Relay UE ProSe D2DSS Transmission and Resource Allocation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

ProSe-enabled UEs acting as relays suffer from high power consumption due to frequent D2DSS transmission and inefficient LTE network resource utilization, as they often allocate resources without subsequent remote UE requests for ProSe communication.

Innovation Solution

Relay UEs transmit D2DSS only for a limited period and request network resources only upon receiving a Direct Communication Request, allowing for reduced power consumption and improved resource utilization by optimizing the ProSe UE-to-network relay process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If relay UEs transmit D2DSS continuously to enable remote UE connection, then remote UE can connect to LTE network, but relay UE power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote UE connection capabilityVSAvoidrelay UE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The relay UE transmits D2DSS periodically instead of continuously, with configurable transmission intervals. The network can adjust the periodicity based on traffic conditions, allowing the relay UE to conserve power during low-activity periods while maintaining connection capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The D2DSS transmission behavior is made dynamic rather than static. The relay UE adjusts its transmission schedule based on received traffic indicators from the network, transitioning between active transmission states and idle states, thereby optimizing power consumption according to actual communication needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If relay UEs request radio resources for ProSe communication in advance, then remote UE can initiate communication, but LTE network resource utilization becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveProSe communication initiationVSAvoidLTE network resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The relay UE performs preliminary actions by indicating its readiness to provide ProSe relay services to the network, without immediately allocating full radio resources. This allows the network to know relay availability in advance while deferring actual resource allocation until traffic is generated, optimizing both communication initiation ease and resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables on-demand resource allocation where radio resources are allocated automatically when traffic is detected, without requiring persistent pre-allocation. The relay UE and network work together to allocate resources dynamically based on actual communication needs, improving overall network efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Speed

If relay UEs allocate radio resources continuously, then ProSe communication can be established quickly, but network resource waste occurs when no remote UE requests communication

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveProSe communication establishment speedVSAvoidnetwork resource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network provides feedback to the relay UE regarding traffic conditions and resource allocation status. Based on this feedback, the relay UE adjusts its D2DSS transmission and resource allocation requests, creating a closed-loop system that balances communication establishment speed with network resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes key parameters including D2DSS transmission periodicity, resource allocation timing, and relay service indication states based on network conditions and traffic patterns, allowing optimization of both communication speed and resource utilization under different operating scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3091765B1Apparatuses and methods for proximity-based service (PROSE) user equipment (UE)-to-network relay
Publication Date: 2018.03.28 ACER INC
  • EP3091765B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3091765B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3091765B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile communication device located within a radio signal coverage of a service network to serve as a relay User Equipment (UE) for Proximity-based Service (ProSe) UE-to-network relay is provided. The mobile communication device includes a wireless transceiver and a controller. The wireless transceiver performs wireless transmission and reception to and from the service network and a remote UE which is located out of the radio signal coverage of the service network. The controller transmits a Device-to-Device (D2D) Synchronization Signal (D2DSS) to the remote UE via the wireless transceiver in response to receiving a relay discovery message from the remote UE via the wireless transceiver, and requests radio resource allocation from the service network for the remote UE via the wireless transceiver in response to receiving a Direct Communication Request message from the remote UE via the wireless transceiver.