CLAN Bridge for Direct UE Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 4G/5G network deployments introduce significant latency and inefficiencies due to the involvement of gateways in user data transmission between user equipment (UEs), especially when UEs are associated with the same eNB/gNB, as they require unnecessary gateway processing and lack joint optimization of uplink and downlink resource allocations.
Innovation Solution
The establishment of a Cellular Local Area Network (CLAN) that enables direct communication between UEs through a CLAN bridge using a CLAN controller, eliminating the need for a gateway and allowing for independent setup and attachment of network nodes, with communication relayed only by CLAN bridges integrated into the eNB/gNB protocol stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional 4G/5G network deployments use gateway for user data transmission between UEs, then network control and management is simplified, but latency increases and resource utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gateway function from the conventional network path for local UE communications. By introducing a CLAN bridge that operates independently at the eNB/gNB level, the gateway is removed from the direct data path between local UEs, eliminating unnecessary forwarding and processing delays while maintaining gateway involvement only for external network access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network into two distinct paths: CLAN (Cellular Local Area Network) for local UE-to-UE communications that bypass the gateway, and the conventional core network path for external communications. This segmentation allows optimized low-latency communication for local traffic while preserving the simplified gateway-based architecture for broader network management.
2Productivity
If gateway is involved in all UE communications including same eNB/gNB, then centralized network control is maintained, but resource allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling CLAN bridges at individual eNB/gNB locations to handle local UE communications independently. This allows resource allocation and management to be optimized locally at each base station for CLAN traffic, while the gateway maintains centralized control for overall network management and external communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic resource allocation within CLANs, where the CLAN bridge can dynamically allocate radio resources between CLAN traffic and conventional gateway-based traffic. This dynamic management improves resource utilization by adapting to real-time traffic conditions without requiring complex static configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If uplink and downlink transmissions are treated independently, then simplified protocol handling is achieved, but joint optimization of resource allocations is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges uplink and downlink resource allocation under unified CLAN bridge control. The CLAN bridge consolidates resource management for both directions, enabling joint optimization where uplink and downlink resources can be allocated together based on overall CLAN traffic requirements, rather than independently as in conventional systems.
4Loss of time
If ProSe sidelink communication is used for direct UE communication, then latency is reduced, but capacity for advanced channel state estimation and dynamic resource allocation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the CLAN bridge as an intermediary between UEs in direct communication. Unlike pure ProSe sidelink where UEs communicate directly with limited processing, the CLAN bridge acts as a mediator that maintains low latency by staying within the eNB/gNB infrastructure, while simultaneously providing advanced channel state estimation, link adaptation, and dynamic resource allocation capabilities that pure sidelink lacks.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention provides a wireless communication method for use in a first network node for setup of a cellular local area network, CLAN, the method comprising: setting up the CLAN for direct communication with at least one second network node through at least one CLAN bridge using a CLAN controller.