Relay UE Resource Allocation for D2D Power Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current device-to-device (D2D) relay communication systems face inefficiencies in power and resource utilization, particularly in scenarios where remote UEs have limited battery life and bandwidth, necessitating improved methods for resource allocation and power management.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an eNB-assisted resource allocation mechanism, where the base station allocates resources to both relay and remote UEs, with the relay UE forwarding these allocations, enabling efficient sidelink communication and conserving power at remote UEs by reducing transmission power requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If remote UE transmits directly to base station, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a relay UE as an intermediary node between the remote UE and the base station. The relay UE receives signals from the remote UE and forwards them to the base station, enabling indirect communication that reduces the transmission power required by the remote UE while maintaining communication reliability through the relay path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If relay UE is introduced for out-of-coverage communication, then coverage extension is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage extensionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables relay UEs to autonomously perform discovery, selection, and configuration functions without requiring complex centralized control. The relay UE self-configures the sidelink resources and communication parameters based on local conditions, reducing the overall system complexity while extending coverage to out-of-coverage UEs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If resource allocation is centralized at base station, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but control overhead increases for out-of-coverage scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the resource allocation function into two parts: the base station performs centralized resource allocation for in-coverage UEs, while the relay UE performs distributed resource allocation for out-of-coverage UEs through sidelink resource pools. This segmentation reduces control overhead by eliminating the need for base station control signals to reach out-of-coverage UEs while maintaining efficient resource utilization through localized allocation decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3620031B1Relaying in a device-to-device communication system
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3620031B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3620031B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP3620031B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present aspects relate to device-to-device (D2D) relaying in a wireless communication system. In an aspect, a relay user equipment (UE) may receive, on a downlink channel from a network entity, at least one indication including resource allocation information for at least one of the relay UE or a remote UE. The relay UE may further transmit, on a sidelink channel to the remote UE, the resource allocation information of the remote UE. In another aspect, a remote UE may receive, on at least one sidelink channel, resource allocation information from a relay UE, the resource allocation information indicating one or more resources allocated for sidelink communication for the remote UE. The remote UE may further transmit, on one or more sidelink channels, data to the relay UE in accordance with the one or more resources allocated for sidelink communication.