FR1-to-FR2 Sidelink Establishment for Coverage Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies do not support efficient sidelink establishment in FR2 frequency range, especially for users outside FR2 coverage, leading to limited throughput and coverage issues in FR2 hotspots, with no mechanism for offloading traffic from FR1 to FR2.
Innovation Solution
A method for establishing a sidelink in a second frequency range, different from the first, involving signaling support for sidelink setup and identification, enabling cross-frequency carrier aggregation between FR1 and FR2, with network-assisted signaling to facilitate dual connectivity and beam management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If sidelink is established in FR2 frequency range for users outside FR2 coverage, then coverage area and throughput are improved, but device complexity and signaling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate FR1 base station that mediates the connection between FR1 user devices and FR2 coverage areas. The FR1 base station receives signaling from the FR2 base station and forwards it to FR1 user devices, enabling indirect access to FR2 resources without requiring direct FR2 signaling capability from the user device. This intermediary approach extends FR2 coverage to FR1 devices while managing complexity through layered signaling.
2Productivity
If cross-frequency carrier aggregation between FR1 and FR2 is implemented, then data transfer capabilities are enhanced, but network infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carrier aggregation functionality into distinct FR1 and FR2 components with separate base stations. The FR1 base station handles coverage and control signaling, while the FR2 base station provides high-capacity data transmission. This segmentation allows each base station to be optimized for its specific frequency range, simplifying individual node design while enabling combined high-performance data transfer through coordinated operation.
3Reliability
If network-assisted signaling is used to facilitate sidelink establishment, then connection reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex signaling functions from the user device and relocates them to the network infrastructure. The FR2 base station generates sidelink configuration signaling and coverage enhancement information, which are then transported through the FR1 base station to the user device. This extraction reduces the signaling burden on user devices while maintaining network-controlled reliability, as the network manages all critical signaling parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method, in a context of New Radio Link carrier aggregation, to establish a sidelink for a first user device having an air interface with a first base station acting in a first range of frequency and being adapted to establish sidelink in a second range of frequency, different from the first range of frequency, said first base station having at least a connection link with a second base station adapted to act in the second range of frequency, said method comprising, for the first user device: —receiving an indication on the possibility to establish a sidelink in the second range of frequency with a second user device being available to provide a sidelink in the second range of frequency while besides connecting to the second base station, —establish a sidelink with the second user device in the second range of frequency, —processing, using aggregation, flow of data on the air interface with the first base station in the first range of frequency and flow of data on the sidelink with the second user device in the second range of frequency.