Relay Node State Management via R-PDCCH Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack an effective method to actively switch a Relay Node (RN) from a connection state serving as a UE to a connection state enabling a relay function without modifying the existing protocol's interface signaling, particularly in managing the state transitions of RNs in LTE-Advanced networks.
Innovation Solution
The base station controls the RN's state by scheduling it through the R-PDCCH, determining the starting time for the state switch from a connection state as a UE to a connection state with relay functionality, allowing for seamless transition without altering the existing protocol significantly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the RN switches state from connection state as a UE to connection state enabling relay function, then the relay functionality is activated, but the protocol interface signaling requires modification which increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The PDCCH is designed to serve dual purposes: it can schedule both UE operations and RN operations depending on the RNTI used for scrambling. When C-RNTI is used, it schedules UE; when R-RNTI is used, it schedules RN. This eliminates the need for separate signaling interfaces and maintains protocol universality while enabling relay functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The R-RNTI acts as an intermediary identifier that enables the existing PDCCH to address RN specifically. By introducing this intermediate identifier layer, the system can differentiate between UE and RN scheduling without modifying the fundamental PDCCH structure or requiring new interface signaling protocols.
2Ease of operation
If dedicated signaling is used to control RN state switching, then state transition control is improved, but the processing time delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station pre-configures the RN with the R-RNTI identifier before state switching is needed. This preliminary configuration allows the RN to immediately recognize and respond to PDCCH scheduling using R-RNTI without requiring time-consuming state transition signaling, thus reducing processing delay while maintaining control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The RN autonomously monitors both PDCCH (for UE functions) and R-PDCCH (for relay functions) simultaneously and self-determines its operational mode based on which channel receives scheduling information. This self-service approach eliminates the need for explicit state transition signaling and reduces processing time delay.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure discloses a method and a system for managing a state of a relay node. The method comprises switching (23) the state of the relay node from a connection state of serving as a user equipment to a connection state of enabling a relay function, after the relay node acquires (21) information that a base station schedules the relay node through a relay-node physical downlink control channel, or after the relay node sends (22) the base station a state-switching request of requiring to switch to the connection state of enabling a relay function.