Wireless Resource-Metric Association for Grant-Free Low-Latency Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in achieving high spectral efficiency, low latency, and efficient resource allocation without the need for prior control messages, particularly in scenarios with multiple devices and non-deterministic traffic.

Innovation Solution

A receiver is configured to determine resource information and channel metrics from received signals, associating them with transmitter identities without prior knowledge, allowing for efficient communication by eliminating the need for scheduling and control messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If scheduling is used for resource allocation, then resource management is improved, but latency increases due to initial communication procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource management efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring resource pools and pre-establishing association rules between resource information and channel metrics before actual communication occurs. This allows devices to immediately begin data transmission without scheduling delays, as the resource allocation framework is already in place and ready for use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the scheduling function from the communication protocol by implementing grant-free access where devices autonomously select resources from pre-defined pools. This removes the scheduling overhead and initial communication procedures while maintaining resource management through the resource information-channel metric association mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If listen-before-talk is used for medium access, then collision avoidance is improved, but scalability deteriorates as device count increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidsystem scalability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmission band into multiple resource pools with different characteristics (e.g., different channel conditions, different priority levels). Devices can select from these segmented pools based on their channel metrics, distributing the access load across multiple segments rather than having all devices contend for a single channel, thus improving scalability while maintaining collision avoidance through diverse selection options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an additional dimension for resource selection by associating resource information with channel metric information. Instead of single-dimensional time-domain listen-before-talk, devices can select resources based on multi-dimensional criteria including channel quality, resource pool type, and association rules, providing more degrees of freedom for collision avoidance and improving system scalability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If resource allocation is performed by central coordinator, then resource management is improved, but device complexity increases for transmitters with reduced capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidtransmitter complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling devices to autonomously determine resource information and associate it with channel metrics without requiring complex receiver capabilities or central coordination. Each device independently performs resource selection and association based on pre-configured rules and measured channel conditions, eliminating the need for sophisticated transmitter-receiver pairs while maintaining efficient resource allocation through the association mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Measurement precision

If control messages are exchanged for scheduling, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation accuracyVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the resource allocation function with the data transmission process itself. By associating resource information directly with channel metric information and embedding this association in the data payload, the system eliminates separate control messages for scheduling. The same communication carrier that transports data also conveys resource allocation information, thereby maintaining allocation accuracy while minimizing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the communication signal multi-functional by enabling it to simultaneously carry data, channel metrics, and resource allocation information through the association mechanism. This universal approach eliminates the need for dedicated control channels or separate scheduling messages, reducing communication overhead while preserving resource allocation accuracy through the integrated information structure.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3692667B1Device and method for associating resource information with channel metric information in wireless networks
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
  • EP3692667B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3692667B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3692667B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

A receiver configured for receiving a wireless signal comprising a signal transmitted through a channel using resource elements of a wireless communications network comprises a determiner configured for determining a resource information indicating the resource elements and for determining a channel metric of the channel. There receiver comprises an associator configured for associating the resource information with the channel metric using an identity information contained in the signal.