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：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.

公开(公告)号：US20230370134A1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-16

申请号：US18181130

申请日：2023-03-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Danila Zaev ,  Ayman F Naguib ,  Yu-Ting Yu

IPC: H04B7/06

CPC classification number: H04B7/0617 ,  H04B7/0632

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) device may communicate with a base station using signals reflected off a network-independent intelligent reflecting surface (IRS). The UE device and the IRS may form part of a virtual UE device, the components of which communicate with each other and with other virtual UE devices over a channel control plane (CCP) separate from the control and data plane of the base station. The CCP may be used to perform control functions for the virtual UE device such as channel estimation, synchronization, scheduling, sensing, and beamforming. The IRS may be controlled by the UE device, a service controller, or itself. Grouping the UE device and IRS into a virtual UE device may keep the structure the presence of the IRS transparent to the network while allowing the UE device to have more beneficial channel propagation properties relative to when the IRS is registered to the network.

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：US12028436B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-02

申请号：US17876714

申请日：2022-07-29

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Danila Zaev ,  Ayman Naguib

IPC: H04W72/20 ,  H04L1/00 ,  H04L1/1812 ,  H04L69/16 ,  H04L69/22 ,  H04W72/23 ,  G06F40/30 ,  H04W80/02

CPC classification number: H04L69/161 ,  H04L1/0057 ,  H04L1/1812 ,  H04L69/22 ,  H04W72/20 ,  H04W72/23 ,  G06F40/30 ,  H04W80/02

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for performing communication in a wireless communication system. The communication may be semantic communication and/or may use a programmable protocol stack. A protocol stack at a transmitter and/or receiver may include customization from an application platform, e.g., which may replace one or more layers relative to a non-customized protocol stack. A transmitter may transmit data, via the customized protocol stack, using a best effort data channel, e.g., with transmission characteristics that are relatively lossy in comparison to a data channel used by the non-customized protocol stack. A receiver may receive the data and may, e.g., if the data is corrupted, select one or more model to recover the data and/or determine whether reception is successful, e.g., from a semantic point of view. The proposed system may support higher data rates, less retransmissions, and/or better quality of user experience.

公开(公告)号：US20230413354A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-21

申请号：US17843781

申请日：2022-06-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Danila Zaev ,  Ayman F. Naguib

IPC: H04W76/15 ,  H04W72/04 ,  H04L5/00

CPC classification number: H04W76/15 ,  H04L5/0044 ,  H04W72/0493 ,  H04W72/0453

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.