Multi-RAT D2D Relay Bridging 3GPP and Non-3GPP Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing device-to-device (D2D) communication technologies struggle to facilitate seamless communication between devices of different radio access technologies (RATs) such as 3GPP and non-3GPP without significant impact on the 5G system and procedures, while ensuring performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A method for setting up multi-RAT device-to-device communication by identifying and configuring a multi-RAT capable WTRU as a relay for extended D2D operation, allowing devices to communicate across different technologies with minimal disruption to the 5G system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If D2D communication is established between devices of different RATs (3GPP and non-3GPP), then communication versatility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a multi-RAT capable WTRU as an intermediary relay device that bridges 3GPP and non-3GPP networks. This relay WTRU maintains separate protocol stacks for different RATs and forwards packets between them, enabling heterogeneous device communication without requiring each device to support all RATs directly, thus managing complexity through specialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay WTRU is designed with multi-functionality to operate across multiple RATs (3GPP and non-3GPP). It maintains multiple protocol stacks and can function as both a regular device and a relay node, providing universal communication capability that allows heterogeneous devices to interoperate through a single multi-functional node.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multi-RAT D2D communication is implemented, then adaptability is improved, but impact on 5G system procedures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complexity of multi-RAT protocol handling from the standard 5G system procedures by implementing it within the relay WTRU itself. The relay device independently manages protocol conversion and packet forwarding between RATs, removing the burden of complex inter-RAT coordination from the core 5G network procedures while still enabling multi-RAT communication.
3Reliability
If relay WTRU is used for ED2D functionality, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay WTRU acts as a trusted intermediary that guarantees communication reliability by maintaining separate protocol stacks for different RATs and ensuring proper packet forwarding. The relay device provides reliable delivery assurance and protocol compatibility, making communication more reliable than direct D2D between heterogeneous devices, while concentrating complexity in a single specialized node.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for setting up a multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) device-to-device (D2D) communication is disclosed. An application function (AF) in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may identify a group of multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) capable WTRUs to a policy control function (PCF), wherein one or more multi-RAT capable WTRUs of the group of multi-RAT capable WTRUs register as having enhanced device-to-device (ED2D) functionality. The AF may select a multi-RAT capable WTRU from the group of multi-RAT capable WTRUs having ED2D functionality, as a relay for extended D2D operation. The device with ED2D function will act as Relay for ED2D (RED2D). The PCF may then reconfigure the RED2D with group related information. The RED2D may then configure D2D communication among the group of multi-RAT capable WTRUs.