Virtual Cell D2D Communication Reduces UE Power Consumption

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The establishment of a Device to Device (D2D) connection between high-performance and low-performance user equipment in LTE systems results in relatively large power consumption for the low-performance user equipment due to their inequivalent communication capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A method where the high-performance user equipment establishes a virtual cell, allowing the low-performance user equipment to access it, thereby reducing power consumption by minimizing the need for equivalent communication capabilities between the two.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If D2D connection is established between high-performance user equipment and low-performance user equipment, then communication between the two is enabled, but power consumption of the low-performance user equipment increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary between high-performance and low-performance user equipment. Instead of direct D2D connection, the base station mediates communication by receiving data from high-performance UE and forwarding it to low-performance UE, thereby reducing the communication burden and power consumption of low-performance devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the communication mode parameter for low-performance UE from direct D2D communication to base station-mediated communication. This parameter change allows low-performance devices to operate in a mode that matches their capabilities, reducing power consumption while maintaining communication functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3484221B1Communication method between user equipment devices, and user equipment device
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3484221B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3484221B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3484221B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for communication between user equipments, user equipment, and a base station. The method includes: establishing, by first UE, a virtual cell; and sending, by the first UE, a first synchronization signal and a first broadcast message, where the first synchronization signal includes an identity of the virtual cell, and the first broadcast message includes configuration information of the virtual cell, so that based on the identity of the virtual cell and the configuration information of the virtual cell, second UE accesses the virtual cell and communicates with the first UE. In the communication method, the first UE and the second UE do not need to have equivalent communication capabilities. Therefore, for the low-performance second UE, this communication manner can reduce power consumption of the second UE.