D2D Carrier Scheduling Announcement for Resource Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless telecommunications systems face challenges in reducing the processing load for terminal devices during device-to-device communications, especially when handling large amounts of data, and in efficiently managing radio resources for device-to-device communication modes.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for transmitting data between terminal devices using a scheduling announcement on one carrier to indicate radio resources on another carrier for user-plane data transmission, allowing efficient use of radio resources and reducing control signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If terminal devices monitor for D2D communications on multiple carriers, then data transmission capacity is improved, but processing load and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidprocessing load
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the monitoring task by dividing carriers into two categories: a first carrier for monitoring scheduling announcements and control signaling, and second carriers for potential data transmission. The terminal device only monitors the first carrier for scheduling information, then selectively monitors or tunes to the second carrier based on the scheduling announcement, thereby reducing continuous monitoring load across all carriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling announcement on the first carrier acts as an intermediary that mediates between the terminal device and the second carrier. The terminal device receives scheduling information on the first carrier, which then guides its monitoring behavior on the second carrier, reducing the need for continuous monitoring and thus lowering processing load and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If control signaling is transmitted on each carrier separately, then resource allocation precision is improved, but control signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation precisionVSAvoidcontrol signaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control signaling function for multiple carriers into a single scheduling announcement transmitted on the first carrier. This scheduling announcement contains resource allocation information that applies to both the first carrier and the second carrier, thereby reducing the total control signaling overhead while maintaining precise resource allocation for data transmission on both carriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If terminal devices switch between carriers dynamically, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidcarrier switching complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the terminal device receive and process the scheduling announcement on the first carrier before switching to or monitoring the second carrier. This preliminary scheduling information provides advance notice of resource allocations, allowing the terminal device to switch carriers efficiently without complex real-time decision-making, thereby reducing switching complexity while maintaining transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3251439B1Telecommunications apparatus and methods
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3251439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3251439B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3251439B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A method of operating first and second terminal devices for transmitting data in a device-to-device communication mode in a wireless telecommunications system supporting communications on a first carrier operating over a first frequency band and a second carrier operating over a second frequency band. The first terminal device transmits control signalling on the first carrier and this is received by the second terminal device. The control signalling comprises an indication of an allocation of radio resource blocks on the second carrier to be used for transmitting user-plane data from the first terminal device to the second terminal device. The first terminal device then proceeds to transmit the user-plane data to the second terminal device on the second carrier using the radio resource blocks on the second carrier identified by the control signalling. The control signalling may also provide an indication of an allocation of radio resource blocks on the first carrier to be used for transmitting user-plane data to the second terminal device.