Network Assisted Beaconing for D2D Channel Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing device-to-device communication methods in cellular networks are inefficient due to time-consuming and resource-intensive beaconing schemes, leading to increased power consumption and poor performance in networks with numerous radio transmission resources.

Innovation Solution

A method where multiple terminals transmit pilot sequences over a single portion of radio transmission resources, with measurement data collected and processed in the network to estimate channels between devices, reducing resource usage and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If simple beaconing schemes are applied for peer discovery, then device-to-device communication can be established, but time consumption increases due to extensive scanning operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeer discovery speedVSAvoidscanning operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple terminals transmit their pilot sequences simultaneously over the same radio transmission resources, merging multiple beaconing operations into a single time slot. This allows the network to discover multiple device pairs in parallel rather than sequentially, significantly reducing the total time required for peer discovery across the network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic beaconing where terminals transmit pilot sequences at regular intervals rather than continuously scanning. This periodic transmission pattern reduces the overall scanning time while maintaining effective peer discovery capability, as terminals only need to scan at these periodic intervals rather than continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If multiple radio transmission resources are used for beacon signal transmission, then peer discovery coverage is improved, but power consumption of terminals increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeer discovery coverageVSAvoidterminal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple beaconing operations into a single resource allocation by having multiple terminals transmit simultaneously over the same radio resources. This eliminates the need for each terminal to individually scan and transmit on multiple separate resources, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining comprehensive peer discovery coverage through the combined transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The network leverages the uplink pilot sequences that terminals already transmit for cellular communication purposes to perform peer discovery. By reusing these existing transmissions for dual purposes (cellular communication and D2D discovery), the system avoids additional power-consuming beacon transmissions while maintaining discovery capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If extensive scanning operations are performed for channel state information estimation, then accurate channel estimation is achieved, but time consumption and resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel state information accuracyVSAvoidchannel estimation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network combines channel state information from pilot sequences transmitted by multiple terminals simultaneously over the same resources. By processing these superimposed signals together, the system achieves comprehensive channel estimation for multiple device pairs in a single operation, maintaining measurement precision while dramatically improving estimation efficiency and reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2770764B1Methods and devices for network assisted beaconing
Publication Date: 2015.04.15 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP2770764B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2770764B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2770764B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention refers to methods (31, 33) and devices (20, 21, 25) for network assisted beaconing. In order to allow for quick and efficient peer discovery and device-to-device channel estimation, a method (31) and device (20, 21) is proposed that comprise instructing (49) a first group (G1) of multiple terminals (25) of a wireless network (11) to transmit a pilot sequence (Si) over a first portion (r) of radio transmission resources (R); instructing (51) a second group (G2) of multiple terminals (25) of the wireless network (11) to receive a signal over the first portion (r) of radio transmission resources (R); receiving (51) from the terminals (25) of the second group (G2) measurement data (Mj) that characterize the signal received by the terminals; and estimating (57) a channel (29) between at least one pair of terminals (25) of the first group (G1) or the second group (G2) depending on the measurement data (Mj).