Sidelink Resource Allocation Using UE Identifiers to Avoid Hidden Nodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current NR SL mode 2 resource allocation in 5G wireless communication systems is unable to meet ultra-high reliability requirements due to the hidden node problem, leading to transmission collisions and interference, and the resource allocating UE is not aware of the resource usage of the requesting UE, resulting in inefficient resource allocation and potential collisions or overlaps.

Innovation Solution

A mechanism where the resource allocating UE collects a list of AS layer identifiers from the resource requesting UE to estimate its activities and avoid allocating conflicting or overlapping resources, using this information to determine optimal resource allocation with reduced signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the resource allocating UE autonomously selects resources without knowing the requesting UE's resource usage, then the resource allocation process is simple and fast, but resource collisions and overlaps occur leading to transmission failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidresource allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the resource requesting UE sends resource usage information (including reserved resources and peer UE identifiers) back to the resource allocating UE. This feedback enables the allocating UE to make informed resource allocation decisions, avoiding collisions and overlaps while maintaining autonomous operation without continuous network intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the resource requesting UE provide its resource usage information to the resource allocating UE before the actual resource allocation occurs. This advance information allows the allocating UE to pre-identify and avoid conflicting resources, ensuring reliable transmission from the outset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the resource allocating UE collects detailed resource usage information from the requesting UE, then resource allocation accuracy improves, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation precisionVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for collision avoidance - specifically, the identifiers of peer UEs and their associated resource usage patterns. By taking out only this critical subset of information rather than complete resource usage details, the patent achieves sufficient allocation precision while minimizing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the resource allocating UE performs sensing to identify hidden nodes, then the hidden node problem is mitigated, but the complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidresource allocation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the resource requesting UE as an intermediary to provide information about hidden nodes and their resource usage. Instead of the allocating UE performing direct sensing to identify hidden nodes, the requesting UE acts as a mediator that supplies this information, significantly reducing the time and complexity while maintaining reliable collision avoidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4229946B1Inter-user equipment resource allocation
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4229946B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4229946B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4229946B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for identifier (ID)-based inter-user equipment (UE) resource allocation (RA). A method may include receiving, at a first user equipment, a list of identifiers used for communication between a second user equipment and its one or more peer user equipment (UEs). The method may also include obtaining information of a first resource reserved for communication between the second user equipment and its one or more peer user equipment, based on the received list of identifiers. The method may further include determining a second resource for the second user equipment based on the obtained information of the first resource. In addition, the method may include allocating the second resource for sidelink communication of the second user equipment.