Relay UE Selection Using PLMN-Based Handover Screening

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network systems lack an efficient method for selecting a target relay UE that can provide reliable relay services during handover processes, leading to potential failures when UEs are handed over to relays that cannot support the necessary services.

Innovation Solution

A method for selecting a target relay UE involves acquiring a candidate relay UE list and a PLMN list, determining a target relay set by performing access/handover decisions based on the PLMN list, and selecting the target relay UE from this set, ensuring that only relays capable of providing the required services are chosen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a UE directly establishes a Uu link with a base station and performs handover from one cell to another cell, then the handover process is simple and direct, but there is no mechanism to ensure the target base station can provide required relay services

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover process complexityVSAvoidservice provision reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE acquire a candidate relay UE list and perform access/handover decisions based on the PLMN list before completing the handover process. This ensures that the target relay UE is pre-validated to provide required services, resolving the contradiction between simple handover and reliable service provision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If the source base station directly selects a target base station in a handover process, then the handover decision is centralized and controlled, but the target relay UE may not be capable of providing necessary relay services

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover decision automationVSAvoidrelay service capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the UE autonomously determine the target relay set by performing access/handover decisions on each candidate relay UE based on the PLMN list. The UE then selects the target relay UE from this set and provides feedback to the network. This feedback mechanism ensures the selected relay UE has the necessary service capabilities while maintaining automated handover decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If the UE autonomously selects a target relay UE without considering PLMN list, then the selection process is fast and simple, but the selected relay may not support the required services

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelay selection speedVSAvoidservice compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by requiring the UE to acquire the PLMN list before selecting a target relay UE. The UE then performs access/handover decisions based on this pre-acquired PLMN information, ensuring service compatibility is verified in advance. This maintains relatively fast selection speed while ensuring the chosen relay UE supports required services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12501331B2Method for selecting target relay UE, network device and UE

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 DATANG MOBILE COMM EQUIP CO LTD

AI summary

A method for selecting a target relay UE, performed by a network device, comprises: acquiring a candidate relay UE list of a remote UE and a public land mobile network (PLMN) list; determining a target relay set by performing an access/handover decision on each candidate relay UE in the candidate relay UE list based on the PLMN list; and selecting a target relay UE from the target relay set.