D2D Discovery Resource Configuration via Merged Control Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current device-to-device communication methods consume significant energy during the discovery procedure, which is inefficient and not cost-effective for proximity detection and communication between user equipment.

Innovation Solution

The method involves the mobile communication network transmitting second discovery resource configuration information to the first user equipment, allowing it to use distinct air interface resources for discovery, reducing the energy consumption and communication overhead by avoiding separate transmission of this information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mobile communication network transmits second discovery resource configuration information separately to the first user equipment, then the discovery procedure can be performed on distinct air interface resources, but the communication overhead and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery procedure reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the transmission of second discovery resource configuration information with existing control data transmission from the mobile communication network to the first user equipment. By integrating this information into already-scheduled transmissions rather than creating separate dedicated transmission channels, the patent reduces additional energy consumption and communication overhead while ensuring the discovery procedure can still access necessary resource configuration information on distinct air interface resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the mobile communication network transmits second discovery resource configuration information separately to the first user equipment, then the discovery procedure can be performed on distinct air interface resources, but the communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery procedure reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the second discovery resource configuration information with existing control data transmissions from the mobile communication network to the first user equipment. This integration approach transmits the necessary discovery resource information without creating separate dedicated transmission channels, thereby minimizing additional communication overhead and protocol complexity while maintaining the ability to perform discovery on distinct air interface resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If device to device discovery is performed by searching for commonly used frequencies, then devices can discover each other, but the energy consumption increases considerably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the mobile communication network pre-configure and transmit second discovery resource configuration information to the first user equipment before the discovery procedure begins. This pre-provisioning of resource configuration information eliminates the need for energy-intensive frequency searching, as devices can directly access pre-designated air interface resources for discovery communications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3141006B1Improving device to device communication
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP3141006B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3141006B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for improving device to device proximity detection and/or device to device communication between a first user equipment and a second user equipment, the first user equipment and the second user equipment being enabled to use a device to device mode (D2D mode), wherein using the device to device mode for device to device proximity detection and/or device to device communication purposes between the first and second user equipments requires performing a discovery procedure between the first and second user equipments, at least the first user equipment being related to a mobile communication network comprising a core network and an access network, the access network of the mobile communication network comprising a base station entity, wherein a first frequency or frequency band is used for the reception of first control data by the first user equipment, the first control data being sent by the base station entity, and wherein a second frequency or frequency band is used for the reception of second control data by the second user equipment, wherein the method comprises the following steps: -- in a first step, the base station entity transmits, as part of the first control data, a first discovery resource configuration information and a second discovery resource configuration information, the first discovery resource configuration information indicating first air interface resources being possibly used for discovery purposes involving the first user equipment, the second discovery resource configuration information indicating second air interface resources being possibly used for discovery purposes involving the second user equipment, -- in a second step, subsequent to the first step, the first user equipment uses the second discovery resource configuration information for performing a discovery procedure towards the second user equipments by using the second air interface resources.