Selection of scheduling policy for network communications links and D2D communications links

• US 10,009,900 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lindoff, Bengt, Fodor, Gabor, Kazmi, Muhammad, Parkvall, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shand, Roberta A
• Application Number:
  US14/784,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20160081073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/535 based on resource usage policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A network node (310) comprising a radio frequency communications interface (230) and a controller (210), said network node (310) being configured to service at least one first radio frequency communication device (320) being configured for both network communication and for device-to-device communication with a second radio frequency communication device (325), wherein said controller (210) is configured to determine if a restriction of a scheduling policy is necessary for said first radio frequency communication device (320), select a scheduling policy accordingly. The controller is further configured to allocate communication resources according to said selected scheduling policy to said first radio frequency communication device (320). The scheduling policy is one which enables simultaneous network communication and device-to-device communication in said same transmission time interval (A, B, C, D, E) or one which enables either network communication or device-to-device communication in said same transmission time interval.

Claims

1. A network node comprising a radio frequency communications interface and a controller, said network node being configured to service at least one first radio frequency communication device being configured for both network communication and for device-to-device communication with a second radio frequency communication device, wherein said controller is configured to:

determine if a restriction of a scheduling policy is necessary for said first radio frequency communication device;

select a scheduling policy accordingly; and

allocate communication resources according to said selected scheduling policy to said first radio frequency communication device,

wherein if it is determined said restriction of said scheduling policy is not necessary, then said scheduling policy is one which enables network communication and device-to-device communication in said same transmission time interval, and if it is determined said restriction of said scheduling policy is necessary, then said scheduling policy is one which enables either network communication or device-to-device communication in said same transmission time interval; and

receive a recommendation on a scheduling policy from said first radio frequency communication device and to base said determination if a restriction of said scheduling policy is necessary on said recommendation;

configure the first radio frequency communication device for generating said recommendation based on such configuration;

only transmit said allocated resources to said first radio frequency communication device during a mode selection occasion if the scheduling policy enables simultaneous network communication and device-to-device communication in said same transmission time interval.

2. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said transmission time interval is a subframe.

3. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to determine a capability of said first radio frequency communication device, which capability indicates that the first radio frequency communication device is capable of performing simultaneous network communication and device-to-device communication in the same transmission time interval;

and

determine if said restriction of said scheduling policy is necessary based on said capability of said first radio frequency communication device.

4. The network node according to claim 3, wherein the capability information further comprises one or more of a) information of capability of simultaneously transmitting signals b) Maximum allowed D2D/network TX power imbalance handling capability;

and c) in-band emission level handling support.

5. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to base said determination if a restriction of said scheduling policy is necessary on radio measurements for said first radio frequency communication device.

6. The network node according to claim 5, wherein said controller is further configured to generate said radio measurements by performing measurements or by estimating said radio measurements.

7. The network node according to claim 5, wherein said controller is further configured to receive said radio measurements from said first radio frequency communication device.

8. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to obtain location information on said first radio frequency communication device and to base said determination if a restriction of said scheduling policy is necessary based on said location information.

9. The network node according to claim 8, wherein said location information comprises a location of said first radio frequency communication device or a relative distance of said first radio frequency communication device.

10. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to base said determination if a restriction of said scheduling policy is necessary based on a load of network cell of said network node.

11. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to transmit said allocated resources to said first radio frequency communication device during a mode selection occasion wherein the network node selects and signals the scheduling policy to said first radio frequency communication device.

12. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to determine if a restriction of said scheduling policy is necessary periodically.

13. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to detect a triggering event and, in response thereto, determine if a restriction of said scheduling policy is necessary.

14. The network node according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to allocate communication resources according to said selected scheduling policy to said first radio frequency communication device by transmitting an indication of which one of a plurality of pre-defined scheduling policies, the first radio frequency communication device should utilize.

15. A method for use in a network node configured to service at least one first radio frequency communication device being configured for both network communication and for device-to-device communication with a second radio frequency communication device, said method comprising:

determining if a restriction of a scheduling policy is necessary for said first radio frequency communication device;

selecting a scheduling policy accordingly; and

allocating communication resources according to said selected scheduling policy to said first radio frequency communication device,

wherein if it is determined said restriction of said scheduling policy is not necessary, then said scheduling policy is one which enables network communication and device-to-device communication in said same transmission time interval, and if it is determined said restriction of said scheduling policy is necessary, then said scheduling policy is one which enables either network communication or device-to-device communication in said same transmission time interval; and

receiving a recommendation on a scheduling policy from said first radio frequency communication device and to base said determination if a restriction of said scheduling policy is necessary on said recommendation;

configuring the first radio frequency communication device for generating said recommendation based on such configuration;

transmitting only said allocated resources to said first radio frequency communication device during a mode selection occasion if the scheduling policy enables simultaneous network communication and device-to-device communication in said same transmission time interval.

22. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when loaded and executed on a processor, causes the method according to claim 15 to be performed.

16. A first radio frequency communication device comprising a radio frequency communications interface and a controller, wherein said controller is configured to:

establish a network communication link with a network node and said first radio frequency communication device and to;

establish a device-to-device communication link with a second radio frequency communication device and said first radio frequency communication device via said RF communication interface;

assess whether transmission on both of said network communication link with said network node and said first radio frequency communication device, and said device-to-device communication link with said second radio frequency communication device and said first radio frequency communication device is suitable according to a scheduling policy;

generate a recommendation on said scheduling policy based on said assessment; and

to;

transmit said recommendation to said network node; and

perform said assessment prior to establishment of both of said network communication link with said network node and said first radio frequency communication device, and said device-to-device communication link with said second radio frequency communication device and said first radio frequency communication device;

wherein said assessment is performed autonomously based on pre-defined rules.

17. The first radio frequency communication device according to claim 16, wherein said controller is further configured to perform said assessment during ongoing communication.

18. The first radio frequency communication device according to claim 16, wherein said controller is configured to perform said assessment autonomously, based on pre-defined rules, according to a configuration received from the network node and/or when requested by the network node to carry out the assessment.

19. The first radio frequency communication device according to claim 16, wherein said controller is configured to receive allocated resources from said network node and to determine if said received allocated resources are compatible with a current scheduling policy and configure its communication with said network node and said second radio frequency communication device accordingly.

20. The first radio frequency communication device according to claim 16, wherein said controller is configured to signal information about a capability to said network node, which capability indicates that the first radio frequency communication device is capable of performing simultaneous network communication and device-to-device communication in the same transmission time interval.

21. A method for use in a first radio frequency communication device comprising a radio frequency communications interface and a controller, said method comprising:

establishing a network communication link with a network node and said first radio frequency communication device;

establishing a device-to-device communication link with a second radio frequency communication device and said first radio frequency communication device via said RF communication interface;

assessing whether transmission on both of said network communication link with said network node and said first radio frequency communication device, and said device-to-device communication link with said second radio frequency communication device and said first radio frequency communication device is suitable according to a scheduling policy;

generating a recommendation on said scheduling policy based on said assessment; and

transmitting said recommendation to said network node; and

performing said assessment prior to establishment of both of said network communication link with said network node and said first radio frequency communication device, and said device-to-device communication link with said second radio frequency communication device and said first radio frequency communication device;

wherein said assessment is performed autonomously based on pre-defined rules.