Device-to-Device Communication Subframe Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless networks face challenges in data capacity due to increased demand for high-definition streaming, online gaming, and large file transfers, despite advancements in cellular technology, leading to resource bottlenecks and latency issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing device-to-device (D2D) communication in cellular networks, where user equipment (UEs) communicate directly with each other using cellular spectrum, while maintaining connections to the network, to reduce the number of hops and latency by designating specific subframes for D2D communication and HARQ-ACK feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cellular network routing is used for data transmission between UEs, then network control and reliability are maintained, but latency and data transfer time increase due to multiple hops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new intermediary model where UEs communicate directly through D2D interfaces while still maintaining network connectivity. This allows data to travel through fewer hops (UE1→UE2 directly instead of UE1→eNB→UE2) reducing latency while the network remains involved through signaling and resource management, thus resolving the contradiction between network control and latency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication path into different types of interfaces: traditional network interfaces for control signaling and resource allocation, and direct D2D interfaces for data transmission. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for both reliability (through network-controlled signaling) and speed (through direct data paths)
2Productivity
If more UEs use wireless networks for data-intensive applications, then user experience and data capacity demand increase, but network resources become constrained and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts data transmission traffic from the traditional network infrastructure by enabling direct UE-to-UE communication. This removes the bottleneck of network resources being shared by all users, allowing data-intensive applications to proceed without consuming additional network capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between data capacity demand and network resource constraints
Solution Approach 2:
UEs perform self-organized D2D communication by directly establishing connections and managing their own data transmission without requiring continuous network mediation. This self-service capability allows users to utilize available spectrum efficiently without competing for network resources, thereby increasing overall system productivity
3Ease of manufacture
If D2D communication is implemented without dedicated subframe allocation, then deployment simplicity is maintained, but interference with traditional network communication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the time domain by allocating specific subframes for D2D communication while maintaining traditional network communication in other subframes. This temporal segmentation allows D2D and network communications to coexist without interference, resolving the contradiction between deployment simplicity and interference management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different communication modes to different time resources: D2D mode during designated subframes and traditional network mode during other subframes. This local differentiation in communication quality ensures that D2D operations do not adversely affect network communications, thus managing interference while maintaining ease of deployment
Data Source
AI summary
A first UE receives a first uplink-downlink configuration from a network entity via broadcast signalling. The first uplink configuration designates a first set of subframes of a series of subframes as uplink subframes. The first UE also receives a second uplink-downlink configuration via dedicated signaling. The second uplink-downlink configuration designates a second set of subframes of the series of subframes as uplink subframes. The first set of uplink subframes and the second set of uplink subframes differ from one another by at least one uplink subframe.