Wireless Device RAT Switching via Movement Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless devices are forced to use inferior radio access technologies (RATs) for extended periods due to timer expiration after request failures, leading to decreased customer satisfaction and inefficient network utilization.

Innovation Solution

A method where a wireless communication device switches to a higher-priority radio access technology by detecting movement to a new area before the timer expires, allowing it to reconnect using the preferred RAT before the timer expires, thereby minimizing the use of inferior RATs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wireless device switches to a lower-priority radio access technology after request failure, then connection reliability is improved, but the time spent on inferior technology increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidtime spent on inferior RAT
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the RAT selection adaptive rather than static. The wireless device dynamically switches between RATs based on real-time conditions: it attempts high-priority RAT first, and only switches to low-priority RAT when the timer indicates persistent failure. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by optimizing both reliability (through fallback) and time (by avoiding premature switching).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of RAT priority selection based on timer status. When the failure timer has not expired, the device maintains preference for high-priority RAT. When timer expires indicating persistent failure, it switches to low-priority RAT. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by timing the switch optimally - not too early (wasting reliability) and not too late (wasting time).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If a wireless device uses a higher-priority radio access technology, then data rate is improved, but connection stability deteriorates after request failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by starting a failure timer immediately when a request fails on high-priority RAT. This timer serves as a predictive indicator of potential persistent failure. By acting on this preliminary signal, the device can prepare for or execute RAT switching at the optimal moment, thus maintaining stability (avoiding prolonged failed attempts) while preserving speed (switching back to high-priority RAT if the timer expires without success).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3526990B1Method and wireless communication device for utilizing a radio access technology to connect to a telecommunication network
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3526990B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3526990B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3526990B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus, computer program, and method are provided for utilizing a particular radio access technology to connect to a telecommunication network before an expiration of a timer. A wireless communication device is provided including at least one hardware processor configured for sending a first request from the wireless communication device for connecting to a telecommunication network via a first base station for a first area. Such first base station implements a first radio access technology that has a first priority and a first data rate. In response to detecting a failure of the first request, a second radio access technology is utilized to connect to the telecommunication network before an expiration of a timer. Such second radio access technology has a second priority that is lower than the first priority and a second data rate that is lower than the first data rate. Further, in response to detecting that the wireless communication device has moved to a second area associated with a second base station before the expiration of the timer, a second request is sent via the second base station that implements the first radio access technology for utilizing the first radio access technology to connect to the telecommunication network before the expiration of the timer.