公开(公告)号：US20250056301A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-13

申请号：US18797281

申请日：2024-08-07

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Ahmed Gamal Helmy Mohamed ,  Norman Goris ,  Danila Zaev ,  Firouz Behnamfar ,  Ayman F. Naguib

IPC: H04W28/02 ,  H04W88/08

Abstract: Systems and methods for radio protocol architectures in cell-free networks are disclosed herein. One or more base stations make up a cell-free cluster that serves a user equipment (UE). A clustering control function (CCF) may establish, for a radio bearer that communicates data between the cluster and the UE, one or more sub-clusters of the one or more base stations. Each sub-cluster corresponds to a unique RLC entity within the protocol stack for the radio bearer in question. The CCF communicates with the base stations of the cluster and the UE to establish this sub-clustering arrangement. Details of this messaging are described herein. Data of the radio bearer is then transmitted between the cluster and the UE according to the established sub-clusters/RLC entities. For example, the network may transport either the same data of the radio bearer and/or unique data of the radio bearer through any/each of the sub-clusters/RLC entities.

公开(公告)号：US20250056321A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-13

申请号：US18797299

申请日：2024-08-07

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Ahmed Gamal Helmy Mohamed ,  Norman Goris ,  Danila Zaev ,  Firouz Behnamfar ,  Ayman F. Naguib

IPC: H04W28/08 ,  H04L5/00 ,  H04W74/0833 ,  H04W76/15

Abstract: Systems and methods for radio protocol architectures in cell-free networks are disclosed herein. One or more base stations make up a cell-free cluster that serves a user equipment (UE). A clustering control function (CCF) may establish, for a radio bearer that communicates data between the cluster and the UE, one or more sub-clusters of the one or more base stations. Each sub-cluster corresponds to a unique RLC entity within the protocol stack for the radio bearer in question. The CCF communicates with the base stations of the cluster and the UE to establish this sub-clustering arrangement. Details of this messaging are described herein. Data of the radio bearer is then transmitted between the cluster and the UE according to the established sub-clusters/RLC entities. For example, the network may transport either the same data of the radio bearer and/or unique data of the radio bearer through any/each of the sub-clusters/RLC entities.

公开(公告)号：US20250056252A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-13

申请号：US18794755

申请日：2024-08-05

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Ahmed Gamal Helmy Mohamed ,  Firouz Behnamfar ,  Ayman F Naguib ,  Danila Zaev

IPC: H04W24/02 ,  H04W24/10 ,  H04W74/0833

Abstract: Systems and methods for clustering in cell-free networks are described herein. A cluster of one or more base stations provides radio access network (RAN) functionality to a user equipment (UE) within the wireless communication system in a cell-free manner (e.g., without using a base-station-centric cell context, as in prior wireless communication systems). A cluster that is serving a UE comprises one or more connected base stations (cBSs) that actively serve the UE. A clustering control function (CCF) of the network establishes and maintains the cluster that is serving one or more UEs. Herein, messaging systems and messaging types used by the CCF, base station(s), and UE(s) within this cell-free context are discussed. Initial clustering methods used by a CCF to form a cluster for a UE are discussed. Further, clustering update methods used by a CCF to maintain/modify a cluster for a UE are discussed.

公开(公告)号：US20240258708A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-01

申请号：US18160245

申请日：2023-01-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Ahmed M Soliman ,  Danila Zaev ,  Kenza Hamidouche ,  Benedikt Schweizer ,  Ayman F Naguib ,  Norman Goris ,  Said Medjkouh

IPC: H01Q19/10 ,  H04B7/06 ,  H04B7/08

CPC classification number: H01Q19/10 ,  H04B7/0639 ,  H04B7/08

Abstract: A communication system may include a base station (BS), a user equipment (UE) device, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) having a local controller, and a remote controller. Antenna elements on the RIS may reflect signals between the BS and UE while exhibiting reflection coefficients. The remote controller may transmit a control model and the UE may transmit local information to the local controller, which generates the reflection coefficients based on the local information and control model. Alternatively, the remote controller may transmit the control model to the UE and a codebook to the RIS. The UE may transmit an identifier to the RIS based on local information and the control model. The local controller may implement reflection coefficients of a codebook entry identified by the identifier. Splitting control of the RIS in these ways may minimize communication overhead, provide coverage extension for the UE, and optimize privacy.

公开(公告)号：US20240121453A1

公开(公告)日：2024-04-11

申请号：US18542526

申请日：2023-12-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Sabine Roessel ,  Christian Drewes ,  Matthias Sauer ,  Danila Zaev ,  Bernhard Raaf ,  Bernd Wurth ,  Max Dmitrichenko

IPC: H04N21/2343 ,  H04N21/24

CPC classification number: H04N21/2343 ,  H04N21/2402 ,  H04N21/2405

Abstract: Methods and systems for semantic encoding by a user equipment (UE) are configured for determining an expected power consumption for encoding video data that includes semantic features, the semantic features representing a meaning of information represented in video frames of the video data; encoding one or more video frames of the video data using a selected a semantic representation of one or more video frames of the video data, the semantic representation being selected based on the expected power consumption that is determined; and transmitting the encoded video data including the semantic representation.

公开(公告)号：US20240097744A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-21

申请号：US18464161

申请日：2023-09-08

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Ankit Bhamri ,  Danila Zaev ,  Bertram R Gunzelmann ,  Sharad Sambhwani

IPC: H04B7/04 ,  H04B7/06

CPC classification number: H04B7/04013 ,  H04B7/0628 ,  H04B7/063

Abstract: A system may include an access point (AP), user equipment (UE), and a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS). The RIS may include an array of elements coupled to adjustable devices controlled to cause the array to reflect signals in different directions. The RIS may be controlled in a first mode in which the AP controls the adjustable devices, a second mode in which the UE controls the adjustable devices, and a third mode in which the RIS controls the adjustable devices. The RIS, AP, or UE may determine which mode to place the RIS in based on a downlink signal transmitted by the AP, an uplink signal transmitted by the UE, measurements of the signals performed on the RIS, a first distance or round trip time between the AP and the RIS, and/or a second distance or round trip time between the UE and the RIS.

公开(公告)号：US20250056622A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-13

申请号：US18794790

申请日：2024-08-05

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Ahmed Gamal Helmy Mohamed ,  Firouz Behnamfar ,  Ayman F. Naguib ,  Danila Zaev

IPC: H04W74/0833

Abstract: Systems and methods for clustering in cell-free networks are described herein. A cluster of one or more base stations provides radio access network (RAN) functionality to a user equipment (UE) within the wireless communication system in a cell-free manner (e.g., without using a base-station-centric cell context, as in prior wireless communication systems). A cluster that is serving a UE comprises one or more connected base stations (cBSs) that actively serve the UE. A clustering control function (CCF) of the network establishes and maintains the cluster that is serving one or more UEs. Herein, messaging systems and messaging types used by the CCF, base station(s), and UE(s) within this cell-free context are discussed. Initial clustering methods used by a CCF to form a cluster for a UE are discussed. Further, clustering update methods used by a CCF to maintain/modify a cluster for a UE are discussed.

公开(公告)号：US12171035B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-17

申请号：US17843781

申请日：2022-06-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Danila Zaev ,  Ayman F. Naguib

IPC: H04W76/15 ,  H04L5/00 ,  H04W72/0453 ,  H04W72/53

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are presented for utilizing a narrowband assisting network (NBAN) and a positioning assisting network (PAN) to assist in establishing and managing communications on a THz band wireless communication network. The THz network may be capable of transmitting/receiving with high bandwidth, but may be resource intensive and may be constrained to line-of-sight (LoS) communications. The NBAN and PAN may help to minimize the resources consumed by the THz network. The NBAN may identify a set of nodes of the THz network as candidates for establishing a connection with a user equipment (UE). The PAN may determine a position of each candidate relative to the UE, and may communicate the position to the respective candidate and to the UE, which may use the position information to expedite a beam alignment procedure. The NBAN may provide scheduling and other control signaling for the THz network.

公开(公告)号：US20240310470A1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-19

申请号：US18184566

申请日：2023-03-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Benedikt Schweizer ,  Danila Zaev ,  Firouz Behnamfar ,  Ayman F Naguib

IPC: G01S5/02

CPC classification number: G01S5/0273

Abstract: A communication system may include a transmitting (TX) device, a receiving (RX) device, and a one or more reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS's). The TX device may transmit a wireless signal received by the RX device over multiple propagation paths including paths that reflect off the RIS(s) and paths that include other reflections. The RX device may receive location information from each RIS. The RX device or a control device may control each RIS to modulate the wireless signal with a different respective identifier upon reflection of the wireless signal by the RIS. The RX device may distinguish the wireless signal as reflected off the RIS(s) from reflections off other objects based on the RIS identifiers modulated onto the wireless signals by the RIS(s). The RX device may use a multilateration technique to detect its position based on the received location information and the wireless signals as reflected off the RIS(s).

公开(公告)号：US20240097743A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-21

申请号：US18464144

申请日：2023-09-08

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Ankit Bhamri ,  Danila Zaev ,  Bertram R Gunzelmann ,  Sharad Sambhwani

IPC: H04B7/04 ,  H04L5/00 ,  H04W64/00

CPC classification number: H04B7/04013 ,  H04L5/0051 ,  H04W64/003

Abstract: A system may include an access point (AP), user equipment (UE), and a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS). The RIS may include an array of elements coupled to adjustable devices controlled to cause the array to reflect signals in different directions. The RIS may be controlled in a first mode in which the AP controls the adjustable devices, a second mode in which the UE controls the adjustable devices, and a third mode in which the RIS controls the adjustable devices. The RIS, AP, or UE may determine which mode to place the RIS in based on a downlink signal transmitted by the AP, an uplink signal transmitted by the UE, measurements of the signals performed on the RIS, a first distance or round trip time between the AP and the RIS, and/or a second distance or round trip time between the UE and the RIS.