# How 5G Networks Use Different Speeds for Device Communication > Ericsson's patent describes how 5G wireless networks can tell a device how to talk back, and then send data to that device using two different 'speeds' or channel widths at the same time, making communication more flexible. - **Patent:** US 12021609 - **Original title:** Network architecture, methods, and devices for a wireless communications network - **Owner:** Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB - **Granted:** 2024 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 4 - **Field:** telecommunications, consumer_electronics, software ## What it does This patent describes a method for wireless communication in 5G networks. From the network's side (a radio network node), it first receives a message from a user equipment (UE), like a smartphone, using a specific 'uplink access configuration' that the network previously told the UE to use (Claim 1). After that, the network sends two different data transmissions to the UE. These transmissions use Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) but have different 'subcarrier spacings' (Claim 1). This means the network can send different types of data, or data to different parts of the device, using different underlying transmission settings simultaneously. For example, a network might send high-priority control information with one subcarrier spacing and regular user data with another, more efficient subcarrier spacing. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover wireless communication systems where all data transmissions use the exact same subcarrier spacing. - Does not cover systems where the network does not first provide an 'uplink access configuration index' to the user equipment. - Does not cover communication methods that do not use Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM). - Does not cover systems where different data transmissions with different subcarrier spacings are processed by the same Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol layer. - Does not cover systems where a single, common Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol layer is not used to manage messages from different MAC layers. ## The clever bit The clever part is enabling a wireless network to dynamically manage how a device talks back (uplink access configuration) and then simultaneously send data to that device using different fundamental transmission 'speeds' or channel widths (differing subcarrier spacings). This allows for a highly adaptable and efficient use of the radio spectrum, tailoring the communication method to the specific data being sent. ## Real-world examples 1. 5G New Radio (NR) networks 2. Modern smartphones connecting to 5G 3. IoT devices using 5G for diverse communication needs 4. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) deployments using 5G ## Why it matters This patent is significant for the flexibility and efficiency of 5G wireless networks. By allowing different subcarrier spacings (often called 'numerologies') to be used concurrently for different types of data, networks can better adapt to varying service requirements, device capabilities, and radio conditions. This capability is crucial for supporting the diverse applications of 5G, from high-speed mobile broadband to low-latency industrial automation and massive IoT deployments. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How 5G Networks Use Different Speeds for Device Communication cover? Ericsson's patent describes how 5G wireless networks can tell a device how to talk back, and then send data to that device using two different 'speeds' or channel widths at the same time, making communication more flexible. ### Who owns patent US 12021609? Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB owns this patent, granted in 2024. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on January 5, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 12021609 cited by? This patent has been cited by 4 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent is significant for the flexibility and efficiency of 5G wireless networks. By allowing different subcarrier spacings (often called 'numerologies') to be used concurrently for different types of data, networks can better adapt to varying service requirements, device capabilities, and radio conditions. This capability is crucial for supporting the diverse applications of 5G, from high-speed mobile broadband to low-latency industrial automation and massive IoT deployments. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover wireless communication systems where all data transmissions use the exact same subcarrier spacing. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12021609/network-architecture-methods-and-devices-for-a-wireless-communications-network-12021609 **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12021609 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How 5G Networks Intelligently Switch Your Phone's Connection Beams](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12231284/network-architecture-methods-and-devices-for-a-wireless-communications-network) — This patent describes how a 5G network efficiently manages and switches the directional radio signals (beams) your phone uses, especially when needing to look beyond its current cell tower. - [How Phones and Towers Use AI to Improve Wireless Signal Quality](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12506552/method-and-apparatus-for-estimating-channel-in-wireless-communication-system) — This patent describes how a mobile phone and a base station work together, using machine learning, to accurately measure and predict the quality of the wireless connection, making communication more reliable. - [How Cellular Networks Reconfigure Without Dropping Your Call](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12739717/cellular-telecommunications-network) — This patent describes a method for cellular networks to intelligently reconfigure parts of their system by temporarily moving users to a different connection, aiming to minimize disruption and improve service during updates or changes. - [How Phones and Base Stations Talk Using Twisting Radio Waves](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11974263/method-of-using-orbital-angular-momentum-in-a-wireless-communication-system-and-) — LG's patent describes a method for a mobile device to tell a base station which specific "twisting" radio wave patterns it can best receive, helping improve wireless communication. - [How 5G Networks Coordinate AI Models Across Different Devices](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20230412513/providing-distributed-ai-models-in-communication-networks-and-related-nodesdevic) — A method for 5G networks to translate AI requirements into network performance settings so that AI models can run efficiently across cloud, edge, and local devices.