Group Communication Resource Allocation Using Device Identifiers

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications systems, particularly in decentralized peer-to-peer networks, efficiently managing air link resources for group communications is challenging, especially as the number of group members increases, leading to excessive resource consumption and interference issues.

Innovation Solution

The approach involves associating group transmission request and response resources with device identifiers instead of connection identifiers, allowing for decentralized scheduling of traffic slots and segments, thereby optimizing resource utilization in large groups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If control resources for traffic signaling are allocated on a per connection basis for group communications, then each connection can be managed individually, but the amount of resources allocated to the group grows rapidly as the number of members increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection managementVSAvoidcontrol signaling resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple connection-specific control resources into a single group-based control resource. Instead of allocating separate control signaling resources for each device-to-device connection within a group, the system uses a single group communication identifier to manage all connections, thereby reducing the total quantity of control signaling resources required while maintaining reliable connection management across all group members

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If connection identifiers are used for resource allocation in large groups, then individual connections can be tracked, but the complexity of resource management increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection trackingVSAvoidresource management
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the connection identification function from the resource allocation mechanism. Instead of using connection identifiers for resource allocation, the system uses device identifiers combined with a group communication identifier. This separation allows individual connections to be tracked through the group identifier while simplifying resource management, as resources are allocated based on device identity rather than connection identity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If per-connection control signaling is used for group communications, then connection-specific control can be implemented, but interference increases with larger group sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection controlVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple connection control signals into a single group control signal. By using a group communication identifier instead of individual connection identifiers, the system reduces the number of separate control signaling transmissions required. This consolidation decreases the overall interference in the wireless medium while maintaining the ability to control communications for all group members through the unified group identifier

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2172077B1Methods and apparatus for supporting group communications utilizing device identifiers
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2172077B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2172077B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2172077B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and apparatus related to group communications in a wireless communications system, e.g., a peer to peer wireless communications system, are described. Methods and apparatus directed to closed groups, e.g., where the number of group members are fixed at a given time and known to one or more members of the group, are described. Various embodiments are well suited to decentralized peer to peer wireless networks including a plurality of individual traffic resources, e.g., traffic slots and/or traffic segments, which may be independently scheduled in a decentralized manner. Various features and/or aspects are directed to associating group transmission request resources and/or request response resources with device identifiers as opposed to associating such resources with connection identifiers. This approach is well suited for large size groups of N members, where the number of the number of connections between members of the group is approximately N2. This approach provides for efficient resource utilization supporting group traffic signaling.