bands and exchanging multiple messages with the network, then the device can establish a connection to the network, but the connection establishment time increases significantly and battery life is drained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection establishmentVSAvoidconnection establishment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the second device (already connected to the network) perform the initial network access procedures in advance on behalf of the first device. The second device obtains network configuration information, performs cell selection, and establishes the connection before the first device needs to use the network, thereby eliminating the time-consuming connection establishment process for the first device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the second device as an intermediary between the network and the first device. The second device acts as a mediator that handles the complex initial access procedures, message exchanges with the network, and configuration获取, then transfers the established connection and parameters to the first device, simplifying its access process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a wireless communication device performs traditional initial network access procedures with multiple message exchanges, then the device can establish a connection to the network, but the energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection establishmentVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the second device perform the energy-consuming initial network access procedures in advance. The second device scans frequency bands, exchanges authentication messages, and obtains network configuration information before the first device needs to access the network, thereby transferring the energy consumption burden from the first device to the second device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The second device serves as an intermediary that absorbs the energy-consuming operations. By handling the radio frequency scanning, message exchanges, and network protocol negotiations, the second device protects the first device from significant battery drain during the connection establishment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If traditional initial network access procedures are used for each Internet-of-Things device, then each device can connect to the network, but the onboarding process does not scale for large deployments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connectionVSAvoidonboarding scalability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the network access procedures for multiple devices by having the second device handle the initial access for the first device. This consolidation allows multiple Internet-of-Things devices to be onboarded more efficiently, as each device can leverage the connection established by another already-connected device, thereby improving the scalability of large-scale deployments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3815459B1Initial network access for a wireless communication device
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3815459B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3815459B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3815459B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided mechanisms for initial network access for a first wireless communication device to a wireless network. A method is performed by the first wireless communication device. The method comprises providing, as part of performing initial access of the first wireless communication device to the wireless network, a request to a second wireless communication device for assisted connection initialization of the first wireless communication device to the wireless network. The method comprises obtaining connection parameters from the second wireless communication device. The parameters are based on the network configuration. The method comprises establishing, using the connection parameters and without further assistance from the second wireless communication device, a connection to the wireless network.