Network-Assisted Sidelink Scheduling for 5G NR Unicast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sidelink unicast communications in 5G New Radio (NR) networks face challenges due to high traffic demand and resource usage, requiring an improved scheduling methodology to optimize resource allocation and communication efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A user equipment (UE) based network-assisted scheduling method is introduced, where UE receives coverage status information from a peer UE, reports it to the network, and receives resource scheduling to establish sidelink communications, facilitating efficient resource allocation and communication between UEs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If unicast sidelink communications are implemented to enable direct device-to-device communication, then communication efficiency and user experience are improved, but resource usage and traffic demand increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the scheduling parameter from autonomous UE selection to network-assisted scheduling. The network (gNB) determines the resource allocation parameters based on coverage status information, transforming the scheduling approach to optimize resource usage while maintaining communication efficiency. This is evident in the claims where the UE reports coverage status to the network and receives scheduling decisions in response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE reports coverage status information to the network, and the network uses this feedback to make scheduling decisions. This closed-loop feedback system allows the network to optimize resource allocation based on actual coverage conditions, resolving the contradiction between communication efficiency and resource usage.
2Quantity of substance
If network-assisted scheduling is implemented to optimize resource allocation, then resource usage efficiency is improved, but system complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential coverage status information needed for scheduling decisions and reports it to the network. This selective extraction of information reduces signaling overhead while still enabling effective network-assisted scheduling. The UE does not report all possible parameters, only those necessary for the network to make scheduling decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary coverage status assessment at the UE before network scheduling decisions are made. This preliminary action prepares the necessary information in advance, reducing the complexity of real-time scheduling decisions and enabling more efficient resource allocation without increasing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If coverage status reporting is implemented to enable network-assisted scheduling, then scheduling accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the reporting parameter from detailed channel state information to simplified coverage status indicators. This parameter transformation maintains sufficient scheduling accuracy while significantly reducing signaling overhead and processing time. The coverage status information is designed to be concise yet informative for scheduling purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects directed towards network-assisted sidelink scheduling are disclosed. In one example, a scheduled entity receives coverage status information of a peer user equipment (UE), and transmits a coverage status report to a network in which the coverage status report is based on the coverage status information received from the peer UE. The scheduled entity receives a resource scheduling from the network in response to transmitting the coverage status report, and establishes a sidelink communication with the peer UE based on the resource scheduling. In another example, a scheduling entity receives a coverage status report from a UE in which the coverage status report is associated with a peer UE of the UE. The scheduling entity determines a resource scheduling for the UE based on the coverage status report to facilitate a sidelink communication between the UE and the peer UE, and transmits the resource scheduling to the UE.