UE clustering is a 6G access management technique that groups user equipments based on similar characteristics to improve access efficiency, scalability, and quality of service in massive connectivity scenarios.
Definition
In 6G networks, UE clustering and dynamic association are integrated to support advanced access management scenarios. This integrated approach classifies user equipments (UEs) or access points (APs) according to specific requirements. By doing so, it coordinates access collisions and improves overall access efficiency.
UE clustering reduces computational complexity, increases transmission efficiency, and enhances network scalability. It is designed to support massive access of UEs with diverse quality of service (QoS) requirements, which is a key challenge in future 6G communication systems.
UE clustering is implemented by grouping UEs into different clusters based on similar features. These features may include service requirements, traffic characteristics, or geographical locations. By clustering UEs with similar behavior, the network can better manage contention-based access and interference.
Examples
UE clustering may be performed using algorithms such as K-means clustering and Federated Reinforcement Learning (FRL). These algorithms enable distributed and intelligent clustering decisions while reducing centralized computation overhead.
Through UE clustering, simultaneous contention-based access is reduced, and interference during access contention is coordinated. The network supports both intra-cluster and inter-cluster resource management.
Intra-cluster resource allocation is achieved through contention among UEs within the same cluster. Inter-cluster resource allocation is enabled through resource multiplexing between different clusters. This mechanism improves overall resource utilization and increases the access success rate.
UE clustering also allows high-priority UEs to be assigned more dedicated resources. This reduces interference from low-priority UEs and enables high-reliability and low-latency access. Such capability is essential for supporting advanced 6G services that require strict latency and reliability guarantees.
By combining intelligent clustering, dynamic association, and priority-aware resource allocation, UE clustering becomes a key enabler for scalable and efficient 6G access networks.
References
UE Clustering and Dynamic Access Management in 6G Networks
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