ProSe Relay WTRU Network Access During Disruptions
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Solution Overview
Problem
During network disruptions, such as disasters, existing mobile communication systems fail to efficiently provide access to affected wireless transmit receive units (WTRUs) by not effectively facilitating roaming or alternative network connections, leading to service interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A ProSe WTRU-to-network relay system is implemented, where a first WTRU acts as a relay to provide discovery and connection establishment for a second WTRU by broadcasting network condition messages, verifying access permissions, and authorizing service access through alternative PLMNs, thereby minimizing service interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a WTRU loses network access due to disaster conditions, then service continuity is disrupted, but implementing traditional roaming solutions requires complex network infrastructure that may not be available during disasters
Solution Approach 1:
A relay WTRU acts as an intermediary device between the remote WTRU and the network. The relay WTRU has network access and forwards messages, service requests, and data between the remote WTRU (which has lost network access) and the network, enabling service continuity without requiring complex infrastructure changes at the remote end
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables WTRUs to self-organize into relay relationships during disasters. The remote WTRU autonomously discovers relay WTRUs, establishes connections, and receives services without requiring manual configuration or complex network intervention, simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliability
2Ease of operation
If traditional roaming protocols are used during network disruptions, then access to alternative networks is limited by strict authentication and authorization requirements, but these protocols fail when network entities are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The relay WTRU pre-establishes network connections and obtains network information (such as PLMN identifiers and service availability) before disasters occur. During disruptions, this pre-obtained information enables the remote WTRU to quickly access alternative networks without requiring real-time authentication with unavailable network entities
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the remote WTRU to directly authenticate with the alternative network (which may be unavailable), the system inverts the approach: the relay WTRU, which has network access, performs the authentication and authorization on behalf of the remote WTRU, then relays the authorized service access back to the remote WTRU
3Reliability
If relay WTRUs broadcast network condition messages to enable service access, then service interruption is minimized, but message broadcasting and verification increase communication overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The relay WTRU broadcasts network condition messages (such as SIBs containing PLMN identifiers and service availability information) only to WTRUs in its local coverage area that have lost network access. This localized broadcasting minimizes unnecessary communication overhead while ensuring that affected WTRUs receive the necessary information to establish service
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are described herein that are associated with providing access to a network (e.g., if access to a different network is lost, affected, etc.). A WTRU may act as a relay to another WTRU, For example, a first VVTRU may act as a relay WTRU (e.g., a VVTRU to network relay, such as a proximity services (ProSe) WTRU to network relay) towards a second WTRU (e.g., a remote WTRU). The first WTRU may provide discovery and/or connection establishment associated with the second WTRU accessing the network (e.g., if there is a service disruption to another network).