Sidelink Relay via Base Station for Industrial IoT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face challenges in enhancing sidelink communication reliability and efficiency, especially in industrial IoT applications where sidelink connectivity may not provide high reliability and is vulnerable to blockages, leading to latency and capacity issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hybrid mode that switches between sidelink and two-hop path communication, with the base station acting as a Layer 2 relay, allowing for sidelink packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) procedures, and using dynamic path selection based on channel conditions to ensure high capacity, low latency, and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If sidelink communication is used for direct UE-to-UE connectivity, then communication efficiency and speed are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to blockages and shadowing
Solution Approach 1:
The base station acts as an intermediary L2 relay between UEs, receiving data from one UE and forwarding it to another UE. This mediator approach maintains the efficiency of direct sidelink communication while adding a reliable backup path through the base station to mitigate blockages and shadowing effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the communication parameter by switching between pure sidelink mode and hybrid mode with L2 relay. When blockages are detected or predicted, the system transitions to using the base station as a relay, changing the communication path parameter to maintain reliability while preserving speed through the hybrid architecture.
2Reliability
If hybrid mode with L2 relay is implemented, then reliability is improved by providing backup paths, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically selecting between sidelink-only mode and hybrid L2 relay mode based on channel conditions and requirements. The base station autonomously manages the relay functions, and UEs adapt their communication mode without manual configuration, reducing the operational complexity despite the enhanced architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic path selection is used to switch between sidelink and L2 relay, then adaptability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring both sidelink and L2 relay paths simultaneously in hybrid mode. This allows instant switching between paths without requiring time-consuming path establishment or configuration changes, as both communication routes are already prepared and active.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, methods, and computer program products for relaying and side link communication are provided. An example method may include receiving, from a BS via a controlled discovery procedure, a query to verify a sidelink procedure with at least one UE. The example method may further include establishing, via the BS as a L2 relay, the sidelink procedure with the at least one UE. The example method may further include switching from the sidelink procedure to a sidelink PDCP procedure with a hybrid mode, the BS being an L2 relay for the sidelink PDCP procedure. The example method may further include transmitting to the at least one UE via the BS as the L2 relay, or receiving, from the at least one UE via the BS as an L2 relay, one or more PDCP PDUs corresponding to L2.