Terminal Relay for Millimeter Wave Service Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In millimeter wave-based mobile communication systems, terminals often experience service blockages due to obstacles, leading to communication disconnections, and existing technologies lack effective solutions for maintaining service continuity when terminals move out of base station coverage or encounter obstacles.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method involves using an adjacent terminal as a relay, where the first terminal receives a link establishment request, transmits a node address, and registers routing information to ensure continuous communication by relaying data through a relay adaptation protocol (RAP) entity between the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) and radio link control (RLC) entities, even when a terminal is outside the base station's cell boundary or disconnected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a terminal uses millimeter wave communication, then broadband service is provided, but communication service blockage occurs frequently due to obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay terminal as an intermediary node between the blocked terminal and the base station. When a terminal experiences communication blockage due to obstacles, the relay terminal receives data from the base station and forwards it to the blocked terminal via sidelink communication, thereby maintaining service continuity without requiring the blocked terminal to have direct line-of-sight to the base station.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a terminal moves out of base station coverage, then communication service is maintained, but service blockage occurs due to obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The relay terminal acts as a mediator that extends the base station's coverage area. Terminals can communicate with the base station through the relay terminal even when they are outside the direct coverage area or blocked by obstacles, as the relay terminal forwards data packets via wireless backhaul links.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a multi-dimensional communication architecture where terminals can communicate through multiple paths: direct Uu interface when in coverage, relayed connection through intermediate terminals when out of coverage or blocked, and wireless backhaul links for relay communication. This dimensional expansion of communication pathways provides flexibility and continuity.
3Reliability
If relay function is added to support terminal relay, then service continuity is guaranteed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay terminal performs multiple functions: it acts as a regular terminal when connected to the base station via Uu interface, functions as a relay node when forwarding data to blocked terminals, and communicates with other relays through wireless backhaul links. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated relay hardware, as existing terminals can be configured to perform relay functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Terminals autonomously determine whether to act as relays based on their communication status. When a terminal experiences blockage or is out of coverage, it automatically selects an adjacent terminal as a relay and establishes the necessary connections without requiring manual configuration or complex centralized control, thereby simplifying the overall system management.
Data Source
AI summary
An operation method of a first terminal in a communication system may comprise: receiving a link establishment request message from a second terminal; transmitting, to the second terminal, a link establishment response message including a node address of a first base station in response to the link establishment request message; and receiving a link establishment completion message from the second terminal.