Mobile Relay System for Vehicular Signal Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicular communication systems, user equipment (UE) connected to a network via a relay system (RS) often experience reduced network reception due to vehicle structure interference, leading to suboptimal Quality of Service (QoS) when connected to the same mobile service provider as the RS, potentially resulting in a decreased user experience.

Innovation Solution

The method involves obtaining information about the mobile service provider of the UE, establishing a first connection between the UE and the RS to match the provider, and then choosing a network entity from the mobile communication system to establish a second connection, allowing the RS to connect the UE to a network entity with improved QoS, signal strength, or different service provider for enhanced performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE connects to the same mobile service provider as the relay system, then connection stability is improved, but Quality of Service deteriorates due to vehicle structure interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidQuality of Service
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The relay system acts as an intermediary between the UE and the network entity. It establishes a first connection with the UE inside the vehicle and a second connection with the network entity outside the vehicle, thereby mediating the communication to overcome the blocking effect of the vehicle structure while maintaining connection stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection path is segmented into two separate connections: the first connection between UE and relay system, and the second connection between relay system and network entity. This segmentation allows each connection to be optimized independently, with the relay system selecting different service providers for each connection to resolve the contradiction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the relay system uses the same service provider as the UE, then network compatibility is improved, but signal strength deteriorates due to vehicle interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork compatibilityVSAvoidsignal strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The relay system changes the service provider parameter for the second connection differently from the first connection. It obtains information about the UE's service provider, establishes the first connection matching the UE's provider for compatibility, then selects a different network entity for the second connection to achieve better signal strength and QoS

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the UE remains inside the vehicle, then device portability is maintained, but network reception deteriorates due to vehicle structure blocking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice portabilityVSAvoidnetwork reception
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The relay system with external antennas serves as a mediator that receives signals from the network entity outside the vehicle and relays them to the UE inside the vehicle. This allows the UE to remain portable inside the vehicle while the relay system's external antennas overcome the blocking effect of the vehicle structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves the antenna function to another dimension - from internal UE antennas to external relay system antennas. The relay system positioned outside or on the vehicle surface receives signals in the external environment and relays them internally, effectively bypassing the vehicle structure interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4106477B1Method of a mobile relay system, apparatus and computer program
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 SEAT SA
  • EP4106477B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4106477B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4106477B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments relate to a method (100) for a mobile relay system (550). The method (100) for the mobile relay system (550) comprises obtaining (110) information about a mobile service provider of user equipment (510; 520); further, the method (100) comprises establishing (120) a first connection between the user equipment (510; 520) and the relay system, wherein the relay system pretends to match the mobile service provider of the user equipment (510; 520). The method (100) also comprises choosing (130) a network entity from a mobile communication system and establishing (140) a second connection between the relay system and the network entity, to enable data transfer between the user equipment (510; 520) and the network entity.