In-Device Coordination for LTE and NR Sidelink Conflict Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices face challenges in efficiently sharing resources due to differences in communication protocols and hardware bandwidth limitations, particularly when operating with both newer and legacy protocols, which can lead to conflicts and suboptimal performance in multi-standard networks like 3GPP, 5G, and NR networks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of in-device coordination techniques for sidelink communication over LTE PC5 and NR PC5 interfaces, where user equipment (UE) detects synchronization signals to determine reference timing and prioritize services based on received control information, aligning subframe boundaries and resource allocation to manage conflicts and ensure seamless coexistence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wireless device operates with both LTE and NR protocols simultaneously, then the device can support both newer and legacy communication standards, but resource conflicts and hardware bandwidth limitations arise leading to suboptimal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication resources by creating separate resource pools for LTE and NR sidelink communications. The network configures distinct time-frequency resources for each protocol, allowing the device to operate with both protocols without resource conflicts. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling multi-protocol support while maintaining optimal performance through dedicated resource allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the device can adaptively switch between LTE and NR resources based on current communication needs, channel conditions, and protocol requirements. The network can dynamically reconfigure resource pools and the device can dynamically select appropriate resources, enabling flexible multi-protocol operation that maintains high productivity under varying conditions.
2Productivity
If multiple devices share the same wireless resources, then network resource utilization is improved, but resource conflicts increase leading to bandwidth limitations and reduced response times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments wireless resources into dedicated pools for different sidelink communications, reducing resource conflicts while maintaining high utilization. By allocating specific time-frequency resources to different services and protocols, the system achieves both efficient resource utilization and reliable response times through conflict-free resource access.
Solution Approach 2:
The network performs preliminary resource allocation and configuration before sidelink communications begin. The network configures resource pools, parameters, and restrictions in advance, allowing devices to efficiently share pre-allocated resources without conflicts, thereby maintaining both high utilization and reliable response times.
3Productivity
If in-device coordination is implemented to align subframe boundaries and manage resource allocation, then resource management efficiency and bandwidth utilization are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the network as an intermediary that performs the complex coordination tasks. The network configures resource pools, aligns subframe boundaries, and manages resource allocation centrally, reducing the coordination burden on individual devices. This intermediary approach improves resource management efficiency while minimizing device complexity by offloading coordination functions to the network.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a User Equipment (UE), Next Generation Node-B (gNB), Evolved Node-B (eNB) and methods of communication are generally described herein. The UE may determine, based on one or more detected synchronization signals, a reference timing to be used for a common synchronization of Long Term Evolution (LTE) sidelink communication on an LTE PC5 interface and New Radio (NR) sidelink communication on an NR PC5 interface in accordance with time division multiplexing (TDM) operation, wherein subframe boundaries of the LTE PC5 interface and the NR PC5 interface are aligned in time. If the UE detects, during a time period, an in-device conflict between a service configured for the LTE PC5 interface and a service configured for the NR PC5 interface, the UE may determine which of the services to support during the time period based on corresponding priorities.