Mobile communication system having radio terminal(s) that communicate directly with other radio terminal(s)

• US 10,070,363 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Kashiwase, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Latorre, Ivan O
• Application Number:
  US14/431,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20150237555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,805 Days
• Field of Search: 370216, 370241, 370279, 370315, 370328, 370329, 370331, 455 7, 455 111, 4554141, 455518
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/033 in pre-organised networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1443 between licensed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communication system comprises: a switching control unit that controls switching of communication to be performed by the second radio terminal between the first communication and the second communication, on the basis of received quality of a downlink signal received in the second radio terminal from the radio base station when the first radio terminal performs the first communication. The first radio terminal relays user data, which is transferred through the second communication, between the second radio terminal and the radio base station when the first radio terminal performs the first communication and the second radio terminal performs the second communication.

Claims

1. A mobile communication method, comprising:

performing, by a first radio terminal, a relay between a second radio terminal and a radio base station by direct device to device (D2D) communication;

transmitting, from the second radio terminal to the first radio terminal, a first message for requesting a release of a connection of the D2D communication between the first radio terminal and the second radio terminal; and

transmitting, from the first radio terminal to a network apparatus being a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a second message for notifying that the connection between the first radio terminal and the second user terminal has been released, after the first radio terminal receives the first message.

2. The mobile communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

measuring, by the second radio terminal, received power of a downlink signal from the radio base station; and

transmitting, from the second radio terminal to the first radio terminal, the first message in response to the measured received power exceeding a threshold value.

5. The mobile communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

releasing, by the second user terminal, the connection between the first radio terminal and the second radio terminal in response to a reception of the first message from the first radio terminal, wherein

in transmitting the second message, the second user terminal transmits the second message in response to the release of the connection between the first radio terminal and the second radio terminal.

3. A first radio terminal, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein

the processor is configured to;

perform a relay between a second radio terminal and a radio base station by direct device to device (D2D) communication between the first radio terminal and the second radio terminal;

receive, from the second radio terminal, a first message for requesting a release of a connection of the D2D communication; and

transmit, to a network apparatus being a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a second message for notifying that the connection between the first radio terminal and the second user terminal has been released, after receiving the first message.

4. A processor for controlling a first radio terminal,

the processor coupled to a memory and configured to:

perform a relay between a second radio terminal and a radio base station by direct device to device (D2D) communication between the first radio terminal and the second radio terminal;

receive, from the second radio terminal, a first message for requesting a release of a connection of the D2D communication; and

transmit, to a network apparatus being a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a second message for notifying that the connection between the first radio terminal and the second user terminal has been released, after receiving the first message.