Vehicle Relay Wireless Access for Low-Cost Network Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost of deploying communication infrastructure for next-generation networks, such as 5G and beyond, necessitates innovative solutions to reduce deployment expenses while ensuring adequate coverage and communication quality, especially in areas with insufficient infrastructure.

Innovation Solution

A communication system utilizing vehicles as relay stations, providing wireless access links and computing resources, leveraging their mobility and hardware capabilities to enhance network coverage and computing capacity, thereby reducing the need for traditional infrastructure deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If traditional communication infrastructure is deployed to expand network coverage, then network coverage and communication quality are improved, but deployment cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverage areaVSAvoiddeployment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms stationary base stations into mobile relay stations using vehicles. The base station can dynamically move to different locations to provide communication services, converting fixed infrastructure into a flexible, mobile system that reduces deployment costs while maintaining coverage expansion capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The communication device in the vehicle serves multiple functions: it acts as both a mobile relay station for extending network coverage and an edge computing server for providing computing resources. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate infrastructure deployments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If more communication infrastructures are deployed to ensure coverage in millimeter wave band, then communication quality is improved, but investment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidinvestment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Vehicles equipped with communication devices can autonomously provide communication services in areas with poor coverage. The mobile relay station self-organizes to extend the network coverage area without requiring manual infrastructure deployment in every location, reducing investment costs while maintaining communication quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile relay station acts as an intermediary between the core network and user devices in coverage-limited areas. It receives signals from the base station and relays them to user devices, enabling communication in millimeter wave bands without requiring direct base station deployment in every location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If infrastructure sharing is implemented to reduce introduction cost, then deployment cost is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintroduction costVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the communication function from the vehicle's primary function. The communication device operates as an independent module that can be activated or deactivated based on service requirements, simplifying the management of infrastructure sharing by isolating the communication subsystem from the vehicle's other systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4694269A1Wireless communication device, communication method, and information processing device
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4694269A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4694269A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4694269A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless communication device of the present disclosure provides a second wireless access link with another wireless communication, on the basis of a first wireless access link with a base station. The wireless communication device includes one or a plurality of network interfaces, a user interface of the wireless communication device, provided for a user, and a processor. The processor transmits a registration request or a start request related to provision of the second wireless access link, to a server device managing the provision of the second wireless access link via one or a plurality of network interfaces. The processor receives a notification about the provision of the second wireless access link, from the server device. The processor outputs at least part of the notification to the user interface.