Prioritized synchronization signals and mechanism for distributed device-to-device systems

• US 10,091,709 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel IP Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Rongzhen, Niu, Huaning, Yin, Hujun, Li, Qinghua
• Primary Examiner(s): Mohebbi, Kouroush
• Application Number:
  US14/779,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20160037466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a user equipment (“UE”) that is to transmit and receive signals associated with synchronization. The UE may be receive signals associated with synchronization from a plurality of synchronization sources, such as an evolved Node B (“eNB”), a global navigation satellite system (“GNSS”), or another UE. The UE may synchronize to a signal received from a synchronization source based on a priority associated with that synchronization source and/or signal. However, if the UE does not receive any signals associated with synchronization, the UE may generate and transmit a signal that indicates a request for synchronization.

Claims

1. An apparatus to be included in a user equipment (“

UE”

), the apparatus comprising;

processing circuitry;

to attempt to detect a plurality of source signals from a plurality of synchronization sources, to synchronize to a first source signal of the plurality of source signals where the first source signal is detected, and

to generate a first synchronization request signal where the plurality of source signals is not detected; and

communications circuitry, communicatively coupled with the processing circuitry, to transmit the first synchronization request signal where the first synchronization request signal is generated,

wherein the first source signal is directly from an evolved Node B (“

eNB”

) or forwarded from the eNB by another UE and the processing circuitry, upon detecting the first source signal and a second source signal from a global navigation satellite system (“

GNSS”

), is to synchronize with the first source signal based on a relatively higher priority associated with the eNB as compared to the GNSS.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications circuitry is to transmit the first synchronization request signal and a synchronization reference signal on a spectrum associated with public safety.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of synchronization sources includes a second UE associated with public safety.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the UE in which the apparatus is to be included is a public safety device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is to generate a synchronization reference signal if the first source signal is directly from the eNB, wherein the synchronization reference signal is not generated if the first source signal is forwarded by another UE.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications circuitry is to transmit a synchronization reference signal based on a second synchronization request signal, the communications circuitry is further to receive the second synchronization request signal from an obstructed UE.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is to attempt to detect the plurality of source signals by passively scanning a radio spectrum.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the radio spectrum includes a first spectrum associated with a mobile network operator and a second spectrum associated with public safety.

9. An apparatus to be included in a user equipment (“

UE”

), the apparatus comprising;

processing circuitry to synchronize to a first source signal of a plurality of source signals based on predetermined parameters, each source signal of the plurality of source signals to be associated with a respective synchronization source, and to start an ad hoc network where the first source signal is a synchronization request signal associated with a UE synchronization source; and

communications circuitry, communicatively coupled with the processing circuitry, to passively scan a radio spectrum for the plurality of source signals, to receive the first source signal, and to transmit a synchronization reference signal where the synchronization source associated with the first source signal is not the UE synchronization source,

wherein the predetermined parameters associate;

a first priority with the first source signal;

a second priority, which is less than the first priority, with a second source signal; and

a third priority, which is less than the second priority, with a third source signal, wherein the first source signal is to be received directly from an evolved Node B (“

eNB”

), the second source signal is to be received directly from a public safety device that received a synchronization signal directly from an eNB, and the third source signal is to be received directly or indirectly from a global navigation satellite service (“

GNSS”

).

10. The apparatus of claim 9,

wherein the communications circuitry is further to continue to scan the radio spectrum for the plurality of source signals after the processing circuitry has synchronized to the second or third source signals, and to receive the first source signal, and

further wherein the processing circuitry is further to synchronize to the received first source signal, instead of the second or third source signals, based on the first priority being higher than the second and third priorities.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communications circuitry is to receive the synchronization request signal on a first spectrum associated with public safety.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communications circuitry is to transmit the synchronization reference signal on a first spectrum associated with public safety.

13. A computer-implemented method to be performed in a user equipment (“

UE”

), the method comprising;

passively scanning a radio spectrum to detect a plurality of source signals;

detecting a first source signal received directly from an evolved Node B (“

eNB”

) and a second source signal from a global navigation satellite system (“

GNSS”

);

selecting, based on a relatively higher priority associated with the eNB as compared to the GNSS, the first source signal of the plurality of source signals that is detected from the passively scanning;

synchronizing to the selected first source signal;

receiving a synchronization request signal from a geographically proximate UE;

generating a synchronization reference signal based on the selected first source signal; and

transmitting the synchronization reference signal to the geographically proximate UE based on the synchronization request signal.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first source signal is detected on a first spectrum of the radio spectrum that is associated with a mobile network operator and further wherein the transmitting the synchronization reference signal comprises:

transmitting, on a second spectrum associated with public safety, the synchronization reference signal to the geographically proximate UE based on the synchronization request signal.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the geographically proximate UE is a public safety device adapted for proximity-based services.