Sony patents backup path for wireless data when one link fails
Sony describes a method where a device sends data to a network using two separate paths at once: a direct connection and a route through a relay device. If one path becomes too weak to handle the data, the device immediately tells the network via the other working path and sends a report on which data packets were lost so they can be resent.
In the filing’s own words
The method comprises either determining that a link quality of the indirect communications link can no longer support the communication of the data units, and transmitting an indication via the direct communications link that the indirect communications link can no longer support the communication of the data units and a status report of the transmission or the reception of the data units for recovering any of the data units which have been lost, or determining that a link quality of the direct communications link can no longer support the communication of the data units and transmitting an indication via the indirect communications link that the direct communications link can no longer support the communication of the data units and a status report of the transmission or the reception of the data units for recovering any of the data units which have been lost.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method performed by a communications device to transmit data to or to receive data from a wireless communications network, the method comprising establishing a multipath communication with a radio network infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network comprising a first direct communications link with the radio network infrastructure equipment and an indirect communications link via a relay communications devices including a sidelink communications link with the relay communications device, the relay communications device providing a second direct communications link with the radio network infrastructure equipment, transmitting data units to the radio network infrastructure equipment using the multipath communication, or receiving data units from the radio network infrastructure equipment using the multipath communication, wherein the method comprises determining that a link quality of the indirect communications link can no longer support the communication of the data units by the transmitting of the data units to the radio network infrastructure equipment or by the receiving of the data units from the radio network infrastructure equipment via the sidelink communications link, and transmitting an indication via the direct communications link that the indirect communications link can no longer support the communication of the data units with an indication that the indirect communications path is released and with a status report of the transmission or the reception of the data units for use in recovering any of the data units which have been lost.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- METHODS AND COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES
- Publication number
- US20260323738A1
- Application number
- 18880844
- Filed
- Jul 6, 2023
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 16
Classified under
H04W 76/15 Electricity & electronicsH04W 8/30 Electricity & electronicsH04W 76/14 Electricity & electronicsH04W 76/30 Electricity & electronicsH04W 92/18 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.