Relay UE Protocol Entity Maintenance for Seamless Handovers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face limitations in network capacity and geographical coverage, particularly in scenarios where terminal devices need to exchange information quickly and reliably, especially outside network coverage areas or during network congestion, highlighting the need for improved device-to-device (D2D) communication solutions.

Innovation Solution

The method involves configuring a first communications device to operate with a second device and infrastructure equipment, using a first wireless access interface for communication with the infrastructure and a second wireless access interface for direct communication between devices, maintaining protocol entities to facilitate data routing and ensure service continuity during handovers, especially when a remote UE switches from infrastructure equipment to a relay UE.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If device-to-device communication is implemented to expand network coverage, then geographical coverage is improved, but network capacity limitations remain in congested areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverage areaVSAvoidnetwork capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments communication paths by introducing relay UEs that act as intermediate nodes between remote UEs and the core network. This segmentation allows traffic to be distributed through multiple relay points, effectively increasing network capacity in congested areas while maintaining expanded geographical coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Relay UEs serve as intermediary elements between remote UEs and the infrastructure network. These relay nodes enable communication in coverage areas while providing a distributed architecture that alleviates capacity constraints by creating multiple communication pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If handover from infrastructure equipment to relay UE is performed, then communication reliability is improved, but service continuity may be disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary actions by establishing and configuring relay UEs before actual handover occurs. The relay UE is pre-configured with necessary protocol entities and communication parameters, so when handover is needed, the transition can proceed smoothly without disrupting service continuity, thereby maintaining both reliability and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining active protocol entities and communication sessions during the handover process. The relay UE continues to process and forward data packets without interrupting the ongoing communication, thus preserving service continuity while improving reliability through alternative routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If multiple protocol entities are maintained for D2D communication, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidprotocol entity complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing protocol entities that can serve multiple functions. The same protocol entities handle both infrastructure-based communication and relay UE communication, allowing a single set of entities to manage diverse communication scenarios efficiently without requiring separate dedicated entities for each mode, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes to manage complexity. By dynamically adjusting protocol parameters and configuration settings based on the communication scenario (infrastructure mode vs. relay mode), the system achieves high communication efficiency without requiring fundamentally different protocol implementations, thereby controlling device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20230086337A1Methods, infrastructure equipment and wireless communications networks

Publication Date: 2023.03.23 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A communications device acts as a remote (first) communications device and communicates via another (second) communications device acting as a relay. The remote communications device communicates, via a wireless communications network using a first wireless access interface implemented by a first set of protocol entities in the remote communications device and a corresponding first set of peer protocol entities. The remote communications device receives an indication of a configuration of a second wireless access interface for communication between the remote communications device and the relay communications device, the first wireless access interface being implemented by a second set of protocol entities in the remote communications device and a corresponding second set of peer protocol entities in the relay communications device. The remote communications device maintains at least one of the first set of protocol entities in the remote communications device.