P2P and WAN Communication Multiplexing via Uplink Spectrum Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication while minimizing interference with wide area network (WAN) communications, particularly in sharing spectral resources and maintaining concurrent operation.

Innovation Solution

The method involves time and frequency division multiplexing P2P and WAN communications on the uplink spectrum, using transmission gaps to avoid interference, and reusing WAN physical channels for P2P communication, allowing UEs to operate on the same spectrum for both P2P downlink and uplink.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If P2P communication is supported on the uplink spectrum used by WAN, then spectrum efficiency is improved, but interference between P2P and WAN communications occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum efficiencyVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The uplink spectrum is segmented into different time slots through TDM, with specific subframes allocated for P2P communication and others for WAN communication. This segmentation allows both communications to share the same spectrum resource while minimizing interference through temporal separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Transmission gaps are introduced as intermediary elements between P2P and WAN communications. These gaps act as buffers that prevent direct interference between the two communication types while allowing them to coexist on the same uplink spectrum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If TDM is used to multiplex P2P and WAN communications, then interference is reduced, but transmission complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinterferenceVSAvoidtransmission complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The TDM framework is designed to be universal, allowing the same time slot structure to serve both P2P and WAN communications. The transmission gaps and subframe structures are configured once and reused across multiple communication sessions, reducing the overall complexity despite the sophisticated multiplexing scheme.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If FDD is used for WAN communication, then concurrent transmission and reception are enabled, but P2P communication is limited to uplink spectrum only

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcurrent communication capabilityVSAvoidP2P communication flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

While FDD provides frequency separation for WAN communication, the invention extends P2P communication capabilities by utilizing the time dimension through TDM on the uplink spectrum. This dimensional approach allows P2P to achieve concurrent communication capabilities similar to FDD, but within the constraints of the uplink-only spectrum allocation.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2559307B1Multiplexing of peer-to-peer (P2P) communication and wide area network (WAN) communication
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2559307B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2559307B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2559307B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication and wide area network (WAN) communication are disclosed. In one aspect, P2P communication may be supported on an uplink spectrum. A user equipment (UE) may communicate (i) with a base station on both a downlink spectrum and an uplink spectrum for WAN communication and (ii) with another UE on only the uplink spectrum for P2P communication. In another aspect, P2P communication may be supported by time division multiplexing the downlink and uplink (or transmit and receive links) for two UEs. In yet another aspect, WAN communication and P2P communication may be time division multiplexed, so that both can be concurrently supported by a UE. In yet another aspect, transmission gaps may be provided between WAN transmissions and P2P transmissions in order to avoid interference between these transmissions.