Relay Support Indication for Cell Selection in Wireless Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly 3GPP LTE, lack the ability to efficiently determine whether a cell supports relay functionality, which is crucial for ProSe (Proximity-based Services) and UE-to-Network Relay, leading to limitations in network coverage and service reliability, especially for public safety networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to receive information on whether a cell supports relay functionality and perform cell selection or reselection based on this information, ensuring the UE is camped on a cell that supports relay functionality, thereby enabling efficient UE-to-Network Relay operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE performs cell selection or cell reselection without relay support information, then the cell selection process is simple, but the UE cannot ensure connection to cells that support relay functionality, reducing service reliability for ProSe
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures relay support indication information in system broadcast messages (SIB1, SIB2, or SIB5) before the UE performs cell selection or reselection. This allows the UE to have relay support information available in advance, enabling reliable cell selection for ProSe without adding complex real-time detection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces relay support indication information as an intermediary element that mediates between the network's relay capability and the UE's cell selection decision. This information acts as a bridge, allowing the UE to identify suitable cells for relay operations without direct complex interactions with the network.
2Reliability
If the network broadcasts relay support information in all system information blocks, then the UE can always find relay-capable cells, but the signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by broadcasting relay support indication information selectively in specific system information blocks (SIB1, SIB2, or SIB5) depending on the network's relay deployment scenario. This allows different parts of the system information to have different qualities - cells with relay functionality include the indication, while those without do not, optimizing signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The network can change the parameter of which system information block contains the relay support indication based on deployment requirements. The indication can be placed in SIB1 for initial access, SIB2 for intra-frequency reselection, or SIB5 for inter-frequency reselection, allowing flexible adaptation to different network scenarios.
3Productivity
If the UE camps on cells without relay support, then the UE can access any available cell, but UE-to-Network Relay operations cannot be performed efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary checking of relay support indication information during cell selection or reselection before camping on a cell. This preliminary action ensures that the UE only camps on cells that support relay functionality, enabling efficient UE-to-Network Relay operations while maintaining the flexibility to choose from multiple suitable cells.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for performing a cell selection or a cell reselection in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) receives information on whether a cell supports a relay functionality or not, and performs a cell selection or a cell reselection according to the information. If the information indicates that the cell does not support the relay functionality, the cell can be considered as barred for relay functionality.