Multi-Link Split Bearer Control for Direct and Relay UE Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing multi-path and multi-link sidelink relays, particularly in configuring and maintaining split bearers for user and control planes in scenarios involving direct and indirect links, which can lead to inefficiencies and limitations in data transmission.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a 'multi-link split bearer' configuration method that allows simultaneous use of direct and indirect links for both control and user planes, enabling flexible and efficient data transmission by associating PDCP entities with RLC and SRAP entities across different communication paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a relay node is introduced to enable indirect communication between base station and remote user equipment, then connectivity and coverage are improved, but system complexity and configuration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconnectivityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a relay node as an intermediary component that mediates communication between the base station and remote user equipment. The relay node establishes separate direct and indirect communication paths, acting as a mediator that enables extended coverage while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication system into distinct components: base station, relay node, and remote user equipment. By dividing the communication path into separate direct and indirect links, the system achieves improved connectivity while managing complexity through clear functional separation and independent configuration of each segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple communication paths are configured for data transmission, then transmission reliability and throughput are improved, but configuration and management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission throughputVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the data transmission path into separate user plane and control plane segments, with further subdivision into direct and indirect links. This segmentation enables simultaneous configuration of multiple communication paths for improved throughput while managing complexity through structured, modular path management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables dynamic configuration and management of multiple communication paths, allowing the system to adaptively activate or deactivate direct and indirect links based on traffic requirements. This dynamic approach improves data transmission throughput while reducing configuration complexity by enabling flexible, on-demand path management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate direct and indirect links are established for user and control planes, then communication flexibility and reliability are improved, but resource management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoidresource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments communication resources into distinct user plane and control plane allocations, with each plane further divided into direct and indirect link resources. This segmentation enables improved communication flexibility and reliability through dedicated resource paths while managing resource management complexity through structured, hierarchical resource organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The relay node is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle both user plane and control plane traffic across direct and indirect links. This universality improves communication flexibility by enabling a single relay infrastructure to support diverse communication scenarios while reducing resource management complexity through consolidated, multi-purpose resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4451777B1Communication control method
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 KYOCERA CORP
  • EP4451777B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4451777B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4451777B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an aspect, a communication control method is a communication control method in a mobile communication system configured to perform a first communication on a direct link between a remote user equipment and a base station and a second communication on an indirect link between the remote user equipment and the base station via a relay user equipment. The communication control method includes transmitting, by the base station, to the remote user equipment, association information associating a PDCP entity with an RLC entity for the direct link and an SRAP entity for the indirect link. The communication control method includes associating, by the remote user equipment, the PDCP entity with the RLC entity and the SRAP entity in accordance with the association information.