UE Link Assistance via Supporting Links for Coverage Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing network resources and beams due to limited cooperation among wireless devices, particularly in scenarios where UEs have poor or no coverage, leading to suboptimal user experience and resource inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing cooperative communication techniques where a target UE requests link-specific assistance from a cooperating UE, establishing a supporting link with a network entity to enhance coverage and resource utilization, using the same or different radio access technology (RAT) for improved throughput and reduced latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooperative communication techniques are implemented where UEs assist each other with link-specific assistance, then coverage and resource efficiency are enhanced, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
A network entity acts as an intermediary to coordinate the cooperative communication between UEs. The network entity receives assistance requests from target UEs, identifies suitable cooperating UEs, establishes supporting links, and manages the overall assistance process, thereby distributing the complexity from individual devices to the network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Target UEs autonomously generate assistance requests when they detect poor coverage conditions, and cooperating UEs automatically respond to provide assistance. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for continuous network coordination and simplifies the overall system complexity by enabling UEs to handle their own communication challenges.
2Productivity
If link-specific assistance is provided between UEs, then throughput increases and latency reduces for UEs with poor coverage, but signaling resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements link-specific assistance where help is provided only for the particular links experiencing poor coverage, rather than blanket assistance for all communication directions. This localized approach ensures that signaling resources are consumed only when and where needed, optimizing the trade-off between throughput improvement and signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides partial assistance by establishing supporting links only for the specific directions (uplink or downlink) that require help, rather than providing complete bidirectional assistance. This partial action reduces signaling resource consumption while still achieving the desired throughput improvement for the affected links.
3Productivity
If UEs establish supporting links with network entities for assistance, then resource utilization improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network entity serves as an intermediary that manages the establishment and coordination of supporting links between UEs. By centralizing the link management functions in the network, individual UEs have reduced complexity while still benefiting from improved resource utilization through cooperative communication.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a first user equipment (UE) may receive, from a second UE, a request for assistance specific to one or more links. The first UE may establish a radio connection to a network entity with one or more supporting links associated with the assistance. Numerous other aspects are described.