Wireless Connection Management via Periodic Control Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The continuous transmission of control information in mobile wireless communication systems consumes battery power and increases interference, leading to battery drain and resource inefficiencies in both mobile devices and base stations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where mobile devices adjust the periodicity of control information transmission based on data transmission presence, allowing for reduced transmission when no data is being sent, and utilizing a time alignment timer to maintain uplink synchronization without constant signaling, thereby conserving battery power and minimizing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If control information is transmitted continuously to maintain connection open state, then connection reliability is improved, but battery power consumption increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic control information transmission instead of continuous transmission. The base station and mobile terminal exchange control information at predetermined periodic intervals (e.g., every 10ms, 20ms, 40ms, or 80ms) while the connection remains in open state. This periodic action maintains connection reliability by ensuring both endpoints remain synchronized while significantly reducing battery power consumption compared to continuous transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Stability of the object's composition

If control information is transmitted continuously to maintain connection open state, then connection stability is improved, but air interface resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidair interface resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by transmitting control information at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. This reduces the quantity of air interface resources consumed while maintaining connection stability through regular synchronization updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by transmitting only the necessary minimum control information at periodic intervals rather than continuous full-duplex control signaling. This partial transmission is sufficient to maintain connection stability without unnecessarily consuming air interface resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If control information is transmitted continuously to maintain connection open state, then connection monitoring is improved, but interference level increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection monitoringVSAvoidinterference level
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces interference level by implementing periodic control information transmission instead of continuous transmission. By spacing transmissions at predetermined intervals, the accumulated interference from constant signaling is reduced, while connection monitoring reliability is maintained through regular updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Use of energy by moving object

If control information transmission frequency is reduced to save battery power, then energy efficiency is improved, but connection synchronization may be lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidconnection synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by establishing periodic control information transmission at optimized intervals. The periodicity is carefully selected to be frequent enough to maintain connection synchronization and detect timing drift, yet sparse enough to achieve significant energy savings. The base station monitors uplink timing and determines appropriate periodic intervals based on mobile terminal movement characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile terminal autonomously monitors its own uplink timing alignment based on downlink reception timing and adjusts its transmission timing accordingly. This self-service mechanism allows the terminal to maintain synchronization without requiring continuous network-side timing corrections, improving energy efficiency while preserving connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2829133B1Method and apparatus for managing a wireless connection
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP2829133B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2829133B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2829133B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising at least one processing core configured to receive a first message, the at least one processing core further configured to render the apparatus operable to monitor for at least one of a timing drift and a potential cause of a timing drift; and the at least one processing core further configured to, responsive to determining at least one of a timing drift and a potential cause of a timing drift, cause the apparatus to become operable to cause a transmitter comprised in the apparatus to transmit a second message.