Device Signals for Contention-Free D2D Signaling Without Network Node

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless device-to-device (D2D) communication systems without a network infrastructure node face challenges in identifying communicable devices, managing interference, coordinating timing, and efficiently allocating resources, leading to potential collisions and poor latency and utilization performance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of device signals (DS) that allow devices to unambiguously identify neighbors, coordinate resources, and establish timing references, enabling contention-free signaling and resource allocation, even in the absence of an evolved Node B (eNB).

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If device-to-device communication is implemented without a network infrastructure node, then communication efficiency and space division multiplexing are improved, but device identification and resource coordination become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoiddevice identification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the resource space by introducing device signals with unique device identifiers that divide the communication space into identifiable segments. Each device can identify and coordinate with specific neighboring devices through these segmented identifiers, resolving the complexity of device identification in infrastructure-less environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Device signals act as an intermediary mechanism between devices without requiring network infrastructure. These signals carry device identifiers and resource coordination information, enabling devices to indirectly identify and coordinate with each other through a standardized signaling protocol.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If devices transmit without centralized coordination, then communication latency is reduced, but resource collisions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication latencyVSAvoidresource collision probability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Devices perform preliminary actions by transmitting device signals that reserve resources before actual data transmission. The device signal includes resource reservation information that pre-establishes transmission parameters, allowing devices to coordinate resources in advance and avoid collisions during actual communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where devices monitor and detect device signals from neighboring devices. This feedback allows devices to adjust their resource selection based on detected signals from others, dynamically avoiding resource collisions while maintaining low latency through autonomous decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If device signals are designed for unambiguous identification, then resource allocation precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice identification precisionVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Device identifiers are designed with local quality by using unique identifiers that are unambiguous within the local communication range of each device. The identifier structure provides sufficient precision for local resource coordination without requiring globally unique identifiers, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining identification precision where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2995170B1Method and apparatus for contention free device signaling without a controlling network node
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2995170B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2995170B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2995170B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and user equipment operating in or near a network without a central controller, the method receiving a device signal from a second user equipment, the second user equipment being within a contention region of the first user equipment; and utilizing the device signal to determine a transmission opportunity at the first user equipment. Further, disambiguation processes include removing network, new device and bootstrapping ambiguity.