Wireless Network Resource Sharing via Centralized Database

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication networks lack a seamless and automatic method for devices to share resources such as battery power and data quotas, leading to inefficient use of available resources and increased battery drain when devices are low on these resources.

Innovation Solution

A network node facilitates resource sharing by maintaining a database of user equipment resources within its coverage area, identifying devices with sufficient resources to complete tasks, and enabling direct communication links for data transfer between devices, thereby optimizing resource utilization and reducing battery drain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a device operates independently using its own resources, then device autonomy and simplicity are maintained, but resource efficiency deteriorates when local resources are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network node acts as an intermediary that maintains a resource database and facilitates resource sharing between devices. When a device needs resources, the network node identifies suitable donor devices and coordinates the resource transfer, eliminating the need for direct device-to-device negotiation and reducing system complexity while improving resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The network node serves multiple functions: it acts as a communication router, maintains a resource database, identifies suitable resource donors, and coordinates resource sharing. This multi-functionality allows the system to improve resource efficiency without requiring complex peer-to-peer protocols between devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If manual resource sharing between devices is implemented, then resource sharing capability is achieved, but user convenience and automation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidautomatic resource sharing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

Devices automatically publish their resource status to the network node, and the network node automatically identifies suitable resource donors and notifies requesting devices. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual user intervention while maintaining ease of operation, as users simply need to enable the feature without configuring complex sharing parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where devices report their resource status to the network node, which then identifies suitable donors and notifies requesting devices. This automated feedback mechanism enables seamless resource sharing without user intervention, improving both convenience and automation extent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If devices share resources through network coordination, then resource efficiency improves, but network infrastructure complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource sharing efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork infrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The resource sharing function is segmented into distinct components: devices publish their status, the network node maintains a resource database, identifies suitable donors, and coordinates transfers. This segmentation allows the network infrastructure to handle only specific tasks (database maintenance and donor identification) rather than managing entire resource sharing protocols, reducing overall network complexity while improving sharing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If real-time resource monitoring and sharing is implemented, then resource availability and task completion rates improve, but energy consumption and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask completion reliabilityVSAvoiddevice energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously monitoring and transferring all resources, the system implements partial action by monitoring only critical resource thresholds and initiating transfers only when necessary. Devices publish resource status periodically or when thresholds are crossed, and the network node identifies donors only when requesting devices actually need resources, reducing energy consumption while maintaining task completion reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3035721B1Resource sharing between devices in a wireless network
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP3035721B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3035721B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3035721B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method of facilitating the sharing of resources between multiple user equipment located within a radio coverage area of a network node is disclosed. The method comprises: storing within a resource database a current resource capacity of each of at least a subset of the multiple user equipment; and in response to determining that one of the multiple user equipment is low on a resource required to complete a data communication task requested at the user equipment; determining from the resource database whether one of the subset of multiple user equipment has sufficient resource available to complete the requested data communication.