Grant-Free Uplink Resource Allocation for D2D Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing device-to-device (D2D) communication, particularly in using grant-free uplink (GUL) resources within a shared radio frequency spectrum, which affects throughput, latency, and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of methods and apparatuses that enable D2D communication by allocating GUL resources, where a base station determines and transmits indications for resource allocation to UEs, allowing them to support direct communication without prior grants, using techniques like MuLTEfire for coexistence management in shared bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional grant-based scheduling is used for D2D communication, then resource allocation control is maintained, but latency increases and throughput decreases due to grant request and allocation overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The base station pre-allocates GUL resources to UEs before actual data transmission is needed. This preliminary resource assignment eliminates the need for real-time grant requests during data transfer, thereby reducing latency while maintaining controlled resource management through the base station's advance planning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the grant request and allocation overhead from the data transmission path by implementing a separate control phase where resources are pre-assigned. This separation removes the time-consuming grant exchange mechanism from the critical data transmission path, reducing overall latency
2Productivity
If grant-free uplink resources are allocated for D2D communication, then latency is reduced and throughput is improved, but resource collision and interference increase in shared spectrum
Solution Approach 1:
The base station monitors D2D communication quality and provides feedback to UEs about resource allocation effectiveness. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust resource assignments to minimize interference and collisions, maintaining high throughput while managing harmful effects in the shared spectrum
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic GUL resource allocation where the base station can adjust resource assignments based on current channel conditions and traffic demands. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize throughput while responding to changing interference conditions in real-time
3Adaptability or versatility
If D2D communication uses shared radio frequency spectrum, then spectrum utilization is improved, but coexistence management complexity and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base station acts as an intermediary that coordinates D2D resource allocation in shared spectrum. It manages coexistence by making centralized decisions about resource assignments, thereby improving spectrum utilization while the intermediary handles the complexity of coexistence management, relieving individual UEs of this burden
4Use of energy by moving object
If direct UE-to-UE communication is implemented, then energy efficiency is improved by eliminating base station routing, but device complexity increases for direct protocol management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where UEs autonomously manage their direct communication using pre-configured GUL resources. The UEs independently handle transmission and reception without requiring continuous base station intervention, thereby improving energy efficiency by eliminating routing while the self-service capability manages the protocol complexity locally at the device level
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are provided which may be used in a base station and/or user equipment (UE) to support or otherwise provide device-to-device (D2D) communication in a shared radio frequency spectrum between candidate UEs. For example, a base station may determine that a first UE and a second UE are candidates for D2D communication, and provide and indicate that a Grant-free Uplink (GUL) resource allocation for D2D communication between the first and second UEs. The base station may further monitor the D2D communication.