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：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：US20250056637A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-13

申请号：US18798519

申请日：2024-08-08

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Danila Zaev ,  Ahmed M. Soliman ,  Ahmed Gamal Helmy Mohamed ,  Ayman F. Naguib

IPC: H04W76/15 ,  H03M13/15 ,  H04L1/00 ,  H04L1/22 ,  H04L9/06

Abstract: Packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer encoding and decoding procedures for use in cell-free networks are disclosed. A transmitter (e.g., a user equipment (UE) or a cluster of base stations that serves a UE) performs PDCP processing using a PDCP entity by: generating a concatenated service data unit (SDU) set by concatenating a plurality of SDUs for a protocol data unit (PDU) set; segmenting the concatenated SDU set into one or more systematic PDUs of the PDU set; performing an encoding with the one or more systematic PDUs to generate one or more redundant PDUs of the PDU set; and distributing the one or more systematic PDUs and the one or more redundant PDUs across one or more radio link control (RLC) entities for transmission. Complimentary processes performed by a PDCP entity of a receiver (e.g., a cluster of base stations or a UE) are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20250056599A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-13

申请号：US18799388

申请日：2024-08-09

Applicant: APPLE INC.

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

IPC: H04W74/04 ,  H04W74/00 ,  H04W74/08

Abstract: Systems and methods for Layer 3 (L3) scheduling in cell-free networks are disclosed herein. A clustering control function (CCF) of a wireless communication system may operate with respect to a cluster of base stations that is used to communicate traffic with a user equipment (UE) on a radio bearer and that is divided into a plurality of sub-clusters. An L3 scheduler operated at/by the CCF may make an L3 scheduling determination that identifies a traffic-receiving sub-cluster from the plurality of sub-clusters and an active base station (a-BS) in the traffic-receiving sub-cluster and sending, to the cluster of base stations, the L3 scheduling determination. Uses for this information by the various applicable network elements within the cluster (the base stations and the UE) are described. Various mechanisms for the distribution of this information to the applicable network elements are described.

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：US20250056253A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-13

申请号：US18794833

申请日：2024-08-05

Applicant: APPLE INC.

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

IPC: H04W24/02 ,  H04B17/318 ,  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.