User-Equipment-Coordination Set for Disengaged Mode

A method performed by a user equipment configured as a coordinating user equipment for a disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the user equipment, an indication to transition to a disengaged mode;
• receiving, by the user equipment, a request message from a base station directing the user equipment to join the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set comprising multiple user equipment in the disengaged mode;
• transitioning, by the user equipment, to the disengaged mode;
• receiving baseband samples from at least one of the multiple user equipment in the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set, the baseband samples corresponding to data intended for one or more of the multiple user equipment included in the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set and received by the at least one user equipment in the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set;
• aggregating the baseband samples to provide a combined baseband signal;
• jointly processing the combined baseband signal to decode the data intended for the one or more of the multiple user equipment;
• and
• forwarding the decoded data to the one or more of the multiple user equipment.

A base station comprising:

• a wireless transceiver;
• a processor;
• and
• instructions for a base station manager application that are executable by the processor to configure the base station to:
• specify a set of multiple user equipment to form a disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set, for joint transmission and reception of data intended for one or more of the multiple user equipment included in the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set, each of the multiple user equipment being in a disengaged mode;
• select one of the multiple user equipment within the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set to act as a coordinating user equipment for the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set;
• transmit a request message that directs the coordinating user equipment to coordinate the joint transmission and reception of the data intended for the one or more of the multiple user equipment;
• and
• transmit a downlink signal to each user equipment within the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set effective to:
• enable each user equipment within the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set to:
• demodulate and sample the downlink signal, and
• forward the samples to the coordinating user equipment;
• and
• enable the coordinating user equipment to:
• combine the samples from each user equipment, and
• jointly process the combined samples to provide decoded data.

A user equipment comprising:

• a wireless transceiver;
• a local wireless network transceiver;
• a processor;
• and
• instructions for a communication manager application that are executable by the processor to configure the user equipment to:
• receive an indication to transition to a disengaged mode;
• receive a request message from a base station directing the user equipment to join a disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set comprising multiple user equipment in the disengaged mode;
• transition to the disengaged mode;
• receive baseband samples from at least one of the multiple user equipment in the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set, the baseband samples corresponding to data intended for one or more of the multiple user equipment included in the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set and received by the at least one user equipment in the disengaged-mode-user-equipment coordination set;
• aggregate the baseband samples to provide a combined baseband signal;
• jointly process the combined baseband signal to decode the data intended for the one or more of the multiple user equipment;
• and
• forward the decoded data to the one or more of the multiple user equipment.