ProSe Group Code Matching for Restricted Discovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communications systems face challenges in efficiently grouping user equipments (UEs) for proximity-based services (ProSe) restricted discovery, particularly in Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Networks (E-UTRAN), where existing methods lack effective mechanisms for UEs to identify and communicate within restricted groups directly.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where UEs broadcast and compare group codes, with network authorization and acknowledgement, allowing direct communication between UEs when group codes match, enabling efficient grouping and management within ProSe restricted discovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If UEs perform direct discovery and communication without network authorization, then discovery speed and communication efficiency are improved, but network security and control are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery speedVSAvoidnetwork security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary authorization and assigns group codes to UEs before they engage in direct discovery and communication. This preliminary action ensures security is established in advance, allowing fast direct communication without compromising network control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network acts as an intermediary that authorizes UEs and assigns group codes. This intermediary role allows UEs to communicate directly with improved speed while the network maintains security through authorization control and monitoring of comparing reports.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If UEs broadcast discovery signals continuously, then discovery coverage is improved, but network interference and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery coverageVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

UEs autonomously determine whether to broadcast discovery signals by comparing their group codes with received group codes. This self-service mechanism allows UEs to independently make discovery decisions based on group matching, reducing unnecessary broadcasts and energy consumption while maintaining adequate discovery coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous broadcasting, UEs perform periodic discovery signal broadcasting triggered by group code comparisons. This periodic action reduces energy consumption and interference while maintaining discovery coverage through targeted, condition-based transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If the network monitors all UE discovery communications, then security and control are improved, but network complexity and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork controlVSAvoidnetwork complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network extracts and monitors only the essential comparing reports containing group code information from UE discoveries. This extraction approach maintains network control and security while reducing monitoring complexity by focusing only on critical group matching information rather than all discovery communications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The network applies different monitoring levels to different UEs based on their group codes and authorization status. This local quality approach allows customized monitoring intensity for different groups, maintaining security where needed while reducing overall network complexity through differentiated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3043577B1Grouping of user equipments in proximity services restricted discovery with ackowledgement from network
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 ACER INC
  • EP3043577B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3043577B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3043577B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for grouping user equipments (UEs) in proximity services restricted discovery, used in a communications system, including: broadcasting, by a first user equipment (UE), a UE discovered signal for being discovered, wherein the UE discovered signal includes a first group code corresponding to the first UE; receiving, by a second UE, the UE discovered signal and comparing the first group code with a second group code corresponding to the second UE; and transmitting, by the second UE, a comparing report to a network when the first group code and the second group code are the same.