Relay UE Multicast Group Joining for Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile telecommunications networks face challenges in providing efficient group communication, particularly for public safety applications, as handheld devices struggle with battery life and power consumption when acting as relays, and existing solutions like IP-level relays are inefficient for handling downlink transmissions to large talk groups.
Innovation Solution
Configuring a first UE to act as a relay UE, receiving multicast group identification, joining if necessary, and broadcasting data packets only to associated UEs, thereby reducing energy consumption and avoiding radio interface capacity issues by utilizing multicast functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a mobile terminal acts as a relay to extend network coverage, then coverage area is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay UE autonomously manages multicast group membership by receiving group IDs from end UEs, independently joining multicast groups via IGMP join messages, and automatically forwarding received multicast data without requiring continuous control signaling from the network, thereby reducing signaling overhead and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from unicast communication to multicast communication for downlink transmissions to the relay UE, changing the communication parameter from individual dedicated channels to shared group channels, which reduces the total number of transmissions required and lowers power consumption
2Ease of operation
If IP-level relay is used for downlink transmissions, then implementation simplicity is improved, but efficiency deteriorates for large talk groups
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual unicast transmissions to different end UEs are merged into a single multicast transmission to the relay UE. The relay UE receives one multicast data stream and forwards it to multiple end UEs, combining multiple communication paths into one efficient pathway that maintains simplicity while improving efficiency for large talk groups
Solution Approach 2:
The relay UE acts as an intermediary between the network and multiple end UEs. It receives multicast data from the network and redistributes it to subscribed end UEs, serving as a local distribution point that simplifies network architecture while efficiently handling large numbers of users
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple end UEs are served by the same relay UE, then resource utilization is improved, but radio interface capacity is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the communication interface by introducing separate multicast and unicast channels. Multicast traffic for downlink transmissions is separated from unicast traffic for uplink and control signaling, allowing multiple end UEs to share the relay UE without overwhelming the radio interface, as multicast data is transmitted efficiently over shared channels
Data Source
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AI summary
Group communication within a mobile telecommunications network having a plurality of User Equipment (UE) can be achieved. At a first UE, there is received an identification of a multicast group from which a second UE of the plurality of mobile terminals is to receive data. If the first UE is not a member of the multicast group, a request is sent from the first UE to join the multicast group. The first UE is identified at an application server associated with the multicast group. Data packets associated with the multicast group are subsequently communicated from the application server to the first UE and these are broadcast from the first UE to be received by the second UE.