Sidelink AS Group Management for NR Groupcast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in managing Sidelink Groupcast communications in NR, particularly in discovering group members, organizing them into AS layer sub-groups, and ensuring efficient bearer management to meet diverse and stringent QoS requirements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Sidelink AS group management functions, including centralized and distributed methods, to discover group members, organize them into AS layer sub-groups, and configure UE-to-UE relays. Additionally, new Layer 2 structures and procedures are introduced to enhance bearer management, such as dividing groups into subgroups based on QoS requirements and using different transmission modes for each subgroup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If centralized Sidelink AS group management is implemented to discover and organize group members, then group management efficiency and QoS compliance improve, but system complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an AS Group Manager as an intermediary entity that centralizes the discovery and organization of group members. This mediator collects AS context information from all UEs, determines appropriate AS layer sub-groups, and manages UE-to-UE relay configurations, thereby improving management efficiency while isolating complexity within a dedicated component rather than distributing it across all UEs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the group management function into distinct components: AS context information collection, AS layer sub-group determination, and UE-to-UE relay configuration. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex group management tasks through modular, manageable steps, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high management efficiency.
2Reliability
If distributed Sidelink AS group management is implemented to discover and organize group members, then system robustness and scalability improve, but discovery time and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having UEs proactively send their AS context information to potential group members before actual group formation is needed. This advance information sharing enables faster group discovery and organization when communication is actually required, reducing discovery time while maintaining the distributed robustness of the system.
3Reliability
If Layer 2 structures divide groups into subgroups based on QoS requirements, then QoS compliance and message delivery reliability improve, but bearer management complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different AS layer sub-groups with specific characteristics tailored to different QoS requirements. Each subgroup is optimized for its particular service needs (e.g., low latency, high reliability, or energy efficiency), allowing the system to meet diverse QoS demands without requiring a completely different architecture for each service type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of organization at the AS layer by creating hierarchical sub-groups within the overall group structure. This additional organizational layer enables the system to manage diverse QoS requirements through structured segmentation, making bearer management more systematic and less complex than handling heterogeneous requirements in a flat structure.
4Length of stationary object
If UE-to-UE relays are configured to extend service range, then communication coverage and groupcast reach improve, but transmission latency and relay coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested doll by organizing UEs into hierarchical relay structures where selected UEs act as relays for other UEs within the group. This nested arrangement allows service range to be extended through multiple hops while maintaining organized control over relay selections and configurations, helping to manage transmission latency through structured relay paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A Sidelink AS group management function is disclosed for a UE to discover group members and organize them into AS layer sub-groups based on the AS layer group context information. A centralized Sidelink AS group management is disclosed that the Sidelink AS Group Manager discovers group members and organizes them into AS layer sub-groups for a UE. A Subgroup formation and configuration procedure is disclosed that SL AS Group Manager organizes the ULG into AS layer sub-groups, configures UE-to-UE relays for each UE in the ULG and sends the AS group management information to the UE. A distributed Sidelink AS group management method is disclosed that each UE discovers its group members and organizes the ULG into AS layer sub-groups. New Layer 2 structures and procedures are disclosed to enhance bearer management for Sidelink groupcast communications.