Systems and methods for managing a UE-to-network relay
Method and systems for managing a communication link. One or more indicators of an expected service interruption associated with a communication link is determined. The communication link may be a link between a relay and a communication target and/or a link between the relay and a user equipment (UE). In response, the UE initiates one or more actions to reduce or avoid the expected service interruption.
1. A method for managing continuity of a communication service, the method comprising:
receiving by a first User Equipment (UE), from a first relay, a first message indicative of a change to a condition related to maintenance of at least one of:
a first radio communication link between the first relay and a communication target, and
a second radio communication link between the first relay and the first UE;
receiving, by the first UE, a broadcast information block from a second relay;
wherein the first message is configured to cause the first UE to initiate a procedure for selecting a target relay to provide the communication service by performing a direct discovery to find the target relay using information provided in the broadcast information block.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication target is a network.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication target is a second UE.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition comprises one or more of: a quality of a serving cell signal, a strength of the serving cell signal, a quality of a voice or a data service, a mobility condition, a velocity condition, and an ability to maintain the first or the second radio communication link depending on local conditions.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more of: an indicator of a battery level, an indicator of a processing power, an indicator of a processing load, an indicator of a condition to switch power off or to stop a relay mode of operation, an indicator of a condition for stopping relaying of one or more predetermined services, and an indicator of a distance of separation or of a relative velocity between the first relay and the first UE.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a second message received from the communication target.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second message includes an indication of a handover or of a reestablishment.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein first message includes information useable by the first UE for selecting the target relay.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message is configured to cause the first UE to select the target relay based on information broadcast by one or more candidate relays.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
subsequent to receiving the first message indicative of the changed condition, receiving, at the first UE, from the first relay, a fifth message indicating that the changed condition is no longer valid;
the fifth message being configured to cause the first UE to cancel the procedure for selecting the target relay.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the broadcast information block contains relay-related parameters for improving the efficiency of the direct discovery.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the broadcast information is a sidelink master information block.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target relay is the second relay.
14. A system for managing continuity of a communication service, the system comprising:
a communication interface for wireless communication; and
a processor configured to execute instructions to cause the system to:
receive by a first User Equipment (UE) from a first relay a message indicative of a change to a condition related to maintenance of at least one of:
a first radio communication link between the first relay and a communication target, and
a second radio communication link between the first relay and the first UE;
receive, by the first UE, a broadcast information block from a second relay;
wherein the first message is configured to cause the first UE to initiate a procedure for selecting a target relay to provide the communication service by performing a direct discovery to find the target relay using information provided in the broadcast information block.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the indicator is a second message received from the communication target.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second message includes an indication of a handover or of a reestablishment.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first message includes information useable by the first UE for selecting the target relay.
18. The system of claim 14 wherein the broadcast information block contains relay-related parameters for improving the efficiency of the direct discovery.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the broadcast information is a sidelink master information block.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a wireless communication system, causes the system to:
receive, by a first User Equipment (UE), from a first relay, a first message indicative of a change to a condition related to maintenance of at least one of:
a first radio communication link between the first relay and a communication target, and
a second radio communication link between the first relay and the first UE; and
receive, by the first UE, a broadcast information block from a second relay;
wherein the first message is configured to cause the first UE to initiate a procedure for selecting a target relay to provide the communication service by performing a direct discovery to find the target relay using information provided in the broadcast information block.