Uplink Traffic Aggregation via Relay UE for Low-Latency Sidelink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing uplink resource allocation and power consumption for user equipment devices, particularly in scenarios involving sidelink relays and XR services, where devices outside RAN coverage need to coordinate and communicate directly, leading to increased latency and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method for user equipment devices to transmit uplink aggregation requests and grants through a relay device, utilizing sidelink links for communication, and optimizing power consumption by coordinating DRX cycles and partial channel sensing, enabling efficient resource allocation and reduced power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If user equipment devices transmit uplink requests and grants individually through RAN, then resource allocation is straightforward, but latency increases and power consumption increases for devices outside RAN coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple uplink requests from different user equipment devices into a single aggregated request transmitted through one relay device. This merging approach reduces the number of individual transmissions required, thereby decreasing latency while managing coordination complexity through centralized aggregation at the relay level.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay device acts as an intermediary between user equipment devices outside RAN coverage and the RAN network. This intermediary role enables efficient message aggregation and forwarding, reducing end-to-end latency while the relay manages the coordination complexity on behalf of multiple devices.
2Use of energy by moving object
If relay devices aggregate uplink requests from multiple user equipment, then power consumption is reduced, but resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay device merges uplink requests from multiple user equipment devices into aggregated messages, reducing the total number of transmissions and thereby lowering power consumption. The resource allocation complexity is managed by the network side through the aggregation mechanism rather than individual device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay device performs multiple functions including message aggregation, forwarding, and coordination management. This multi-functionality allows a single device to handle power-efficient aggregation while the network manages resource allocation, distributing the complexity burden rather than concentrating it in one device.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices communicate directly via sidelink outside RAN coverage, then network coverage is extended, but power consumption increases due to continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles where relay devices and user equipment periodically monitor channels instead of continuous monitoring. This periodic action extends coverage capability while significantly reducing power consumption by allowing devices to sleep between monitoring periods.
Solution Approach 2:
User equipment devices autonomously manage their power consumption by implementing DRX cycles and partial channel sensing, making decisions about when to monitor and transmit without continuous network control. This self-service approach extends coverage while managing power consumption at the device level.
Data Source
AI summary
A primary user equipment transmits an aggregated connection request message to a serving radio access network node requesting uplink connection information corresponding to one or more user equipment of an aggregation group. The node determines and transmits to the primary user equipment uplink connection information for user equipment of the aggregation group to use in establishing a connection to the node. The primary user equipment transmits, individually, respective uplink connection information to the secondary user equipment devices. A primary user equipment may aggregate uplink traffic received from secondary user equipment along with multiple medium access control control elements into an aggregation payload message and transmit the aggregation payload message in a single transport block to the node.