Relay Device Resource Allocation for Wireless Backhaul Multiplexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, the deployment of relay devices for extending base station coverage is hindered by the need for wired backhaul connections, which is infeasible due to cost and complexity considerations, leading to the use of wireless backhaul links that share resources with access links, causing overlap and making it challenging to multiplex control signaling and relay signaling effectively.

Innovation Solution

Implementing techniques such as space-division multiplexing (SDM), frequency-division multiplexing (FDM), and time-division multiplexing (TDM) to manage the multiplexing of control signaling and relay signaling on overlapping resources, with the base station determining the appropriate method based on relay device capabilities and configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wired backhaul connections are used to connect relay devices to base stations, then reliability of control signaling is improved, but device complexity and deployment cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol signaling reliabilityVSAvoiddeployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical wired backhaul connection system with a wireless communication system. The relay device uses wireless interfaces (first wireless interface for backhaul, second wireless interface for access) to eliminate the need for physical cable connections, thereby reducing deployment complexity while maintaining communication functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The relay device acts as an intermediary between the base station and user equipment. It receives control signaling from the base station via wireless backhaul and relay signaling from UE via wireless access, mediating the communication between these two interfaces to enable wireless backhaul operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If wireless backhaul links share resources with access links, then ease of deployment is improved, but difficulty of multiplexing control signaling and relay signaling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment easeVSAvoidsignal multiplexing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the wireless resources into different sets: a first set of resources for backhaul communication (control signaling between base station and relay) and a second set of resources for access communication (relay signaling between relay and UE). This segmentation allows the relay device to separately manage and process control signaling and relay signaling, reducing the multiplexing difficulty despite sharing the same wireless medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces spatial dimension separation by using different wireless interfaces (first wireless interface for backhaul, second wireless interface for access) and potentially different spatial directions or beams. This dimensional separation enables simultaneous operation of backhaul and access links on overlapping resources without severe interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Use of energy by moving object

If relay devices implement truncated radio protocol stack for relay operations, then power consumption is reduced, but ability to process digital signals is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsignal processing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The relay device implements a truncated version of the full radio protocol stack, performing only the essential relay functions (L1 physical layer processing) while omitting higher-layer functions (L2 MAC/RLC/PDCP, L3 RRC). This partial implementation reduces power consumption and complexity while still achieving the core relay functionality of forwarding signals between base station and UE.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the necessary L1 relay functionality from the complete radio protocol stack, removing the power-intensive L2 and L3 processing components. The relay device performs physical signal reception, amplification, and retransmission without full protocol processing, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining essential relay capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11690071B2System and method for signaling control information with a relay device

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

An apparatus may configure a first set of resources associated with first control information for a relay device. The apparatus may configure a second set of resources associated with at least one of data or second control information for at least one UE, and the second set of resources may at least partially overlap with the first set of resources. The apparatus may transmit information indicating the first set of resources and the second set of resources to the relay device. Further, the apparatus may communicate, with the relay device, the first control information on the first set of resources and the at least one of data or second control information on the second set of resources, and the relay device may be configured to relay the at least one of data or second control information between the apparatus and the at least one UE.