User Equipment Group Formation for High-Frequency Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing density of user equipment and the use of high spectrum frequencies like millimeter waves and terahertz frequencies lead to limited coverage and inefficient communication due to signal loss, with existing wireless communication occurring through point-to-point connections without cooperation among nearby devices.
Innovation Solution
User equipment forms groups to facilitate cooperative communication, where active devices connect to a network and passive devices communicate indirectly through active devices, using device-to-device links to enhance coverage, reliability, and efficiency, with primary devices controlling group membership and data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If point-to-point connections are used between user equipment and wireless communication network, then communication simplicity is maintained, but communication coverage and reliability are limited due to signal loss at high frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate user equipment devices that act as relays between remote user equipment and the wireless communication network. These intermediary devices receive signals from the network and forward them to other user equipment, or receive signals from user equipment and forward them to the network, thereby extending coverage and improving reliability without requiring direct point-to-point connections at high frequencies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication path into multiple hops through intermediate user equipment devices. Instead of a single direct connection, the communication is divided into multiple shorter segments that can be successfully transmitted at high frequencies, with each segment being handled by a nearby device that acts as a relay
2Productivity
If user equipment density increases, then network capacity is improved, but signal loss and coverage limitations worsen due to high frequency attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses intermediate user equipment as mediators that receive and forward signals, allowing high-density network deployment while maintaining signal reliability. The intermediaries compensate for signal loss by receiving signals at higher power levels from nearby transmitters and retransmitting them, thereby maintaining reliable communication even as network density increases
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the communication functions of multiple user equipment devices into a cooperative network where devices work together as a unified system. Intermediate devices combine their transmission capabilities with other devices to extend effective coverage and maintain reliability across high-density deployments
3Reliability
If cooperative communication among user equipment is implemented, then coverage and reliability are improved, but device complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where user equipment automatically discovers nearby devices, evaluates their suitability as intermediaries based on signal quality and device attributes, and forms communication groups without extensive manual configuration or centralized coordination. Devices autonomously manage their own group memberships and communication roles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters such as signal strength thresholds, device attribute criteria, and group formation rules to enable automatic and efficient cooperative communication. By adjusting these parameters, the system balances the benefits of extended coverage against the complexity of coordination, allowing devices to autonomously optimize their communication behavior
Data Source
AI summary
User equipment in close proximity may transfer data and control information. For example, the user equipment may exchange data or data sets between each other. Each user equipment can receive and transmit data using radio access technologies. A group of user equipments may include active user equipment and passive user equipment. Active user equipment connects with one or more base stations and transfers data on a wireless communication network via the base station. The active user equipment may communicate with other active user equipment and passive user equipment. Passive user equipment may not connect to any base station and/or the wireless communication network and may communicate with other passive user equipment and active user equipment (e.g., via a sidelink, peer-to-peer, or device-to-device channel).