Trusted Terminal Relay Paths for Edge 5G Link Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G mobile communication, terminal devices at network edges or with signal blockages face unreliable air interface communication despite dual connectivity, increasing complexity and costs, and network deployment is challenging due to the need for overlapping base station coverage.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and apparatus that utilizes a control plane device to establish multiple transmission paths through trusted terminal devices, ensuring reliable data transmission by configuring user plane devices to forward data via trusted terminals, enhancing security and reducing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dual connectivity technology is used to establish two air interface connections, then access rate and reliability of air interface segment connection are improved, but terminal device complexity and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a first terminal device as an intermediary relay node between the second terminal device and the network. The first terminal device forwards data packets received from the network to the second terminal device, and vice versa, enabling communication without requiring the second terminal device to have dual connectivity capabilities. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through the relay mechanism while keeping the second terminal device simple.
2Productivity
If dual connectivity technology is used to establish two air interface connections, then access rate is improved, but terminal device costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The first terminal device acts as a cost-effective intermediary that provides relay services. Instead of requiring expensive dual connectivity hardware in the second terminal device, the system uses the first terminal device's existing communication capabilities to forward data, thereby improving access rate while avoiding additional hardware costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The first terminal device performs multiple functions: it acts as a normal terminal device for its own communication needs, simultaneously serves as a relay node for the second terminal device, and maintains connection with the network. This multi-functionality allows the system to improve access rate without adding dedicated relay hardware, thus controlling costs.
3Reliability
If dual connectivity solution is implemented, then communication reliability is improved, but network deployment difficulty increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses existing terminal devices as intermediary relay nodes rather than deploying additional infrastructure. This approach maintains communication reliability by creating alternative data paths while avoiding the complex network deployment required by traditional dual connectivity, as no new base stations or network elements need to be installed.
Solution Approach 2:
Terminal devices automatically discover and select suitable relay nodes from their vicinity, and the network configures the relay relationships through standard signaling procedures. The system self-organizes the relay connections without requiring manual network deployment or specialized infrastructure, thereby improving ease of deployment while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method and apparatus are provided. The method includes: A communication apparatus obtains first information, wherein the first information includes identification information of a terminal device that has mutual trust with the communication apparatus, and the terminal device that has mutual trust with the communication apparatus comprises a second terminal device. The communication apparatus sends the first information to a control plane device, wherein the first information indicates to establish a first transmission path, and the first transmission path is used to transmit uplink or downlink data of the second terminal device via the communication apparatus.