D2D Discovery Control via Autonomous UE Information Sufficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current D2D communication systems lack efficient control mechanisms for the device-to-device discovery process, leading to excessive signaling burden and inefficient resource usage due to frequent network involvement.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for controlling the D2D discovery process in user equipment, where guiding information from the base station is used to determine the sufficiency of discovery information, allowing for either direct communication or requesting further assistance from the network, thereby reducing network involvement and optimizing resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If frequent network involvement in D2D discovery process is used, then discovery reliability is improved, but signaling burden and resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling burden
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The user equipment autonomously determines whether discovery information is sufficient by comparing it with guiding information received from the base station. The UE independently makes decisions about continuing discovery procedures or requesting further assistance, eliminating the need for constant network intervention and reducing signaling burden while maintaining reliable discovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The base station provides guiding information about D2D services in advance through broadcasted system information. This preliminary information enables the user equipment to pre-evaluate whether discovered UE information is sufficient, allowing for more efficient discovery processes without requiring continuous network verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If network provides detailed guiding information on D2D services, then discovery accuracy is improved, but network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery accuracyVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The base station provides guiding information selectively based on the actual discovery needs of user equipment. The system uses partial information from the network to enable autonomous UE decision-making, avoiding the need for the network to provide complete detailed information while still achieving sufficient discovery accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3066869B1Method and apparatus for controlling d2d discovery process
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3066869B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3066869B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3066869B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

One of the embodiments of the present invention relates to a method for controlling a D2D discovery process at a discovering user equipment. The method comprises determining by the discovering user equipment whether discovery information in a discovering message received from a discovered user equipment is sufficient for performing the D2D discovery process or not. In response to a positive result of the determination, the user equipment continues the discovery procedure without involvement of network node, at least by using the discovery information in the discovering message; in response to a negative result of the determination, the user equipment sends a request to a network node for assistance on further discovery information for performing the D2D discovery process, and then receives the further discovery information from the network node. Embodiments of the present invention also provide methods, apparatuses and computer program products.