D2D Policy Provisioning for Unified Discovery and Bearer Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently enabling device-to-device (D2D) communication by effectively discovering and managing proximity-based services and communications between wireless devices, particularly in managing device and service discovery, bearer establishment, and policy enforcement for D2D services.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for provisioning D2D policies that involve network-based mechanisms for device and service discovery, optimized proximity connections (OPCs), and policy and charging control models to manage D2D communications, including NAS procedures for WTRU discovery and bearer establishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If device discovery and service discovery are executed independently before D2D services, then the discovery process can be completed, but the system complexity and provisioning overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery completionVSAvoidprovisioning overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines device discovery and service discovery into a unified D2D discovery process. The discovery request message simultaneously carries both device identification information and service information, allowing the network to provision both types of discovery policies in a single operation rather than executing them independently, thereby reducing provisioning overhead while ensuring both discoveries are completed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The discovery policy structure is designed to be universal, supporting both device discovery and service discovery within the same policy framework. The policy includes fields for both device-related parameters and service-related parameters, enabling a single policy provisioning mechanism to handle multiple discovery types without requiring separate independent provisioning processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If network-based mechanisms are implemented for D2D policy provisioning, then policy enforcement and control are improved, but the signaling overhead and network processing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolicy enforcementVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The network provisions D2D discovery policies in advance before actual D2D communication occurs. The policy provisioning is performed during initial network attachment or service setup, so that when D2D discovery is needed, the device already has the necessary policy parameters locally stored and can execute discovery operations without repeated network signaling, thus enforcing policy reliably while minimizing ongoing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a policy provisioning mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the network and the device. The network sends a comprehensive discovery policy message that includes all necessary parameters for both device and service discovery. This intermediary provisioning step consolidates multiple potential signaling interactions into a single efficient exchange, reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining strong network control and policy enforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If D2D communication is enabled with comprehensive policy control, then service management is improved, but the provisioning time and system latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice managementVSAvoidprovisioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The discovery policy is provisioned in advance during network attachment or service setup procedures, before actual D2D discovery and communication are initiated. This preliminary provisioning ensures that all policy parameters, thresholds, and configurations are already available in the device when needed, enabling comprehensive service management without adding latency during the actual D2D operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges device discovery policy and service discovery policy into a single unified policy provisioning operation. Instead of separately provisioning device discovery parameters and service discovery parameters in multiple steps, the network sends a consolidated discovery policy message containing both types of parameters simultaneously, reducing the total provisioning time while maintaining comprehensive service management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3897016B1Method and apparatus for provisioning of d2d policies for a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU)
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS INC
  • EP3897016B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3897016B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3897016B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) and a corresponding method are described. The WTRU sends, to a base station, a registration request message including device-to-device (D2D) capability information of the WTRU, and receives, from the base station, information indicative of D2D policies.