WTRU Relay Link Mapping for Direct Discovery and V2X Unicast

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing relay communications and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) services, particularly in managing relay connections and link establishment in advanced wireless communication systems.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of WTRU-to-WTRU relays and enhanced link identifier update procedures, including transparent and non-transparent relays, to facilitate efficient relay communications and V2X services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If relay communications and V2X services are implemented in advanced wireless systems, then communication coverage and connectivity are improved, but system complexity and link management overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication coverageVSAvoidlink management overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the link management process into distinct phases: discovery phase (where relay WTRUs broadcast their availability) and communication establishment phase (where direct links are set up between communicating WTRUs). This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by handling different functions in separate stages, reducing the overhead in each phase while maintaining comprehensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a relay WTRU as an intermediary that assists in establishing direct communication links between other WTRUs. The relay WTRU broadcasts discovery information and facilitates link establishment without requiring direct complex interactions between all communicating devices, thereby reducing overall system complexity while expanding communication coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If direct discovery and communication procedures are enhanced, then discovery efficiency is improved, but protocol complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery efficiencyVSAvoidprotocol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary discovery actions where relay WTRUs broadcast their availability and capabilities before actual communication is needed. This preliminary action allows communicating WTRUs to pre-identify suitable relays and establish direct links more efficiently, improving discovery productivity while the standardized broadcast format keeps protocol complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the discovery procedure with the link establishment procedure into a unified process. By combining these functions, the system reduces the number of separate protocol steps and simplifies the overall communication flow, thereby improving discovery efficiency without proportionally increasing protocol complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If transparent and non-transparent relay modes are supported, then communication flexibility is improved, but implementation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoidimplementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the relay WTRU with multi-functionality to support both transparent and non-transparent relay modes. The same relay WTRU can operate in different modes depending on the communication requirements, providing flexibility without requiring separate implementations for each mode. This universal design reduces implementation complexity by reusing the same hardware and software components.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic mode selection where relay WTRUs can switch between transparent and non-transparent operations based on real-time communication needs. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different scenarios (e.g., choosing non-transparent mode for privacy-critical communications or transparent mode for general relaying) while maintaining a unified implementation structure, thereby improving flexibility without linearly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4055876B1Methods and apparatus for direct discovery and communication using a WTRU to WTRU relay
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS INC
  • EP4055876B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4055876B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4055876B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, systems, architectures and interfaces, performed by a relay wireless transmit/receive unit (R-WTRU) including a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a processor, for establishing extended unicast links and management unicast links are provided. The method includes: performing, by the R-WTRU, a link establishment procedure for establishing any number of extended unicast links for relaying traffic between a service-provider WTRU (SP-WTRU) and any number of service-user WTRUs (SU-WTRUs) according to a mapping generated by the R-WTRU, the link establishment procedure including: (1) generating a mapping of any of the extended links and layer 2 (L2) identifiers (IDs) for any of a SP-WTRU, a R-WTRU, and any number of SU-WTRUs, and (2) transmitting a unique relay ID; establishing a management unicast link for the extended unicast links; and applying any number of link management requests received via the management unicast link to associated extended unicast links.