ProSe Function Mediates D2D Bearer Setup for Public Safety

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current public safety communication networks lack support and capability for Proximity Service (ProSe) between user equipment (UEs), including ProSe discovery and communication, leading to unresolved issues with interaction between UE and network, authentication of subscription information, and bearer establishment for locally-routed communications.

Innovation Solution

A method and user equipment implementation for device-to-device communications between UEs, involving UE and network capability exchange, ProSe service requests, and establishment of device-to-device packet data network bearers with the same packet data network gateway, utilizing a centralization node for address updates and queries to facilitate ProSe communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If device to device communications are implemented between UEs, then communication efficiency and resource optimization are improved, but network complexity and authentication mechanisms become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a ProSe function as an intermediary component in the network that mediates D2D communication establishment, authentication, and resource allocation. This intermediary handles the complex authentication and coordination tasks, allowing UEs to communicate directly while the network maintains control through the ProSe function, thus improving communication efficiency without excessively increasing UE complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the D2D communication system into distinct functional components: UE capability indication, ProSe discovery, ProSe communication establishment, and bearer management. Each component handles specific tasks independently, which organizes the complexity into manageable segments and enables efficient processing of D2D communications while maintaining network control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If ProSe service request with discovered UE identification is implemented, then direct communication between UEs is improved, but authentication and subscription verification become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirect communicationVSAvoidauthentication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary authentication and subscription verification by the network before D2D communication is established. The network verifies the discovered UE identification and subscription information in advance, so that when direct communication is initiated, the authentication process is already complete or streamlined, making direct communication easier while managing authentication complexity through pre-verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The ProSe function acts as an intermediary that handles the complex authentication and subscription verification processes. It receives the ProSe service request with discovered UE identification, performs verification against subscription information, and establishes the communication path, thereby simplifying the UE operation while managing authentication complexity centrally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If device to device PDN bearer is established with same PGW, then resource optimization and local routing are improved, but bearer management and coordination become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource optimizationVSAvoidbearer management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the bearer management for both UEs through a common PGW (Packet Data Network Gateway). By establishing D2D PDN bearers that converge at the same PGW, the system optimizes resource usage by sharing the gateway resource and enabling local routing, while the PGW itself handles the coordination complexity of managing multiple bearers to and from the D2D pair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The PGW serves as an intermediary that coordinates the D2D PDN bearer establishment between two UEs. It receives bearer setup requests from both UEs, manages the shared resource allocation, and enables efficient local routing while absorbing the complexity of bearer coordination and management in a centralized location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2954712B1Method and user equipment for implementing device to device communications between ues
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2954712B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2954712B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2954712B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application provides a method for implementing a device to device (D2D) communication between UEs, wherein a UE and a network obtain each other's capability of Proximity Service (ProSe); the UE may activate the capability of ProSe that both the UE and the network support and initiates a request for a ProSe service with another UE to the network; the network authenticates the request for the ProSe service according to subscription information for the UE's device to device communication; and the network establishes a device to device PDN bearer between the two UEs for the request for the ProSe service passing the authentication. The present application further provides a user equipment. The present application is the basis for implementing the ProSe, the application thereof can satisfy service demands of public safety communication and realize network resource optimization configuration.