Intermediary Relay for ProSe Uplink Channel Restoration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current 3GPP LTE standard for ProSe communications faces interference issues between ProSe transmissions and cellular communications, leading to degraded performance due to shared use of physical resources, which can result in loss of ProSe Uplink channels and reduced capabilities for ProSe-enabled mobile terminals.

Innovation Solution

Establishing an intermediary communication path using a ProSe-connected mobile terminal to relay data to the base station, allowing ProSe-enabled mobile terminals to maintain and re-establish ProSe Uplink channels by selecting an intermediary mobile terminal based on measured wireless signal characteristics, such as RSRP, to reduce interference and restore communication capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ProSe transmissions share physical resources with cellular communications, then device-to-device communication capability is enabled, but interference between ProSe and cellular communications occurs leading to degraded performance

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveProSe communication capabilityVSAvoidcommunication performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication path by introducing intermediary mobile terminals that relay data between the ProSe-enabled terminal and the base station. This segmentation separates the ProSe communication function from the cellular uplink channel, allowing both to operate simultaneously without direct interference while maintaining both capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If transmit power is reduced to minimize interference with cellular communications, then cellular communication quality is improved, but ProSe Uplink channel transmission becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference levelVSAvoidProSe Uplink channel availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces intermediary mobile terminals as mediators in the communication path. The ProSe-enabled terminal transmits data to the intermediary terminal at reduced power (minimizing interference), which then forwards the data to the base station. This intermediary structure allows the system to maintain low interference levels while ensuring reliable ProSe Uplink channel transmission through the relay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If direct ProSe Uplink channel is used for transmission, then communication efficiency is high, but the channel may be lost due to interference and power control limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidchannel stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic communication architecture where the transmission path can adapt between direct ProSe Uplink channel and intermediary relay path. When the direct channel is available and conditions are favorable, efficient direct transmission is used. When interference or power control causes channel loss, the system dynamically switches to the intermediary relay path, ensuring continuous communication while maintaining efficiency where possible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3073767B1Method for performing mobile communications and mobile radio communication terminal device
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 INTEL IP CORP
  • EP3073767B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3073767B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3073767B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A method for performing mobile communications from a first mobile terminal may include identifying one or more further mobile terminals engaged in device-to-device communications with the first mobile terminal. The method may further include selecting an intermediary mobile terminal from the one or more further mobile terminals, and transmitting mobile communication data from the first mobile terminal to the intermediary mobile terminal using direct device-to-device communications, wherein the mobile communication data is intended for transmission to a base station that is connected to the wireless communication network. The direct device-to-device communications may utilize wireless resources allocated by the network for transmission of cellular data from at least one mobile terminal to at least one base station.