Network-Based D2D Discovery Message Relaying Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current device-to-device communication systems face challenges in efficiently relaying discovery messages due to limitations in discovery range, increased battery drainage, interference, and reduced discovery opportunities caused by multi-hop rebroadcasting, especially in urban environments.

Innovation Solution

A network-based control mechanism is introduced for filtering and processing discovery messages, allowing devices to receive policies for filtering and processing rules, which determine whether to rebroadcast messages based on signal strength, interference, and other criteria, thereby adjusting the discovery range and optimizing message propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If multi-hop rebroadcasting is used to extend discovery range, then discovery range is improved, but battery drainage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery rangeVSAvoidbattery drainage
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network acts as an intermediary that receives discovery messages from devices and intelligently determines whether to rebroadcast them. This eliminates the need for individual devices to perform multi-hop rebroadcasting, thereby extending discovery range while preventing excessive battery drainage on device-side relaying operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Length of stationary object

If multi-hop rebroadcasting is used to extend discovery range, then discovery range is improved, but interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery rangeVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The network serves as a centralized intermediary that controls message propagation, replacing distributed multi-hop device-to-device rebroadcasting. This centralized control reduces wireless interference by eliminating multiple device transmissions while achieving the same discovery range extension through network-based relaying.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Length of stationary object

If multi-hop rebroadcasting is used to extend discovery range, then discovery range is improved, but discovery opportunities are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery rangeVSAvoiddiscovery opportunities
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network acts as a mediator that receives and selectively rebroadcasts discovery messages, allowing devices to maintain their discovery opportunities without being blocked by half-duplex constraints. Devices can simultaneously perform discovery and rebroadcasting operations through the network intermediary, thereby extending discovery range while preserving discovery opportunities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If network-based control is implemented for filtering and processing discovery messages, then message propagation is optimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage propagation efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex filtering and processing functions from individual devices and relocates them to the network. Devices only need to send simple requests and receive rebroadcast decisions, significantly reducing device complexity while the network handles the sophisticated message propagation optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Use of energy by moving object

If network-based control is implemented for filtering and processing discovery messages, then battery drainage is minimized, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery drainageVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts energy-intensive rebroadcasting operations from individual devices and consolidates them at the network level. This reduces device battery drainage while the network, which has unlimited power supply, handles the increased system complexity of centralized control and filtering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3381210B1Network-based control for the relaying of device-to-device discovery messages
Publication Date: 2021.10.27 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3381210B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3381210B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3381210B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a policy containing information on filtering and processing of discovery messages over a wireless interface. The policy may be received from a cellular network or from a network server. The apparatus determines a set of filtering rules and a set of processing rules based on the policy. The apparatus may store the set of filtering rules and the set of processing rules. Upon receiving a discovery message on a device-to-device communication channel, the apparatus applies the set of filtering rules to the discovery message. The device-to-device communication channel may be a wireless communication channel. The apparatus may apply the set of processing rules to the discovery message in response to the discovery message passing the set of filtering rules. The apparatus may rebroadcast the processed discovery message.