Virtualized Roadside Units Using Cellular Edge V2X Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems face challenges due to the reliance on physical Road-Side Units (RSUs) that require extensive deployment, backhaul connectivity, and sidelink communication with limited range and bandwidth, leading to high costs and maintenance challenges, and slow adoption of V2X technology.
Innovation Solution
Implementing virtualized RSUs (vRSUs) using edge computing devices and wireless cellular communication technologies, such as 4G and 5G, to provide infrastructure information to vehicles through point-to-point cellular connections, avoiding sidelink communication burdens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical RSUs are deployed with sidelink communication, then V2X communication capability is achieved, but deployment cost and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent virtualizes RSU functions by creating software instances (vRSU) that run on existing cellular infrastructure, copying the essential V2X communication capabilities without requiring physical RSU hardware deployment. This allows vehicles to communicate with infrastructure through standard cellular networks while maintaining V2X functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables existing cellular base stations to perform multiple functions - their original cellular communication role plus V2X infrastructure functions. By making the infrastructure universal and multi-functional, separate dedicated V2X hardware is eliminated, reducing deployment complexity while maintaining communication reliability.
2Loss of information
If physical RSUs with backhaul connectivity are installed, then infrastructure information can be transmitted to vehicles, but capital expenditure and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing cellular network infrastructure to provide V2X communication services. The cellular network already has backhaul connectivity and information transmission capabilities, so it serves itself by adding V2X functionality without requiring separate dedicated infrastructure investments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer that acts as an intermediary between the cellular network and V2X communication requirements. This virtualized RSU service translates cellular network capabilities into V2X infrastructure information transmission, eliminating the need for separate physical RSUs and reducing costs.
3Reliability
If sidelink communication is used for V2I messaging, then direct vehicle-to-infrastructure communication is achieved, but communication range and bandwidth are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electromagnetic sidelink communication system with a cellular network-based communication system. Instead of using dedicated short-range radio frequencies and protocols, the solution uses existing cellular infrastructure that provides broader coverage and greater bandwidth while maintaining direct communication reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for implementing virtualized Road-Side Units (vRSUs). Edge computing devices implementing one or more vRSU services may associate vehicles with identifiers that are based at least in part upon the locations of the vehicles. The locations may be established by location services of the edge computing devices, based upon communication received from the vehicles via wireless cellular communication links. The edge computing devices may then process infrastructure information that they receive, for distribution to the vehicles, at the vRSU services. Based upon the processing of infrastructure information at the vRSU services, messages may be generated for transmission to the vehicles (e.g., over the wireless cellular communication links), with the messages carrying information based upon the infrastructure information, such as in the form of safety messages and/or information messages.