Relay UE Sidelink Coverage Extension for Indoor Penetration Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G new radio (NR) wireless communications, there is a significant link budget gap for indoor user equipment (UEs) compared to outdoor UEs due to outdoor-to-indoor penetration loss, necessitating a solution for coverage extension, especially in areas where traditional communication links are weak or unavailable.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a UE acts as a mobile device relay using a PC5 link or sidelink to relay data traffic to/from end UEs, enabling network awareness, synchronization, resource allocation, and connection setup between relay UEs and remote UEs, even when they are out-of-coverage, to extend coverage and manage interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional communication links are used for indoor UEs, then outdoor UEs can maintain good link quality, but indoor UEs experience significant penetration loss and coverage gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces relay UEs as intermediary devices that receive signals from base stations and forward them to remote indoor UEs via PC5 sidelink. This two-hop communication path (base station → relay UE → remote UE) bypasses the direct penetration loss issue by using the relay UE as an intermediate node that can be positioned with better signal reception.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends coverage by adding a spatial dimension to the communication architecture. Instead of relying solely on direct base station-to-UE links, it creates a multi-node network topology where relay UEs are strategically positioned to form extended coverage zones, effectively adding depth to the network coverage dimension.
2Area of stationary object
If relay UEs are deployed to extend coverage to indoor UEs, then coverage extension is achieved, but network complexity and synchronization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs relay UEs with multi-functionality, enabling them to simultaneously serve as regular UEs for their own communication needs and as relay nodes for extending coverage to remote UEs. This universal design reduces overall network complexity by avoiding the need for dedicated relay infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where relay UEs autonomously perform synchronization, resource allocation, and connection management functions. The network configuration is automatically propagated through the relay UE to remote UEs, reducing the need for complex centralized control and manual configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If PC5 link is used for relay communication, then mobility support and multiplexing efficiency improve, but resource allocation and interference management become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring resource pools and allocating resources before actual data transmission occurs. The base station provides resource pool configurations to relay UEs in advance, and relay UEs pre-allocate resources to remote UEs, enabling rapid connection setup and reducing real-time allocation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic resource allocation mechanisms where resource pools and allocations can be adjusted based on channel conditions, traffic demands, and mobility states. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through structured resource pool frameworks.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to use UE as a mobile device relay using PC5 link or sidelink to relay data traffic to/from end UEs for coverage extension is proposed. A relay UE can be the group head UE of a UE relay group including one or more remote UEs. A remote UE can be in-coverage or out-of-coverage of the serving cell served by a serving base station. In a first novel aspect, the network is aware of remote UE existence without direct Uu link. In addition, methods for resource allocation and interference management are proposed. In a second novel aspect, solutions for synchronization of remote UEs on PC5 link, and solutions for connection setup between relay UE and remote UEs on PC5 link are proposed.