UE-to-Network Relay RRC Setup for Out-of-Coverage Wireless Links
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for efficient communication in wireless communication systems that support UE-to-network relays, particularly in scenarios where user equipment (UE) is out-of-coverage, to extend coverage and facilitate communication with a base station (BS) via sidelink communication.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a radio resource control (RRC) connection between a first UE and a BS via a second UE, with a PC5 RRC connection between the first and second UE already established, and decoding and encoding data using a sidelink adaptation layer (SLAP) protocol data unit (PDU) to facilitate data transmission to the intended destination, including mechanisms for multiplexing data from multiple UEs and managing UE bearers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sidelink communication is used to extend coverage for out-of-coverage UEs, then coverage extension capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to relay node functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay UE as an intermediary node between the out-of-coverage UE and the BS. The relay UE establishes a U2N sidelink connection with the remote UE and a Uu connection with the BS, enabling indirect communication without requiring complex changes to the original UE or BS architectures.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication path is segmented into two separate connections: a PC5 sidelink connection between the relay UE and remote UE, and a Uu connection between the relay UE and BS. This segmentation allows each node to maintain simpler functionality while achieving overall coverage extension through the relay mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If data is transmitted through relay UE between first UE and BS, then communication reach is improved, but transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes continuous RRC connections and data bearers through the relay UE, ensuring that data transmission flows continuously without interruption or repeated connection setup. The pre-configured SLAP protocol and bearer structures enable seamless forwarding of data packets through the relay node.
3Manufacturing precision
If SLAP protocol with detailed headers is used for data encoding, then data transmission accuracy is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SLAP protocol uses parameter fields in headers (such as source UE ID, destination UE ID, bearer ID, and length indicators) to dynamically identify data paths and parameters. These parameter changes enable accurate data routing and reconstruction without requiring complex processing, as the headers contain all necessary information for efficient data handling.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for wireless communication. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, a method may include: establishing a RRC connection between a first UE and a BS via a second UE, wherein a PC5 RRC connection between the first UE and the second UE has been established and an RRC connection between the second UE and the BS has been established; receiving, from either the first UE or the BS at a second UE, a first data; determining a destination of the first data; and transmitting the first data to the destination of the first data in response to the destination of the first data being not the second UE. In addition, the size information for each packet may be indicated in the header of an adaptation layer in response to multiple packets from the different UE bearers can be multiplexed to one PDU of the adaptation layer.