Method and apparatus for facilitating device-to-device communications

• US 10,091,710 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Van Phan, Vinh, Yu, Ling, Horneman, Kari Veikko, Li, Zexian, Shu, Kodo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bilodeau, David
• Application Number:
  US15/024,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20160219394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• 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 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus can be configured to update status information on channel resources. The channel resources are configured for device-to-device communication by a cluster-wise manner. The method can also include transmitting the status information by using broadcasting resources.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a cluster member of a device-to-device cluster, status information about occupied and free channel resources from a cluster head of the device-to-device cluster;

transmitting on a selected free channel resource, wherein the selected free channel resource is a free channel that the cluster member wishes to occupy;

monitoring, by the cluster member, for updated status information on channel resources received from the cluster head for obtaining information whether the cluster member may occupy the at least one channel; and

if, in the updated status information received from the cluster head, the at least one channel is informed to be occupied, then the cluster member may occupy the at least one channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting the request message comprises transmitting an identity of the cluster member or a reason for the request.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

if, in the latest updated status information, the at least one channel is informed to be occupied,

transmitting on the at least one channel; and

if, in the latest updated status information, the at least one channel is informed free,

transmitting a request message to the cluster head of the device-to-device cluster, wherein the request message comprises a request to occupy at least one other channel.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring broadcasting resources.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring the latest updated status information on the channel resources for obtaining information whether an occupied channel can be occupied by the cluster member.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to

receive status information about occupied and free channel resources from a cluster head of a device-to-device cluster, wherein the apparatus is a cluster member of the device-to-device cluster;

transmit on a selected free channel resource, wherein the selected at least one free channel resource is a free channel that the apparatus wishes to occupy;

monitor for updated status information on channel resources received from the cluster head for obtaining information whether the apparatus may occupy the at least one channel or not; and

if, in the updated status information received from the cluster head, the at least one channel is informed to be occupied, then the apparatus may occupy the at least one channel.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein transmitting the request message comprises transmitting an identity of the apparatus or a reason for the request.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein if, in the latest updated status information, the at least one channel is informed to be occupied,

the apparatus is caused to transmit on the at least one channel;

and

if, in the latest updated status information, the at least one channel is informed free,

the apparatus is caused to transmit a request message to the cluster head of the device-to-device cluster, wherein the request message comprises a request to occupy at least one other channel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring broadcasting resources.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring the latest updated status information on the channel resources for obtaining information whether an occupied channel can be occupied by the apparatus.