Method and apparatus for establishing peer-to-peer communication

• US 10,051,050 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2014
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zeira, Eldad M., Deng, Tao, Pragada, Ravikumar V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, LAN-HUONG
• Application Number:
  US14/529,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20150055634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1078 Resource delivery mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for establishing peer-to-peer communication in a wireless network is described. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may receive configuration information comprising periodic resources comprising time and subcarrier resources from a base station of a wireless network. The time and subcarrier resources may be used in discovery of other WTRUs. The WTRU is further configured to transmit an identification in the allocated resources and to transmit a synchronization signal to a peer WTRU for timing synchronization of the peer WTRU.

Claims

1. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:

a receiver configured to receive configuration information from a base station of a wireless network, the configuration information indicating a pattern of time resources for use in peer-to-peer communications; and

a transmitter configured to;

transmit, to at least one peer WTRU, control information in one of the time resources in the pattern for use in peer-to-peer communications, wherein the control information includes a group identifier (ID) indicating a peer group comprising the at least one peer WTRU intended for receiving the control information and an indication of resources used for transmission of peer data; and

transmit, to the at least one peer WTRU, peer data in the indicated resources for use in peer-to-peer communications.

2. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the receiver is further configured to receive, from the base station, power control information and an assignment of subcarriers to transmit the peer data.

3. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the peer-to-peer communications is event triggered.

4. The WTRU of claim 1 further comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine a path loss to the one or more peer WTRUs in the peer group that are time synchronized.

5. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the wireless network is a long term evolution (LTE) network.

6. A method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), configuration information from a base station of a wireless network, the configuration information indicating a pattern of time resources for use in peer-to-peer communications;

transmitting, by the WTRU to at least one peer WTRU, control information in one of the time resources in the pattern for use in peer-to-peer communications, wherein the control information includes a group identifier (ID) indicating a peer group comprising the at least one peer WTRU intended for receiving the control information and an indication of resources used for transmission of peer data; and

transmitting, by the WTRU, to the at least one peer WTRU, peer data in the indicated resources for use in peer-to-peer communications.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving by the WTRU, from the base station, power control information and an assignment of subcarriers to transmit the peer data.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the peer-to-peer communications is event triggered.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining a path loss to the one or more peer WTRUs in the peer group that are time synchronized.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the wireless network is a long term evolution (LTE) network.