Signaling for inter-cell D2D discovery in an LTE network

• US 10,136,447 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel IP Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Chatterjee, Debdeep, Khoryaev, Alexey Vladimirovich, Panteleev, Sergey, Shilov, Mikhail
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Huy C
• Application Number:
  US15/717,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20180020459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 455518
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/17 Detection of non-compliance or faulty performance, e.g. response deviations H04B17/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/08 Load balancing or load distribution transferring a connection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0069 in case of dual connectivity, e.g. decoupled uplink/downlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00692 using simultaneous multiple data streams, e.g. cooperative multipoint [CoMP], carrier aggregation [CA] or multiple input multiple output [MIMO] allocation of physical resources in CoMP or in CA H04L5/0035
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/305 Handover due to radio link failure control signalling for hand-off failure H04W36/0079
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 : Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 : using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/346 : distributing total power among users or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 : Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 : Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/02 : by periodical registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 : based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 : based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 : using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 : based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 : in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 : Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 : Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 : Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 : Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 : Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 : Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 : between access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Embodiments of an enhanced node B (eNB), user equipment (UE) and methods of signaling for proximity services and device-to-device (D2D) discovery in an LTE network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the eNB may support inter-cell device-to-device (D2D) discovery by transmitting signaling, to a first user equipment (UE), to indicate configuration information for a D2D discovery resource pool including D2D resources configured by one or more neighboring cells. The configuration information includes timing offsets between a serving cell of the first UE and the one or more neighboring cells. Other apparatuses and methods are also described.

Claims

1. An apparatus of a user equipment (UE) comprising:

processing circuitry, the processing circuitry configured to;

decode signaling with discovery configuration information for sidelink communication, the discovery configuration information indicating a discovery resource pool with a set of subframes and a sidelink synchronization signal of a serving cell;

decode signaling indicating a synchronization offset between the sidelink synchronization signal and a sidelink synchronization signal associated with a cell of another UE; and

support inter-cell device-to-device (D2D) discovery by encoding for transmission to the another UE, the discovery configuration information based on the sidelink synchronization signal for the cell of the another UE acquired using the indicated synchronization offset; and

memory, the memory coupled to the processing circuitry and configured to store the synchronization offset.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the synchronization offset is indicated by a synchronization window with respect to a synchronization resource of the cell of the another UE indicated by higher layers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

encode for transmission to the cell of the another UE, the discovery configuration information, based on physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH) resources indicated by higher layers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signaling indicating the synchronization offset further indicates cell identification of the cell of the another UE.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

encode for periodic transmission to the cell of the another UE, a discovery announcement signal at the beginning of the discovery configuration information.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

encode for transmission the sidelink synchronization signal and the discovery announcement signal, wherein the transmission of the sidelink synchronization signal is more often than the transmission of the discovery announcement signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more antennas; and

transceiver circuitry coupled to the processing circuitry and the one or more antennas, and configured to transmit the discovery configuration information.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

encode a discovery announcement signal for transmission to the another UE, the discovery announcement signal including the sidelink synchronization signal and the discovery resource pool.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

encode the sidelink synchronization signal for transmission to the another UE.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

encode the synchronization signal for periodic transmission to the another UE, wherein the periodic transmission is more frequently than transmission of the discovery announcement signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted periodically according to a periodicity defined by the serving cell.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage device including instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one or more processors of a User Equipment (UE), cause the UE to perform operations to:

decode signaling with discovery configuration information of a first cell, the discovery configuration information including a sidelink synchronization signal;

decode signaling indicating a synchronization offset between the sidelink synchronization signal of the first cell and a sidelink synchronization signal of a second cell; and

support inter-cell device-to-device (D2D) discovery by encoding for transmission to the second cell, the discovery configuration information of the first cell, based on the sidelink synchronization signal of the second cell acquired using the indicated synchronization offset.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the signaling with the D2D discovery configuration information of the first cell is a higher layer signaling.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the synchronization offset is indicated by a synchronization window with respect to a synchronization resource of the second cell.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to:

encode for transmission to the second cell, the discovery configuration information, based on physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH) resources indicated by higher layers.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the signaling indicating the synchronization offset further indicates cell identification of the second cell.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

encode for periodic transmission to the second cell, a discovery announcement signal at the beginning of the discovery configuration information.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to:

encode for transmission to the second cell, the sidelink synchronization signal and the discovery announcement signal, wherein the transmission of the sidelink synchronization signal is more often than the transmission of the discovery announcement signal.

19. An evolved Node-B (eNB), comprising:

hardware processing circuitry configured to;

support sidelink discovery by encoding signaling for transmission to a first user equipment (UE) within a first cell associated with the eNB, to indicate configuration information for a discovery resource pool that has been configured by a second cell, wherein the configuration information includes a timing offset between the first cell of the first UE and the second cell, the timing offset indicative of a difference in timing synchronization between the first cell and the second cell; and

memory coupled to the hardware processing circuitry, the memory configured to store the timing offset.

20. The eNB of claim 19, wherein the hardware processing circuitry is further configured to:

allocate resources to the first UE for periodic transmission based on the timing offset, by the first UE, of synchronization information of the first cell to at least a second UE within the second cell.

21. The eNB of claim 20, wherein the resources include time resources for a discovery announcement signal at the beginning of each occurrence of the D2D discovery resource pool.

22. The eNB of claim 21, wherein the resources are allocated such that the first UE transmits the synchronization information more frequently than the first UE transmits the discovery announcement signal.

23. The eNB of claim 20, wherein the resources are limited, in the frequency dimension, to a set of physical resource block (PRB)-pairs, wherein the set of PRB-pairs are centrally located relative to system uplink bandwidth.

24. The eNB of claim 20, wherein the resources are limited, in the frequency dimension, to a set of physical resource block (PRB) pairs, wherein the set of PRB pairs are allocated according to a cell-specific offset with respect to the center of the system uplink bandwidth.

25. The eNB of claim 20, wherein the hardware processing circuitry is further configured to:

limit transmission power for D2D transmissions on physical resource blocks (PRBs) other than those carrying the synchronization information on subframes allocated for transmission of discovery announcement signals or relayed synchronization signals so that the transmission power is less than a maximum transmission power.