D2D Reference Signaling for Local Map Updates in Wireless Links

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communications networks face challenges in efficiently supporting a diverse range of devices with varying data traffic profiles and latency/reliability requirements, necessitating advanced systems like 5G or NR to manage different types of devices and applications effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method involving communications devices that transmit and receive reference signals to update local maps, enabling efficient Device-to-Device (D2D) communications and Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) by determining reference signal characteristics and performing measurements to enhance environmental awareness and D2D pairing/grouping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beam failure recovery procedures are implemented to maintain connection, then connection reliability is improved, but service interruption and user experience degradation occur due to repeated failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidservice interruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The network side device performs preliminary evaluation of beam failure causes before triggering recovery procedures. By assessing whether the failure is due to blockage or other causes in advance, the system can determine whether to initiate beam failure recovery, thereby avoiding unnecessary service interruptions while maintaining connection reliability when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of automatically triggering beam failure recovery upon detecting beam failure, the patent inverts the logic by first evaluating whether recovery should occur. This prevents harmful service interruptions caused by inappropriate recovery attempts while still enabling recovery when it would be beneficial.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If beam failure recovery is triggered for all beam failures, then connection maintenance is improved, but unnecessary resource consumption and network overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection maintenanceVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network side device performs preliminary evaluation of beam failure causes before triggering recovery procedures. By assessing whether the failure is due to blockage or other causes in advance, the system can determine whether to initiate beam failure recovery, thereby avoiding unnecessary service interruptions while maintaining connection reliability when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying beam failure recovery universally to all beam failures, the patent applies the recovery procedure selectively only when the evaluation indicates it is appropriate. This partial application of the recovery mechanism reduces unnecessary resource consumption and network overhead while still maintaining connection reliability in cases where recovery is beneficial.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Stability of the object's composition

If beam failure recovery procedures are activated, then connection stability is improved, but user experience deteriorates due to repeated connection attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The network side device performs preliminary evaluation of beam failure causes before triggering recovery procedures. By assessing whether the failure is due to blockage or other causes in advance, the system can determine whether to initiate beam failure recovery, thereby avoiding unnecessary service interruptions while maintaining connection reliability when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of automatically triggering beam failure recovery upon detecting beam failure, the patent inverts the logic by first evaluating whether recovery should occur. This prevents harmful service interruptions caused by inappropriate recovery attempts while still enabling recovery when it would be beneficial.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4349038B1Methods, communications devices, infrastructure equipment, and wireless telecommunications systems

Publication Date: 2026.04.29 SONY GROUP CORP

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AI summary

A method of operating a communications device for transmitting signals to and/or receiving signals from an infrastructure equipment of wireless communications network and transmitting signals to and/or receiving signals from one or more other communications devices in accordance with Device-to-Device, D2D, communications is provided. The method comprises determining that the communications device is to transmit one or more reference signals in accordance with one or more reference signal characteristics, transmitting the reference signals to the infrastructure equipment and/or one or more of the other communications devices in accordance with the determined reference signal characteristics, and performing measurements on the basis of signals received in response to the transmitted reference signals and/or other reference signals received from one or more of the other communications devices. The performed measurements are used to update a local map associated with at least one of the communications device and the infrastructure equipment on the basis of the performed measurements. The local map describes an environment of the at least one of the communications device and the infrastructure equipment.