Method and user equipment for selectively participating in user equipment coordination set

Abstract

This document describes a method and user equipment for selective participation of a coordinated set of user equipment, wherein a coordinating user equipment (111) determines which user equipment in a coordinated set of user equipment (404) participate in joint communication with a base station (121). The coordinating user equipment (111) receives an indication from the base station (121) specifying a plurality of user equipment to be included in the coordinated set of user equipment (702), and determines that a first subset of the plurality of user equipment participate in joint communication with the base station (121) (704). The coordinating user equipment (111) transmits one or more joint communication selection messages to the first subset of the plurality of user equipment, the messages directing the first subset of the plurality of user equipment to participate in joint communication with the base station (121) (706).

Description

[0001] Division Explanation

[0002] This application is a divisional application of Chinese Patent Application No. 201980098709.0 with an application date of September 19, 2019. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a method for selectively participating in a coordinated set of user equipment and a user equipment. Background Art

[0004] A user equipment coordinated set (UECS) is formed by a plurality of user equipments assigned as a group, which work together like distributed antennas to benefit a specific user equipment (UE). The UECS includes a coordinating UE that coordinates the joint transmission and reception of downlink and / or uplink data of a specific UE (e.g., a target UE) or multiple UEs in the UE coordinated set. Compared with a single UE communicating with a base station, joint communication improves the link budget for communication by combining the antennas and transceivers of multiple UEs in the UE coordinated set. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The Summary of the Invention is provided to introduce a simplified concept of selectively participating in a coordinated set of user equipment. This simplified concept is further described in the following detailed description. The Summary of the Invention is neither intended to identify the essential features of the claimed subject matter nor intended to be used to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0006] In various aspects, methods, apparatuses, systems, and means for determining a coordinating user equipment in a user equipment coordinated set to participate in joint communication in a wireless communication network are described. The coordinating user equipment receives an indication from a base station specifying a plurality of user equipments to be included in the user equipment coordinated set. The coordinating user equipment determines a first subset of the plurality of user equipments to participate in joint communication with the base station. The coordinating user equipment transmits one or more joint communication selection messages to the first subset of the plurality of user equipments, and the transmission effectively guides the first subset of the plurality of user equipments to participate in joint communication with the base station. The coordinating user equipment participates in joint communication through the first subset of the plurality of user equipments to transfer data to and from the base station for a target user equipment in the user equipment coordinated set.

[0007] The various aspects may further include a coordinating user equipment that determines a second subset of the plurality of user equipments that does not participate in the joint communication between the user equipment coordinated set and the base station, and transmits one or more joint communication selection messages to the second subset of the plurality of user equipments, and the transmission effectively guides the second subset of the plurality of user equipments not to participate in joint communication with the base station.

[0008] Various aspects may further include coordinating user equipment: receiving an indication of a change in a state of a first user equipment from a first subset of multiple user equipment; determining to remove the first user equipment from participating in joint communications with a base station; and based on determining to remove the first user equipment, transmitting a joint communication selection message to the first user equipment, the transmission effectively directing the first user equipment to terminate participation in joint communications with the base station.

[0009] Various aspects may further include coordinating user equipment: based on determining to remove the first user equipment from participating in the joint communication, selecting a second user equipment that has not participated in the joint communication to participate in the joint communication with the base station; and based on the selection of the second user equipment, transmitting a joint communication selection message to the second user equipment, the transmission effectively directing the second user equipment to participate in the joint communication with the base station.

[0010] Aspects may further include a coordinating user device that determines a first portion of a first subset of a plurality of user devices to participate in joint reception; and determines a second portion of the first subset of a plurality of user devices to participate in joint transmission. The coordinating user device may determine that a link quality of the joint reception has fallen below a minimum threshold; and selects an additional user device to participate in joint communication with the base station. The coordinating user device may receive an indication from the base station that a link quality of the joint transmission has fallen below a minimum threshold; and selects an additional user device that is not participating in the joint communication to participate in the joint communication with the base station. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The following describes details of one or more aspects of the user equipment coordination set selective participation. The same reference numerals are used in different cases in the specification and drawings to represent similar elements:

[0012] Figure 1 An exemplary operating environment is shown in which aspects of user equipment coordinated set selective participation may be implemented.

[0013] Figure 2 An exemplary apparatus diagram of user equipment and a serving cell base station is shown.

[0014] Figure 3 An exemplary block diagram of a wireless network stack model is shown in which aspects of selective participation of a coordinated set of user equipment may be implemented.

[0015] Figure 4 An exemplary environment is shown in which aspects of selective participation of a coordinated set of user devices may be implemented.

[0016] Figure 5 Exemplary user equipment states are shown that may implement aspects of selective participation by a coordinating set of user equipment.

[0017] Figure 6 Exemplary data and control transactions between an apparatus of a coordinating set of user equipment and a base station according to various aspects of selective participation of the coordinating set of user equipment are illustrated.

[0018] Figure 7 An example method for selective participation of a coordinated set of user equipment, generally associated with coordinating user equipment, in accordance with aspects of the techniques described herein is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] This document describes methods, apparatus, systems, and means for selective participation of a coordinated set of user equipment, which facilitate more efficient operation of a UECS, the UECS including user equipment that is in a mixture of radio resource control (RRC) modes (states), or has different capabilities, such as battery capacity. The coordinating user equipment determines which user equipment in the coordinated set of user equipment participate in joint communication with a base station. The coordinating user equipment receives an indication from the base station specifying a plurality of user equipment to be included in the coordinated set of user equipment, and determines that a first subset of the plurality of user equipment participate in joint communication with the base station. The coordinating user equipment transmits one or more joint communication selection messages to the first subset of the plurality of user equipment, the messages directing the first subset of the plurality of user equipment to participate in joint communication with the base station.

[0020] The UE coordination set is formed by multiple UEs assigned as a group, similar to distributed antennas working together to benefit a specific UE. The UE coordination set includes a coordination UE, which coordinates the joint transmission and reception of downlink and / or uplink data of a specific UE (e.g., a target UE) or multiple UEs in the UE coordination set. By combining the antennas and transmitters of multiple UEs in the UE coordination set, the effective transmit power of a specific UE is significantly increased, and the effective signal quality is greatly improved.

[0021] Multiple UEs can receive downlink data transmissions from a base station, respectively. Unlike conventional relay technologies, these UEs do not decode downlink transmissions into data packets and then forward the data packets to a destination. More precisely, the UE demodulates and samples the downlink transmission to generate I / Q samples. The UE determines where to forward the I / Q samples of the downlink transmission, such as to a coordinating UE or a target UE for decoding. In various aspects, the target UE may be included in a target UE subset within a UE coordination set. The coordinating UE (or target UE) receives I / Q samples from other UEs in the UE coordination set and stores the I / Q samples in a buffer memory for decoding. The coordinating UE (or target UE) then synchronizes and decodes the stored I / Q samples into data packets for (multiple) target UEs. Therefore, the processing of the I / Q samples occurs at the coordinating UE or the target UE. In this way, the UE coordination set acts as a distributed antenna for the target UE. The target UE includes its own (multiple) antennas and participates in the reception, demodulation and sampling of downlink transmissions from the base station, and forwards the sampled I / Q data to the coordinating UE. However, if the target UE is a coordinating UE, the target UE will not forward the I / Q samples to itself.

[0022] In one use case, multiple UEs may form a UE coordination set to transmit messages to a base station at a higher effective transmit power than is possible with a single UE. In addition, the UEs may form a UE coordination set to receive messages from a base station for one of the UEs at a higher effective receive sensitivity than is possible with a single UE. One of the multiple UEs acts as a coordinating UE for the UE coordination set to aggregate data signals intended for a target UE and received by the UE coordination set. Each UE demodulates and samples the RF signal and forwards the baseband samples to the coordinating UE using a local wireless network. The coordinating UE then aggregates and processes the samples to generate decoded data and provides it to the target UE. Alternatively, the coordinating UE may forward the stored samples to the target UE to allow the target UE to decode the data.

[0023] In various aspects, the UECS includes UEs in hybrid RRC mode, such as one or more UEs in engaged mode (e.g., connected mode) and / or one or more UEs in disengaged mode (e.g., idle mode or inactive mode). The coordinating UE of the UECS may select a subset of UEs for any given joint transmission or joint reception. For example, the coordinating UE may select a subset of UEs in engaged mode for joint communication (e.g., joint transmission and / or joint reception). The target UE of the joint communication may be a UE in any RRC mode. For example, a UE in engaged mode may perform joint communication for a target UE in engaged mode or disengaged mode.

[0024] In other aspects, the coordinating UE or the base station managing the UECS may select or deselect the UE in the UECS for joint communication based on the battery status of the UE (e.g., the remaining battery capacity or the battery level). For example, the UE reports the level of its remaining battery capacity to the coordinating UE or base station periodically or based on the battery level falling below the low power indicator threshold. If the UE selected to participate in the joint communication sends an indication indicating that the battery level is low, the coordinating UE or base station may deselect the UE from participating in the joint communication. Regardless of the RRC mode of the UE, the UE may be selected or deselected for joint communication based on the battery level.

[0025] In other aspects, the coordination UE or base station sends a joint communication selection message to a specific UE to indicate to the UE to select or deselect the UE to participate in joint transmission and / or joint reception. The joint communication selection message includes an indication that the UE participates in joint reception, joint transmission, both joint transmission and joint reception, or neither joint transmission nor joint reception.

[0026] The selection or deselection of one or more UEs for joint communication may be based on one or more factors. The base station or the coordinating UE may evaluate the link quality and determine to increase or decrease the number of UEs participating in the joint communication based on the link quality. For example, if the base station determines that the signal quality (e.g., received signal strength RSSI) received from the UECS exceeds a threshold, the base station commands the UECS to reduce the number of UEs participating in the joint transmission. Alternatively, if the base station determines that the signal quality (e.g., received signal strength RSSI) received from the UECS drops below a minimum threshold, the base station commands the UECS to increase the number of UEs participating in the joint transmission.

[0027] When adding or removing UEs based on link quality, the base station or the coordinating UE may further consider the battery status of the UE to determine which UE to add or remove. For example, when removing a UE from the joint communication, the UE with the lowest battery level is removed, or when adding a UE to the joint communication, the non-participating UE with the largest battery level is added. Alternatively or additionally, the coordinating UE may evaluate the link quality of the signal jointly received from the base station, and determine to increase or decrease the number of UEs participating in the joint reception based on the link quality of the signal jointly received from the base station.

[0028] In another aspect, the coordinating UE may schedule UEs to participate in the joint communication. If the number of UEs required for the joint communication is less than the number of UEs available for the joint communication, the coordinating UE may schedule UEs in the UECS to participate in the joint communication. For example, the coordinating UE may establish a cyclic schedule for UEs to participate in the joint communication. The coordinating UE may schedule based on one or more factors, such as a battery status of the UE in the UECS, an RRC mode of the UE in the UECS, or other capabilities or states of the UE in the UECS.

[0029] In various aspects, when a UE in the UECS does not participate in joint communication, the UE may still send data to or receive data from the base station. The coordinating UE forwards the downlink data jointly received by the UECS to the non-participating UE, and the non-participating UE forwards the uplink data to the coordinating UE for joint transmission to the base station via the UECS. The non-participating UE does not need to be in the same RRC mode as the participating UE in the UECS. For example, the non-participating UE may be in a non-connected mode and the participating UE may jointly receive paging channel communications for the non-participating UE.

[0030] Example Environment

[0031] Figure 1An example environment 100 is shown that includes a plurality of user equipments 110 (UE 110), shown as UE 111, UE 112, UE 113, and UE 114. Each UE 110 may communicate with one or more base stations 120 (shown as base stations 121 and 122) via one or more wireless communication links 130 (wireless links 130), shown as wireless links 131 and 132. Each UE 110 in a coordinated set of UEs (shown as UE 111, UE 112, and UE 113) may communicate with a coordinating UE in the coordinated set of UEs and / or a target UE in the coordinated set of UEs via one or more local wireless network connections, such as local wireless network connections 133, 134, and 135 (e.g., WLAN, Bluetooth, NFC, personal area network (PAN), WiFi-Direct, IEEE 802.15.4, ZigBee, Thread, millimeter wave communication (mmWave), etc.). Although illustrated as a smartphone, the UE 110 may be implemented as any suitable computing or electronic device, such as a mobile communication device, a modem, a cell phone, a gaming device, a navigation device, a media device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a smart appliance, an in-vehicle communication system, an Internet of Things (IoT) device (e.g., a sensor node, a controller / actuator node, a combination thereof), etc. The base station 120 (e.g., an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network Node B, an E-UTRAN Node B, an evolved Node B, an eNodeB, an eNB, a next generation Node B, a gNode B, a gNB, an ng-eNB, etc.) may be implemented in a macro cell, a micro cell, a small cell, a pico cell, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0032] The base station 120 communicates with the user equipment 110 using radio links 131 and 132, which may be implemented as any suitable type of radio links. The radio links 131 and 132 include control and data communications, such as downlinks for data and control information delivered from the base station 120 to the user equipment 110, uplinks for other data and control information delivered from the user equipment 110 to the base station 120, or both. The radio link 130 may include one or more radio links (e.g., radio links) or bearers implemented using any suitable communication protocol or standard, or a combination of communication protocols or standards, such as the Third Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE), the Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR), etc. Multiple radio links 130 may be aggregated in carrier aggregation to provide higher data rates for the UE 110. Multiple radio links 130 from multiple base stations 120 may be configured for coordinated multi-point (CoMP) communication with the UE 110.

[0033] The base stations 120 are collectively referred to as a radio access network 140 (e.g., RAN, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, E-UTRAN, 5G NR RAN, or NR RAN). The base stations 121 and 122 in the RAN 140 are connected to a core network 150. The base stations 121 and 122 are connected to the core network 150 at 102 and 104, respectively, via an NG2 interface for control plane signaling and an NG3 interface for user plane data communication when connected to a 5G core network, or an S1 interface for control plane signaling when connected to an evolved packet core (EPC) network. The base stations 121 and 122 can communicate at 106 to exchange user plane and control plane data using an Xn application protocol (XnAP) over an Xn interface or an X2 application protocol (X2AP) over an X2 interface. The user equipment 110 can connect to a public network (such as the Internet 160) via the core network 150 to interact with remote services 170.

[0034] Example Device

[0035] Figure 2 An example apparatus diagram 200 of a user equipment and a base station is shown. In various aspects, the apparatus diagram 200 describes an apparatus that can implement various aspects of UE coordination set selective participation. Figure 2 The plurality of UEs 110 and base stations 120 may include a plurality of UEs 110 and base stations 120. For clarity, the plurality of UEs 110 and base stations 120 may include Figure 2 141 and / or E-UTRAN 142 for communicating with base station 120. UE 110 includes an antenna 202, a radio frequency front end 204 (RF front end 204), and a radio frequency transceiver (e.g., an LTE transceiver 206 and a 5G NR transceiver 208) for communicating with base station 120 in 5GRAN 141 and / or E-UTRAN 142. UE 110 includes one or more additional transceivers (e.g., a local wireless network transceiver 210) for communicating with at least a coordinating UE and / or a target UE of a UE coordination set via one or more wireless local wireless networks (e.g., WLAN, Bluetooth, NFC, a personal area network (PAN), WiFi-Direct, IEEE 802.15.4, ZigBee, Thread, mmWave, etc.). The RF front end 204 of UE 110 can couple or connect the LTE transceiver 206, the 5G NR transceiver 208, and the local wireless network transceiver 210 to the antenna 202 to facilitate various types of wireless communications.

[0036] The antenna 202 of the UE 110 may include an array of multiple antennas configured to be similar to each other or different from each other. The antenna 202 and the RF front end 204 may be tuned and / or tunable to one or more frequency bands defined by the 3GPP LTE and 5G NR communication standards and implemented by the LTE transceiver 206 and / or the 5G NR transceiver 208. Additionally, the antenna 202, the RF front end 204, the LTE transceiver 206, and / or the 5G NR transceiver 208 may be configured to support beamforming for transmission and reception of communications with the base station 120. By way of example and not limitation, the antenna 202 and the RF front end 204 may be implemented to operate in sub-gigahertz bands, sub-6 GHz bands, and / or above-6 GHz bands defined by the 3GPP LTE and 5G NR communication standards. Additionally, the RF front end 204 may be tuned and / or tunable to one or more frequency bands defined and implemented by the local wireless network transceiver 210 to support transmission and reception of communications with other UEs in the coordinating set of UEs over the local wireless network.

[0037] UE 110 includes sensor(s) 212, which may be implemented to detect various properties, such as temperature, power supply, power usage, battery status, etc. Thus, sensor 212 may include any one or a combination of a temperature sensor, a thermistor, a battery sensor, and a power usage sensor.

[0038] UE 110 also includes (multiple) processors 214 and computer readable storage media 216 (CRM 216). Processor 214 can be a single-core processor or a multi-core processor composed of a variety of materials (such as silicon, polysilicon, high-K dielectrics, copper, etc.). The computer-readable storage media described herein does not include propagating signals. CRM 216 can include any suitable memory or storage device that can be used to store device data 218 of UE 110, such as random access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), read-only memory (ROM), or flash memory. Device data 218 includes user data, multimedia data, beamforming codebooks, applications and / or an operating system of UE 110, which can be executed by (multiple) processors 214 to implement user plane communications, control plane signaling, and user interaction with UE 110.

[0039] The CRM 216 also includes a communication manager 220 (e.g., a communication manager application 220). Alternatively or additionally, the communication manager 220 can be implemented in whole or in part as hardware logic or circuitry that is integrated or separate from other components of the UE 110. In at least some aspects, the communication manager 220 configures the RF front end 204, the LTE transceiver 206, the 5G NR transceiver 208, and / or the local wireless network transceiver 210 to implement the techniques described herein for UE coordination set selective participation.

[0040] Figure 2 The device schematic diagram of the base station 120 shown includes a single network node (e.g., gNode B). The functions of the base station 120 can be distributed over multiple network nodes or devices and can be distributed in any manner suitable for performing the functions described herein. The base station 120 includes an antenna 252 for communicating with the UE 110, a radio frequency front end 254 (RF front end 254), one or more LTE transceivers 256, and / or one or more 5G NR transceivers 258. The RF front end 254 of the base station 120 can couple or connect the LTE transceiver 256 and the 5G NR transceiver 258 to the antenna 252 to facilitate various types of wireless communications. The antenna 252 of the base station 120 may include an array of multiple antennas configured to be similar to each other or different from each other. The antenna 252 and the RF front end 254 can be tuned and / or tunable to one or more frequency bands defined by the 3GPP LTE and 5G NR communication standards and implemented by the LTE transceiver 256 and / or the 5G NR transceiver 258. Additionally, the antenna 252, RF front end 254, LTE transceiver 256 and / or 5G NR transceiver 258 may be configured to support beamforming, such as massive MIMO, for transmission and reception of communications with any UE 110 in the UE coordination set.

[0041] The base station 120 also includes a processor(s) 260 and a computer readable storage medium 262 (CRM 262). The processor 260 may be a single core processor or a multi-core processor constructed of a variety of materials, such as silicon, polysilicon, high-K dielectrics, copper, etc. The CRM 262 may include any suitable memory or storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), read-only memory (ROM), or flash memory, that may be used to store device data 264 of the base station 120. The device data 264 includes network scheduling data, radio resource management data, beamforming codebooks, applications, and / or an operating system of the base station 120, which may be executed by the processor(s) 260 to enable communication with the UE 110.

[0042] The CRM 262 also includes a base station manager 266 (e.g., a base station manager application 266). Alternatively or additionally, the base station manager 266 can be implemented in whole or in part as hardware logic or circuitry that is integrated or separate from other components of the base station 120. At least in some aspects, the base station manager 266 configures the LTE transceiver 256 and the 5G NR transceiver 258 for communication with the UE 110 and for communication with the core network. The base station 120 includes an inter-base station interface 268, such as an Xn and / or X2 interface, which the base station manager 266 configures to exchange user plane and control plane data with another base station 120 to manage communications between the communication base station 120 and the UE 110. The base station 120 includes a core network interface 270, which the base station manager 266 configures to exchange user plane and control plane data with core network functions and entities.

[0043] Network stack

[0044] Figure 3 An example block diagram 300 of a wireless network stack model 300 (stack 300) is shown. Stack 300 represents a communication system for example environment 100 in which aspects of user equipment coordination set selective participation can be implemented. Stack 300 includes a user plane 302 and a control plane 304. The upper layers of user plane 302 and control plane 304 share common lower layers in stack 300. A wireless device such as UE 110 or base station 120 implements each layer as an entity that communicates with another device using a protocol defined for that layer. For example, UE 110 uses a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity to communicate with a peer PDCP entity in base station 120 using PDCP.

[0045] The shared lower layers include a physical (PHY) layer 306, a medium access control (or media access control) (MAC) layer 308, a radio link control (RLC) layer 310, and a PDCP layer 312. The PHY layer 306 provides hardware specifications for devices to communicate with each other. Thus, the PHY layer 306 establishes how devices are connected to each other, helps manage how communication resources are shared between devices, etc.

[0046] The MAC layer 308 specifies how data is transferred between devices. Generally, the MAC layer 308 provides a way in which packets of data being transmitted are encoded and decoded into bits as part of a transmission protocol.

[0047] The RLC layer 310 provides data transfer services to higher layers in the stack 300. Generally, the RLC layer 310 provides error correction, packet segmentation and reassembly, and data transfer management in various modes, such as acknowledged, unacknowledged, or transparent modes.

[0048] The PDCP layer 312 provides data transfer services to higher layers in the stack 300. In general, the PDCP layer 312 provides transfer, header compression, ciphering, and integrity protection of user plane 302 and control plane 304 data.

[0049] Above the PDCP layer 312, the stack is divided into a user plane 302 and a control plane 304. The layers of the user plane 302 include an optional service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer 314, an Internet Protocol (IP) layer 316, a transmission control protocol / user datagram protocol (TCP / UDP) layer 318, and an application layer 320 that transmits data using the wireless link 106. The optional SDAP layer 314 exists in the 5GNR network. The SDAP layer 314 maps a quality of service (QoS) flow for each data radio bearer and marks a QoS flow identifier in uplink and downlink data packets for each packet data session. The IP layer 316 specifies how to transmit data from the application layer 320 to the destination node. The TCP / UDP layer 318 is used to verify that the data packets intended to be transmitted to the destination node have arrived at the destination node, and TCP or UDP is used for data transmission through the application layer 320. In some embodiments, the user plane 302 may also include a data service layer (not shown) that provides data transport services for transporting application data, such as IP packets, including web browsing content, video content, image content, audio content, or social media content.

[0050] The control plane 304 includes a radio resource control (RRC) layer 324 and a non-access stratum (NAS) layer 326. The RRC layer 324 establishes and releases connections and radio bearers, broadcasts system information, or performs power control. The RRC layer 324 also controls the resource control state of the UE 110 and causes the UE 110 to operate according to the resource control state. Example resource control states include a connected state (e.g., an RRC connected state) or a disconnected state, such as an inactive state (e.g., an RRC inactive state) or an idle state (e.g., an RRC idle state). Typically, if the UE 110 is in a connected state, the connection with the base station 120 is active. In an inactive state, the connection with the base station 120 is suspended. If the UE 110 is in an idle state, the connection with the base station 120 is released. Typically, the RRC layer 324 supports 3GPP access but does not support non-3GPP access (e.g., WLAN communication).

[0051] The NAS layer 326 provides support for mobility management (e.g., using the fifth generation mobility management (5GMM) layer 328) and packet data bearer scenarios (e.g., using the fifth generation session management (5GSM) layer 330) between the UE 110 and entities or functions in the core network, such as the access and mobility management function 152 (AMF 152) of the 5GC 150. The NAS layer 326 supports both 3GPP access and non-3GPP access.

[0052] In UE 110, each layer in both the user plane 302 and the control plane 304 of the stack 300 interacts with corresponding peer layers or entities in the base station 120, core network entities or functions, and / or remote services to support user applications and control operations of UE 110 in the RAN 140.

[0053] UE coordination set

[0054] Figure 4 An example implementation 400 of selective participation of a user equipment coordination set is shown. The example shown includes base station 121, UE 111, UE 112, and UE 113. Although for clarity of illustration, Figure 4 The UECS in FIG. 1 is shown as including three UEs, but any suitable number of UEs may be included in the UECS. In the example, Figure 4 Each UE is shown to have limited transmit power, which may result in difficulty transmitting uplink data to base station 121. This situation may be due, at least in part, to the UE being close to a cell edge 402 of a cell provided by base station 121 or the UE being in a transmission-challenged location (e.g., a basement, an urban canyon, etc.), resulting in a poor link budget between base station 121 and the UE. Figure 4 Each UE shown may also or alternatively have limited receiver sensitivity, which may be affected by poor link budget due to base station 121 as well as multipath reception, interference from in-band or out-of-band sources, attenuation due to weather conditions or objects such as buildings, trees, etc.

[0055] Using the techniques described herein, the base station 121 may designate a group of UEs (e.g., UE 111, UE 112, and UE 113) to form a UE coordination set (e.g., UE coordination set 404) for joint transmission and joint reception of data of a target UE (e.g., UE 112). The base station 121 may determine whether coordination is beneficial to a particular UE based on information corresponding to the UE (e.g., UE location, signal level, battery level, etc.). Based on user input or predefined settings, each UE may choose to join or exit the UE coordination set. The effective transmit power of the target UE 112 may increase significantly (e.g., linearly) with the number of UEs in the UE coordination set, which may significantly improve the link budget of the target UE 112. The base station 121 may determine the UE coordination set based on various factors, such as the location of each UE relative to the base station 121, the distance between the UEs (e.g., the distance between each UE, the distance between each UE and the target UE, or the distance between each UE and the coordinating UE of the UE coordination set), or a combination thereof. In some aspects, by using a local wireless network, UEs within a certain distance of each other may more easily coordinate with each other to reduce signal interference when in close proximity.

[0056] In addition, UE coordination can be associated with each UE based on spatial beams or timing advances or both. For example, for beamforming or massive MIMO, it may be desirable for all UEs in a UE coordination set to receive the same signal from a base station. Therefore, all UEs in a UE coordination set may be geographically close to each other, such as within a threshold distance of a particular UE in the UE coordination set. In this way, the UEs in the UE coordination set may each be in the same beam or in beams that are close to each other. The timing advance may indicate the distance between the UE and the base station. Similar timing advances for each UE in the group indicate that the distances of these UEs from the base station are approximately the same. UEs that are similar in distance to the base station within a predetermined distance from each other may be able to work together in a distributed manner in the UE coordination set to improve signal strength and quality to benefit individual UEs in the UE coordination set.

[0057] The base station may send a layer 2 message (e.g., a medium access control layer) and / or a layer 3 message (e.g., a service data adaptation protocol layer) to the UEs to direct or request these UEs to join the UE coordination set. The base station may provide additional data to the UEs in the UE coordination set so that the UEs can at least communicate with the coordinating UE or the target UE. The additional data may include the identity of the coordinating UE and / or the identity of the target UE, security information, and / or local wireless network information.

[0058] The base station may receive a response message from the UE in the UE coordination set confirming the request message. In some cases, the base station may receive a response message from at least two UEs confirming that the UE has joined the UE coordination set. The response message may indicate that the user of the UE has agreed to the request message.

[0059] In addition, the base station may identify and command (or request) a specific UE in the UE coordination set to act as a coordinating UE (e.g., a master UE) of the UE coordination set. For example, the base station 121 may transmit a configuration message (e.g., a request message) to a specific UE to request the specific UE to act as a coordinating UE of the UE coordination set. The specific UE may accept or reject the request based on a user input from a UE user or a setting that is set to automatically accept or reject such a request. In some aspects, the UE may transmit a UE capability message or other layer 3 message as a response to a request message from the base station 121. The coordinating UE may coordinate messages and samples sent between UEs in the UE coordination set for joint transmission and joint reception. In various aspects, the coordinating UE may determine where the joint processing will occur, such as at the coordinating UE or the target UE. In an example, the coordinating UE may coordinate how a specific UE in the UE coordination set sends an I / Q sample to a target UE, which is a demodulation of a signal received by the specific UE from the base station.

[0060] The base station may select a coordinating UE from a group of UEs in a UE coordination set based on various factors, some of which may be sent to the base station by the UE using a UE capability message signal. For example, one factor includes the processing capability of the coordinating UE, which provides the coordinating UE with the ability to handle certain aspects of the UE coordination set (including central coordination or scheduling). Another factor may include the battery level status of the coordinating UE. For example, if a particular UE in the UE coordination set has a low battery, then the UE may not be a good candidate for acting as a coordinating UE. Therefore, a UE in the UE coordination set with a battery level status above a threshold may be considered as a candidate for selection as a coordinating UE. In one example, the base station may first select a UE as a coordinating UE, and after the UE coordination set is formed, receive messages from other UEs in the UE coordination set indicating the respective battery level status. Then, based on the battery level status of the UEs in the UE coordination set, if another UE in the UE coordination set is a better candidate, the base station may change the coordinating UE.

[0061] Another factor may include the location of the coordinating UE. The base station may identify the location of the UE in the UE coordination set based on various factors, such as the angle of arrival of the signal from the UE, timing advance, observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA), etc. The ideal location of the coordinating UE may be the geographic center of the UE coordination set, because this location can maximize the ability of the coordinating UE to coordinate and communicate with other UEs in the UE coordination set. However, it is not required that the coordinating UE is at the center of the UE in the UE coordination set. More precisely, the coordinating UE can be at any location in the UE coordination set that allows the coordinating UE to communicate and coordinate with other UEs in the UE coordination set. The base station continuously monitors the UE coordination set and can update the coordinating UE at any time based on updated factors (such as updated UE location, UE battery level status, etc.). Alternatively, as described above, the coordinating UE can transfer its joint processing responsibilities to another UE based on factors such as processing power, battery level and / or geographic location.

[0062] In some aspects, the base station may receive an indication from one or more UEs in the UE coordination set to publish their ability to act as a coordination UE. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may receive an indication from one or more UEs in the UE coordination set indicating the willingness of the users of the corresponding UEs to allow their UEs to participate in the UE coordination set and / or act as a coordination UE. Thus, the UEs in the UE coordination set may indicate to the base station using a layer 3 message whether it is capable of acting and / or is allowed to act as a coordination UE.

[0063] exist Figure 4In the illustrated example 400, the base station 121 may select UE 111 to act as a coordinating UE because UE 111 is located between UE 112 and UE 113, or because UE 111 is able to communicate with each of the other UEs 112 and UE 113 in the UE coordination set. The base station 121 may select a coordinating UE for a variety of reasons, examples of which are described above. All three UEs 111, 112, 113 have weak cellular signal reception because they are at the cell edge. The base station 121 selects UE 111 to coordinate messages and samples sent between the base station 121 and the UEs 111, 112, 113 for the target UE 112. Communication between the UEs may occur using a local wireless network 406 such as a PAN, NFC, Bluetooth, WiFi-Direct, a local millimeter wave link, or the like. In this example, all three UEs 111, 112, 113 receive RF signals from the base station 121. UE 111, UE 112, and UE 113 demodulate the RF signal to generate a baseband I / Q analog signal, and sample the baseband I / Q analog signal to generate I / Q samples. Using the local wireless network transceiver 210, UE 112 and UE 113 forward the I / Q samples together with system timing information (e.g., system frame number (SFN)) to the coordinating UE 111 using the local wireless network 406. The coordinating UE 111 then uses the timing information to synchronize and combine the I / Q samples, and processes the combined signal to decode the data packet to be used for the target UE 112. The coordinating UE 111 then transmits the data packet to the target UE 112 using the local wireless network 406.

[0064] When the target UE 112 has uplink data to send to the base station 121, the target UE transmits the uplink data to the coordinating UE 111, which distributes the uplink data as I / Q samples to each UE in the UE coordination set 404 using the local wireless network 406. Each UE in the UE coordination set 404 is synchronized with the base station 121 for timing information and its data transmission resource allocation. All three UEs in the UE coordination set 404 then jointly transmit the uplink data to the base station 121. The base station 121 receives the jointly transmitted uplink data from the UEs 111, 112, 113, and processes the combined signal to decode the uplink data from the target UE 112.

[0065] User device status

[0066] Figure 5An example user equipment state 500 is shown that may benefit from aspects of selective participation in a user equipment coordination set. A wireless network operator provides telecommunication services to user equipment devices over a wireless network. In order to wirelessly communicate with the network, the user equipment 110 utilizes a radio resource control (RRC) procedure to establish a connection to the network via a cell (e.g., a base station, a serving cell). After establishing a connection to the network via a base station 121, the UE 110 enters a connected mode (e.g., RRC connected mode, RRC connected state, NR-RRC connected state, E-UTRA RRC connected state).

[0067] The UE 110 operates according to different resource control states 410. Different situations may occur that cause the UE 110 to transition between different resource control states 410 determined by the radio access technology. Figure 5 Examples of resource control states 510 shown include connected mode 512, idle mode 514, and inactive mode 516. When the RRC connection is active, the user equipment 110 is in connected mode 512 or inactive mode 516. If the RRC connection is not active, the user equipment 110 is in idle mode 514.

[0068] When establishing an RRC connection, the user equipment 110 may transition from an idle mode 514 to a connected mode 512. After establishing the connection, the user equipment 110 may transition from the connected mode 512 (e.g., when the connection is inactive) to an inactive mode 516 (e.g., RRC inactive mode, RRC inactive state, NR-RRC inactive state), and the user equipment 110 may transition from the inactive mode 516 to the connected mode 512 (e.g., via an RRC connection recovery procedure). After establishing the connection, the user equipment 110 may transition between the connected mode 512 and the idle mode 514 (e.g., RRC idle mode, RRC idle state, NR-RRC idle state, E-UTRA RRC idle state), for example, when the network releases the RRC connection. In addition, the user equipment 110 may transition between the inactive mode 516 and the idle mode 514.

[0069] In addition, UE 110 may be in a connected mode 522 or in a non-connected mode 524. As used herein, the connected mode 522 is a connected mode (e.g., connected mode 512) and the non-connected mode 524 is an idle, disconnected, connected but inactive, or connected but dormant mode (e.g., idle mode 514, inactive mode 516). In some cases, in the non-connected mode 524, the UE 110 may still be a network access stratum (NAS) actively registered through a radio bearer (e.g., inactive mode 516).

[0070] Each of the different resource control states 510 may have a different number or type of available resources, which may affect power consumption within the UE 110. In general, the connected mode 512 indicates that the UE 110 is actively connected to (connected to) the base station 121. In the inactive mode 516, the UE 110 suspends the connection with the base station 121 and retains information that can quickly reestablish the connection with the base station 121. In the idle mode 514, the UE 110 releases the connection with the base station 121.

[0071] Some resource control states 510 may be limited to certain radio access technologies. For example, LTE Release 15 (eLTE), 5G NR, and 6G may support inactive mode 516, but 3G or previous generations of 4G standards do not. Other resource control states may be generic or compatible with multiple radio access technologies, such as connected mode 512 or idle mode 514.

[0072] UE coordination set selective participation

[0073] Figure 6 Data and control transactions between an apparatus for a user equipment coordination set participating in joint communication in a user equipment coordination set and a base station are shown according to various aspects of the user equipment coordination set selective participation. Although not shown for clarity of illustration, it can be implemented Figure 6 The various acknowledgements for the messages are shown to ensure reliable operation of the UECS selective participation.

[0074] At 605, as described above with respect to Figure 4 As described above, base station 121 configures a UECS (e.g., UECS 404) including UE 111, UE 112, UE 113, and UE 114. Base station 121 configures UE 111 as a coordinating UE of the UECS. Figure 6 The UECS in FIG. 1 is shown as including four UEs, but any suitable number of UEs may be included in the UECS.

[0075] At 610, the coordinating UE 111 determines which UEs in the UECS will participate in the joint communication with the base station 121. For example, the coordinating UE 111 determines that UE 112 and UE 113 will participate in the joint communication and UE 114 will not participate in the joint communication. Alternatively (not shown), the base station 121 may determine the UEs that will participate in the joint communication and forward an indication of the participating UEs and the non-participating UEs to the coordinating UE 111. For example, the base station may send the indication of the participating UEs and the non-participating UEs to the coordinating UE 111 in a layer 3 message. The coordinating UE 111 then forwards the joint communication selection message to the UEs in the UECS based on the message from the base station 121.

[0076] At 615, coordinating UE 111 transmits a joint communication selection message to UE 112 indicating that UE 112 will participate in joint communication. The joint communication selection message may also include an indication of the type of joint communication (joint transmission, joint reception, or both) that UE 112 will participate in.

[0077] At 620, coordinating UE 111 transmits a joint communication selection message to UE 113 indicating that UE 113 will participate in the joint communication. The joint communication selection message may also include an indication of the type of joint communication (joint transmission, joint reception, or both joint transmission and joint reception) that UE 113 will participate in. The indication of the type of participation of UE 112 may be the same as or different from the type of participation indicated to UE 112 at 615.

[0078] At 625, the coordinating UE 111 transmits a joint communication selection message to the UE 114 indicating that the UE 114 does not participate in the joint communication. The joint communication selection messages at 615, 620, and 625 are transmitted using a local wireless network, such as the local wireless network 406. Optionally or alternatively, the UE 111 may broadcast or multicast a joint communication selection message including indications for multiple UEs 110 in the UECS in a single joint communication selection message.

[0079] At 630, UE 111, UE 112, and UE 113 jointly communicate with base station 121. The joint communication shown at 630 may include joint reception, joint transmission, or both joint reception and transmission by any combination of UE 111, UE 112, and / or UE 113 with base station 121.

[0080] At 635, UE 112 determines that a state change has occurred that may affect UE 112's participation in joint communications. For example, the state change may include UE 112's battery level falling below a threshold indicating a low battery condition, UE 112 having transitioned from connected state 522 to non-connected state 524, etc.

[0081] At 640, UE 112 transmits a status report message to coordinating UE 111 (or alternatively, base station 121, not shown). The status report message may be transmitted periodically regardless of a change in UE status, or a change in status may trigger UE 112 to transmit the status report message.

[0082] At 645, the coordinating UE 111 redetermines which UEs in the UECS will participate in the joint communication with the base station 121. For example and based on the received status report, the coordinating UE 111 determines that the UE 112 will not participate in the joint communication and the UE 114 will start participating in the joint communication. Alternatively (not shown), the base station 121 redetermines which UEs in the UECS will participate in the joint communication with the base station 121.

[0083] At 650, coordinating UE 111 transmits a joint communication selection message to UE 112 indicating that UE 112 will suspend participation in the joint communication. At 655, coordinating UE 111 transmits a joint communication selection message to UE 114 indicating that UE 114 will participate in the joint communication.

[0084] At 660, UE 111, UE 113, and UE 114 jointly communicate with base station 121. The joint communication shown at 660 may include joint reception, joint transmission, or both joint reception and transmission by any combination of UE 111, UE 113, and / or UE 114 with base station 121.

[0085] Example Method

[0086] Reference Figure 7 An example method 700 for selectively participating in one or more aspects of a coordinated set of user devices is described. The order in which the method boxes are described is not to be construed as limiting, and any number of the method boxes may be skipped, repeated, or combined in any order to implement a method or an alternative method. In general, any components, modules, methods, and operations described herein may be implemented using software, firmware, hardware (e.g., fixed logic circuits), manual processing, or any combination thereof. Some operations of the example methods may be described in the general context of executable instructions stored on a computer-readable memory local and / or remote to a computer processing system, and implementations may include software applications, programs, functions, and the like. Alternatively or additionally, any of the functions described herein may be performed at least in part by one or more hardware logic components, such as, but not limited to, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an application specific standard product (ASSP), a system on a chip (SoC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and the like.

[0087] Figure 7An example method 700 for selective participation in a user equipment coordination set generally related to a coordinating user equipment is shown. At step 702, the coordinating user equipment receives an indication from a base station specifying a plurality of user equipments to be included in a user equipment coordination set. For example, the coordinating user equipment (e.g., the coordinating UE 111) receives an indication from a base station (e.g., the base station 121) specifying a plurality of user equipments (e.g., UE 112, UE 113, and UE 114) to be included in a user equipment coordination set (e.g., UECS 404).

[0088] At step 704, the coordinating user equipment determines a first subset of the plurality of user equipment to participate in joint communication with the base station. For example, the coordinating user equipment determines a first subset of the plurality of user equipment to participate in joint communication with the base station, which may include the coordinating user equipment considering various factors when determining which UEs to include in the first subset, such as whether each UE is in a connected or non-connected RRC mode, a battery level status of the UE, etc.

[0089] At step 706, the coordinating user device transmits one or more joint communication selection messages to a first subset of the plurality of user devices, the transmission effectively directing the first subset of the plurality of user devices to participate in joint communication with the base station. For example, the coordinating user device transmits one or more joint communication selection messages (615, 620) to a first subset of the plurality of user devices, the transmission effectively directing the first subset of the plurality of user devices to participate in joint communication with the base station. The coordinating user device may use a local wireless network to transmit a unicast, multicast, or broadcast message to direct the UE to participate in the joint communication.

[0090] At step 708, the coordinating user equipment participates in the joint communication through the first subset of the plurality of user equipments, and transmits data to the base station for the target user equipment in the coordinated set of user equipments. For example, the coordinating user equipment participates in the joint communication through the first subset of the plurality of user equipments. The coordinating user equipment may transmit samples to the UEs in the first subset for joint transmission, may receive samples from the UEs in the first subset for joint reception, or both.

[0091] Some examples are described below.

[0092] Example 1: A method for determining in a wireless communication network that a user equipment configured as a coordinating user equipment of a coordinating set of user equipments participates in a joint communication, the method comprising the coordinating user equipment:

[0093] receiving, from a base station, an indication designating a plurality of user equipments to be included in the coordinating set of user equipments;

[0094] determining a first subset of the plurality of user devices to participate in the joint communication with the base station;

[0095] transmitting one or more joint communication selection messages to the first subset of the plurality of user devices, the transmissions effective to direct the first subset of the plurality of user devices to participate in the joint communication with the base station; and

[0096] The first subset of the plurality of user equipments participates in the joint communication to transfer data with the base station for a target user equipment in the user equipment coordination set.

[0097] Example 2: The method according to claim 1 further comprises the coordinating user equipment:

[0098] determining a second subset of the plurality of user equipments, the second subset not participating in the joint communication between the coordinating set of user equipments and the base station; and

[0099] One or more joint communication selection messages are transmitted to the second subset of the plurality of user devices, the transmissions being effective to direct the second subset of the plurality of user devices not to participate in the joint communication with the base station.

[0100] Example 3: The method of Example 2, wherein each user equipment of the second subset of the plurality of user equipments is in a non-connected radio resource control mode.

[0101] Example 4: The method according to Example 3, wherein the non-connected radio resource control mode includes an idle mode and an inactive mode.

[0102] Example 5: A method according to any of the preceding examples, wherein each user equipment in the first subset of the plurality of user equipments is in a connected radio resource control mode.

[0103] Example 6: The method according to any of the preceding examples further comprises the coordinating user equipment:

[0104] receiving, from a first user equipment of the first subset of the plurality of user equipment, an indication of a change in a state of the first user equipment;

[0105] determining to remove the first user equipment from participating in joint communication with the base station; and

[0106] Based on the determination to remove the first user equipment, a joint communication selection message is transmitted to the first user equipment, the transmission effectively directing the first user equipment to discontinue participation in the joint communication with the base station.

[0107] Example 7: The method of Example 6, wherein the change in state of the first user equipment is a change from a connected radio resource control mode to a non-connected radio resource control mode.

[0108] Example 8: The method of Example 6, wherein the indication of the change in state of the first user device is an indication that a battery level of the first user device is below a battery level threshold.

[0109] Example 9: The method according to any one of Examples 6 to 8 further comprises the coordinating user equipment:

[0110] selecting a second user equipment not in the first subset to participate in the joint communication with the base station based on the determination to remove the first user equipment; and

[0111] Based on the selection by the second user equipment, a joint communication selection message is transmitted to the second user equipment, the transmission being effective to direct the second user equipment to participate in the joint communication with the base station.

[0112] Example 10: The method of any preceding example, wherein transmitting one or more joint communication selection messages to the first subset of the plurality of user equipment comprises:

[0113] The one or more joint communication selection messages are transmitted to the first subset of the plurality of user devices using a local wireless network.

[0114] Example 11: The method of any preceding example, wherein the joint communication comprises:

[0115] Joint reception;

[0116] Joint transmission; or

[0117] Joint reception and joint transmission.

[0118] Example 12: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 10, comprising the coordinating user equipment:

[0119] Determine that a first part of the first subset of the plurality of user equipments participate in joint reception; and

[0120] A second portion of the first subset of the plurality of user equipments is determined to participate in joint transmission.

[0121] Example 13: The method according to any preceding example, comprising the coordinating user equipment:

[0122] determining that the quality of the jointly received link has fallen below a minimum threshold; and

[0123] Additional user equipment not in the first subset is selected to participate in the joint communication with the base station.

[0124] Example 14: The method according to any preceding example, comprising the coordinating user equipment:

[0125] receiving an indication from the base station that a link quality of the joint transmission has fallen below a minimum threshold; and

[0126] Additional user equipment not in the first subset is selected to participate in the joint communication with the base station.

[0127] Example 15: The method of any preceding example, wherein determining the first subset of the plurality of user equipment to participate in the joint communication with the base station comprises the coordinating user equipment:

[0128] A schedule is created for the first subset of the plurality of user devices to participate in the joint communication.

[0129] Example 16: A method according to Example 15, wherein the scheduling is based on one or more factors, and wherein the one or more factors include a battery level of each user device among the multiple user devices, a radio resource control mode of each user device among the multiple user devices, or both.

[0130] Example 17: A user device comprising:

[0131] Wireless transceiver;

[0132] Local wireless network transceiver;

[0133] Processor; and

[0134] Instructions for a communication manager application, the instructions being executable by the processor to configure the user equipment to perform the method described in any one of Examples 1 to 16.

[0135] Although various aspects of selective participation in a coordinated set of user devices have been described by feature and / or method specific language, the subject matter of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, specific features and methods are disclosed as exemplary embodiments of selective participation in a coordinated set of user devices, and it is intended that other equivalent features and methods fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, various different aspects are described, and it should be understood that each of the described aspects may be implemented independently or in combination with one or more other described aspects.

Claims

1. A method (700) for determining, by a user equipment (111), to participate in a joint communication, the user equipment (111) being configured as a coordinating user equipment for a coordinating set of user equipment in a wireless communication network, the method comprising the coordinating user equipment (111): receiving (702) from a base station (120) an indication designating a plurality of user equipments (111, 112, 113, 114) to be included in the coordinating set of user equipments; determining (704) a first subset (111, 112, 113) of the plurality of user equipment to participate in the joint communication with the base station (120); and One or more joint communication selection messages are transmitted to the first subset (111, 112, 113) of the plurality of user devices, the transmissions effectively directing the first subset (111, 112, 113) of the plurality of user devices to participate in the joint communication with the base station.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: include: The first subset (111, 112, 113) of the plurality of user equipments participates in (708) the joint communication to transfer data with the base station (120) for a target user equipment in the user equipment coordination set.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the coordinating user equipment (111): determining a second subset (114) of the plurality of user equipment, the second subset not participating in the joint communication between the coordinating set of user equipment and the base station; and One or more joint communication selection messages are transmitted to the second subset (114) of the plurality of user devices, the transmissions effectively directing the second subset (114) of the plurality of user devices not to participate in the joint communication with the base station (120).

4. The method according to claim 3, in, Each user equipment (114) of the second subset of the plurality of user equipments is in a non-connected radio resource control mode.

5. The method according to claim 4, in, The non-connected radio resource control mode includes an idle mode and an inactive mode.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, in, Each user equipment in the first subset (111, 112, 113) of the plurality of user equipments is in a connected radio resource control mode.

7. The method according to any preceding claim, further comprising the coordinating user equipment (111): receiving, from a first user device (112) of the first subset of the plurality of user devices, an indication of a change in a state of the first user device; determining to remove the first user equipment (112) from participating in joint communications with the base station (120); as well as Based on determining to remove the first user equipment, a joint communication selection message is transmitted to the first user equipment (112), the transmission effectively directing the first user equipment (112) to discontinue participation in the joint communication with the base station (120).

8. The method according to claim 7, in, the change in the state of the first user equipment is a change from a connected radio resource control mode to a non-connected radio resource control mode; or Wherein the indication of the change in the state of the first user device (112) is an indication that a battery level of the first user device (112) is below a battery level threshold.

9. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 8, further comprising the coordinating user equipment (111): selecting a second user device (114) not in the first subset to participate in the joint communication with the base station (120) based on the determination to remove the first user device (112); and Based on selecting the second user equipment (114), a joint communication selection message is transmitted to the second user equipment (114), the transmission being effective to direct the second user equipment (114) to participate in the joint communication with the base station (120).

10. A method according to any preceding claim, in, Transmitting one or more joint communication selection messages to the first subset (111, 112, 113) of the plurality of user equipments comprises: The one or more joint communication selection messages are transmitted to the first subset (111, 112, 113) of the plurality of user devices using a local wireless network.

11. A method according to any preceding claim, in, The joint communication includes: Joint reception; Joint transmission; or Joint reception and joint transmission.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the coordinating user equipment (111): Determining that a first portion of the first subset (111, 112, 113) of the plurality of user equipments participate in joint reception; and It is determined that a second part of the first subset (111, 112, 113) of the plurality of user equipments participates in joint transmission.

13. The method according to any preceding claim, comprising the coordinating user equipment (111): determining that the quality of the jointly received link has fallen below a minimum threshold; and Additional user equipment not in the first subset is selected to participate in the joint communication with the base station (120).

14. The method according to any preceding claim, comprising the coordinating user equipment (111): receiving an indication from the base station (120) that a link quality of the joint transmission has fallen below a minimum threshold; and Additional user equipment not in the first subset is selected to participate in the joint communication with the base station.

15. A user device (111), include: Wireless transceiver; Local wireless network transceiver; processor; as well as Instructions for a communication manager application, the instructions being executable by the processor to configure the user equipment to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 14.

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