WWAN Intermediary for Stand-alone Device P2P Sync

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in WWAN scenarios, face challenges in reducing base station load and enabling peer-to-peer communication between devices with or without WWAN capability, especially when devices in close proximity attempt to communicate directly without relying on base station resources.

Innovation Solution

Devices, including those with limited or no WWAN capability, can participate in peer-to-peer communication by receiving synchronization control signals from WWAN devices, allowing them to establish direct links and share time/frequency resources, thereby reducing base station load and enabling communication between nearby devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If peer-to-peer communication is established between devices without WWAN capability, then base station load is reduced, but synchronization control and resource coordination become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase station load reductionVSAvoidsynchronization control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a WWAN device as an intermediary to provide synchronization control signals to stand-alone devices. The WWAN device receives synchronization information from the base station and relays it to devices without WWAN capability, enabling peer-to-peer communication while maintaining system coordination without increasing base station load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If devices with no WWAN capability participate in peer-to-peer communication, then device versatility is improved, but reliability of communication synchronization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice participation capabilityVSAvoidcommunication synchronization reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having stand-alone devices search for and acquire synchronization control information from WWAN devices before establishing peer-to-peer communication. This pre-synchronization ensures that devices are properly aligned with the system timing and resource allocation before direct communication begins, maintaining reliability while enabling broader device participation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If direct peer-to-peer links are established between nearby devices, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidlink management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex link management and synchronization functions from the individual devices and centralizes them in the WWAN device, which acts as a controller. Stand-alone devices only need to follow simple procedures to search for, connect to, and communicate through the WWAN device, reducing their complexity while maintaining efficient direct communication paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2832173B1Method, apparatus and a computer program for controlling devices with no or limited WWAN capability in peer to peer communication
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2832173B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2832173B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2832173B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a wireless wide area network (WWAN) scenario, communication between UEs is facilitated through uplink/downlink channels between the UEs and a base station (i.e., WWAN link or WWAN communication). In the case that two communicating UEs are in the vicinity of each other, direct peer-to-peer communication without passing through the base station may reduce a base station load. In some scenarios, it is beneficial for devices, with no or limited WWAN capability to also participate in peer-to-peer communication. Accordingly, a method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which control information from a user equipment (UE) is received, the control information including information indicating resources for peer-to-peer communication, a peer-to-peer link with the UE to receive authentication information for using the resources is established, and the resources are used to communicate with a peer device.