Terminal MAC Layer D2D Resource Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless mobile communication systems face challenges in efficiently supporting Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, particularly in terms of radio resource management, scheduling, and buffer status reporting, which hinders the provision of advanced services like Social Networking and advertisement services.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a novel Medium Access Control (MAC) layer operation method for terminals, including enhanced L2 layer structures, novel scheduling request operations, buffer status report operations, multiplexing, and uplink timing management specifically designed for D2D communication, allowing for direct communication between devices without base station assistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If traditional base station-assisted communication is used, then network control and management are simplified, but radio resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio resource efficiencyVSAvoidterminal autonomous operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs autonomous D2D communication operations including direct scheduling requests, buffer status reporting, and resource allocation without base station intervention. The terminal self-manages uplink timing, multiplexing of D2D and cellular data, and scheduling request transmissions, enabling it to serve itself in the D2D communication mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If D2D communication is implemented without base station assistance, then radio resource efficiency improves, but scheduling and resource management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidMAC layer operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The MAC layer operations are segmented into distinct D2D-specific and cellular communication processes. D2D scheduling requests, buffer status reports, and resource allocations are handled separately from traditional cellular procedures, allowing independent optimization of each communication mode while managing complexity through modular operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal dynamically switches between D2D and cellular communication modes, adjusting its operation complexity based on the active communication type. The system adapts its MAC layer behavior, timing advances, and resource allocation strategies according to whether D2D or cellular communication is being performed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If separate handling of D2D and cellular communication is implemented, then communication reliability improves, but processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal merges D2D and cellular communication processing at the MAC layer by combining scheduling request transmissions, buffer status reporting mechanisms, and resource allocation procedures into unified operations. This allows simultaneous handling of both communication types with reduced processing overhead while maintaining reliable separate communication channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3609290B1Terminal for supporting device to device communication and method for operating same
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3609290B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3609290B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3609290B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal including a PDCP layer which relays a D2D-dedicated IP packet from an upper layer to a lower layer, an RLC layer which processes the received packet in adaptation to the radio channel condition and transfers the processed data to a MAC layer, and a MAC layer which selects, when D2D packet data come into being, resources for D2D link without requesting scheduling from the eNB and multiplexes the data received through D2D-dedicated logical channels, and an operation method of the terminal. Particularly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a novel MAC operation method of a terminal supporting D2D communication.