Virtual UE Aggregation with Anchor-Point Data Splitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing User Equipment (UE) in wireless communication networks face limitations in terms of functions, features, or operations, such as number of antennas, transmit power, and operating modes, which impact both UE performance and communication system performance, particularly in Uu link communications with a gNB.
Innovation Solution
UE aggregation is achieved by configuring multiple individual UEs with an aggregated UE configuration, forming a virtual UE (VUE) with enhanced capabilities, utilizing protocol stacks and an anchor point for data splitting and aggregation, and enabling coordinated uplink and downlink communications through sidelink and Uu link connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple individual UEs are aggregated to form a virtual UE with enhanced capability, then UE performance and communication system performance are improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual UE functionality into distinct components: individual UEs maintain their own protocol stacks and operational independence, while a coordination mechanism manages their aggregated behavior. This segmentation allows each UE to operate autonomously while collectively providing enhanced capabilities, resolving the contradiction between improved performance and management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordination mechanism or anchor point that acts as an intermediary to manage the aggregated UEs. This intermediary handles the complexity of coordinating multiple UEs, enabling them to function as a unified virtual UE while offloading the management burden from individual UEs, thus improving performance without proportionally increasing individual device complexity.
2Productivity
If individual UEs operate independently with limited functions, then device simplicity is maintained, but communication system performance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the capabilities of multiple individual UEs by aggregating them into a virtual UE. Individual UEs with limited functions combine their resources, antennas, and processing capabilities to create a unified entity with enhanced adaptability and versatility, thereby improving communication system performance without requiring each individual UE to be overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual UE formed by aggregating multiple UEs achieves multi-functionality and universality. The aggregated entity can perform diverse communication functions and adapt to various network conditions that would be beyond the capability of any single individual UE, thus improving both productivity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides detailed specifications related to user equipment (UE) aggregation. As an example, a virtual UE (VUE) configuration, also referred to as a configuration for UE aggregation, that can be used by multiple UEs participating in UE aggregation may be communicated in a wireless communication network. The configuration may indicate, for example, that the UEs are to participate in UE aggregation, and indicate a first UE for splitting or combining data. In some embodiments the configuration may indicate protocol stacks for the multiple UEs to participate in UE aggregation, and an anchor point. The anchor point is associated with a layer in the protocol stack of a first UE of the multiple UEs, and implements data splitting and/or aggregation. As an alternative to the specific example of an anchor point, a configuration may indicate a function for splitting or aggregating data.