Relay UE Dynamic Mode Switching for ProSe Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Proximity Services (ProSe) systems face inefficiencies due to high power consumption and resource misuse in relay User Equipment (UE) when operating in announcing mode without remote UEs, leading to unnecessary power consumption and interference, as all relay UEs often announce their availability simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

Implement a method for dynamically switching between announcing and monitoring modes in relay UEs based on the number of relay UEs providing ProSe, signal strength, and resource availability, allowing relay UEs to adjust their operation mode to optimize power usage and resource utilization by switching to monitoring mode when sufficient ProSe is provided by other UEs and switching to announcing mode when needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If relay UEs operate in announcing mode to provide ProSe, then remote UEs can discover and connect to relay UEs, but power consumption and network resource usage increase unnecessarily when no remote UEs are present

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveProSe service availabilityVSAvoidpower consumption of relay UEs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The relay UE dynamically switches between announcing mode and monitoring mode based on real-time detection of remote UEs. When remote UEs are detected, the relay UE transitions to announcing mode to provide ProSe services. When no remote UEs are present for a threshold period, it switches to monitoring mode to conserve energy. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The relay UE continuously monitors its environment for the presence of remote UEs and uses this feedback information to adjust its operating mode. The feedback loop ensures that the relay UE only consumes high power when actually needed for providing ProSe services, thereby resolving the contradiction between service availability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If all relay UEs announce their availability simultaneously, then remote UEs can easily discover relay UEs, but network interference increases and resources are not optimally utilized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote UE discoveryVSAvoidnetwork interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous announcing, relay UEs perform periodic announcements at intervals. This periodic action reduces network interference compared to continuous transmission while still ensuring that remote UEs can discover relay UEs within the announcement period. The periodic nature allows the medium to be reused efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The relay UE dynamically adjusts its announcing behavior based on the presence of remote UEs. When remote UEs are detected, the relay UE announces its availability. When no remote UEs are present, it switches to monitoring mode and stops announcing. This dynamic adjustment eliminates unnecessary announcements that cause interference while maintaining ease of discovery when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3759995B1Methods and systems for dynamically configuring mode of operation for a prose enabled user equipment
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3759995B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3759995B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3759995B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for providing Proximity Service (ProSe) by a relay user equipment (UE) is provided. The method comprises, detecting, in a first mode among an announcing mode and a monitoring mode, at least one other relay UE configured to provide ProSe, determining whether to switch from the first mode to a second mode among the announcing mode and the monitoring mode based on at least one of a number of the detected at least one other relay UE, strength of a signal from the detected at least one other relay UE, resource availability of the detected at least one other relay UE and a request for providing the ProSe from at least one remote UE, and in response to determining to switch from the first mode to the second mode, switching from the first mode to the second mode.