Nokia has been granted a patent for a method and apparatus enabling efficient centralized unit switching in telecommunications. The innovation allows a distributed unit to transmit identity information to a source centralized unit, facilitating faster switches with reduced signaling and minimal disruption to data connections. GlobalData’s report on Nokia gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Nokia, Adaptive video coding was a key innovation area identified from patents. Nokia's grant share as of June 2024 was 56%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Centralized unit switch method for minimized signaling and interruption
The patent US12047829B2 describes an apparatus designed to facilitate the switching of connections between centralized units and distributed units in a network. The apparatus includes at least one processor and memory that stores executable instructions. When executed, these instructions enable the apparatus to transmit a first message from a distributed unit to a source centralized unit, indicating the need to switch to a target centralized unit. This first message can contain various types of information, such as the Internet Protocol address or identity of the target centralized unit, the duration of the current connection, and the identity of the distributed unit. Upon receiving a second message from the source centralized unit, which allows the switch, the apparatus can then establish a connection with the target centralized unit.
Additionally, the patent outlines several scenarios that may trigger the need for a centralized unit switch, including exceeding a threshold distance between units or poor interface quality. The apparatus is also capable of handling front-haul application protocol (F1AP) messages, which include radio resource control reconfiguration messages and user equipment context. This functionality allows the apparatus to store relevant context information and forward necessary messages to terminal devices connected to the distributed unit. The claims further specify that the distributed unit may be located on a satellite or function as an integrated access and backhaul node, while the centralized unit is typically situated on the ground. Overall, the patent provides a comprehensive framework for managing connections in a distributed network environment.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
