Proximity Service Setup via MME Negotiated Direct Air Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP proximity-based services face inefficiencies due to reliance on network routing, which can lead to unnecessary load and performance impacts, as they partially address proximity-based service traffic and signaling, requiring operators to control proximity communication sessions but lack efficient means for setup, modification, and termination.
Innovation Solution
The system enables setup and configuration of proximity services between wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) through various sharing paths, including direct air interface, radio access network (RAN), or network nodes, with Mobility Management Entities (MMEs) exchanging messages to initiate, modify, or terminate sessions, and negotiate data paths with limited network entity involvement, allowing WTRU-to-WTRU control plane messages to be exchanged directly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network routing is used for proximity-based services, then operators can control proximity communication sessions, but network load increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments proximity service traffic into control plane signaling (routed through MME for management) and user plane data (routed directly between WTRUs). This segmentation allows operators to maintain control over session establishment, modification, and termination while minimizing network load for actual data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The MME acts as an intermediary that facilitates proximity service setup and control without being involved in every data transmission. It negotiates data paths between WTRUs and then allows direct communication, reducing its burden and overall network load while preserving control capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If network nodes are involved in proximity service setup, then service management is enabled, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential control functions (session setup, modification, termination) from continuous network involvement. Once the proximity service session is established through MME signaling, the actual data plane communications between WTRUs proceed with minimal network entity involvement, reducing signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The MME performs preliminary actions by pre-negotiating and establishing data paths between WTRUs during session setup. This preliminary configuration enables subsequent direct communications without requiring continuous network intervention, simplifying the overall process.
3Loss of energy
If direct air interface communication is enabled between WTRUs, then network load is reduced, but control and management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control where the MME maintains the ability to modify or terminate proximity service sessions at any time, even though direct air interface communication is established. This dynamic control mechanism ensures network reliability while allowing efficient direct data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The MME establishes control protocols and data paths beforehand that enable it to intervene if needed. This prior setup ensures that even with direct WTRU communication, the network maintains control capability through pre-configured management channels and authorization mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems may enable the setup and configuration of proximity services between wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) over different sharing paths including via a direct air interface, a radio access network (RAN) or one or more network nodes. Mobility management entities (MMEs) may exchange messages to initiate, modify or terminate a proximity service session between WTRUs, and may negotiate data paths for proximity services with or without the assistance of WTRUs. WTRU-to-WTRU control plane messages may be exchanged between WTRUs with limited involvement from other network entities and may avoid the setup of resources for data plane communications. Mobility management entities (MMEs) may exchange messages to initiate, modify or terminate a proximity service session between WTRUs, and may negotiate data paths for proximity services with or without the assistance of WTRUs.