Adaptive resource allocation for simultaneous operation of cellular and device to device communications

• US 10,178,689 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2013
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Yilmaz, Osman, Li, Zexian, Uusitalo, Mikko, Moisio, Martti, Malkamaki, Esa, Li, Haitao
• Primary Examiner(s): Crutchfield, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US14/899,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20160143052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1263 Mapping of traffic onto schedule, e.g. scheduled allocation or multiplexing of flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1268 of uplink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: detect that a mode change is required; and in response to the detection that a mode change is required, select a mode for resource allocation, wherein the mode is selected based on a command received by the apparatus or the mode is selected from a plurality of modes which comprises a first mode and a second mode, and wherein in the first mode the cellular communication and device to device communication are separated in time, and in the second mode the cellular communication and device to device communication take place simultaneously.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, at an apparatus having a first transceiver and a second transceiver, that a mode change is required;

in response to the detection that a mode change is required;

selecting a mode for resource allocation, wherein the mode is selected based at least on a command received by the apparatus, wherein the mode is selected from a plurality of modes comprising a first mode and a second mode, wherein the apparatus in the first mode uses the first transceiver to engage in cellular communication and the second transceiver to engage in device to device communication at separate times, and wherein the apparatus in the second mode simultaneously uses the first transceiver to engage in cellular communication and the second transceiver to engage in device to device communication; and

sending, to a base station, a request to adjust a discontinuous reception period and/or a discontinuous transmission period associated with the cellular communication, the discontinuous reception period and/or the discontinuous transmission period being adjusted in accordance with the selected mode for resource allocation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes further comprises a third mode, and wherein the apparatus in the third mode uses the first transceiver to engage in cellular communication and the second transceiver to engage in device to device communication in part at separate times and in part simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mode change is required in response to detecting that a transmission power for simultaneously using the first transceiver to engage in cellular communication and the second transceiver to engage in device to device communication exceeds a threshold, and wherein the mode change comprises selecting at least one of the first mode and the third mode for resource allocation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mode change is required in response to detecting that a transmission power for simultaneously using the first transceiver to engage in cellular communication and the second transceiver to engage in device to device communication does not exceed a threshold, and wherein the mode change comprises selecting at least one of the second mode and the third mode for resource allocation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the detection that the mode change is required, sending a resource allocation mode change request to at least one of a paired device and the base station.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a resource allocation message from at least one of a paired device and the base station.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the resource allocation message comprises at least one of the following:

subframe numbers that the apparatus are scheduled or not scheduled, discontinuous reception offset, discontinuous reception cycle, and power allocation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises at least one of a mode switch command, a scheduling decision, a scheduling restriction, discontinuous reception configuration, and discontinuous transmission configuration.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that a mode change is required comprises receiving a mode switch command from the base station or a paired device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reporting power required for device to device communication in a power headroom report message to the base station.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to the selection of the first mode of resource allocation, the base station is requested to adjust the discontinuous reception period and/or the discontinuous transmission period such periods of device to device communication align with silent periods of cellular communication.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to the selection of the second mode of resource allocation, the base station is requested to adjust the discontinuous reception period and/or the discontinuous transmission period such that periods of cellular communication coincide with periods of device to device communication.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

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

detect that a mode change is required;

in response to the detection that a mode change is required;

select a mode for resource allocation, wherein the mode is selected based at least on a command received by the apparatus, wherein the mode is selected from a plurality of modes comprising a first mode and a second mode, wherein the apparatus in the first mode uses a first transceiver to engage in cellular communication and a second transceiver to engage in device to device communication at separate times, and wherein the apparatus in the second mode simultaneously uses the first transceiver to engage in cellular communication and the second transceiver to engage in device to device communication; and

send, to a base station, a request to adjust a discontinuous reception period and/or a discontinuous transmission period associated with the cellular communication, the discontinuous reception period and/or the discontinuous transmission period being adjusted in accordance with the selected mode for resource allocation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of modes further comprises a third mode, and wherein the apparatus in the third mode uses the first transceiver to engage in cellular communication and the second transceiver to engage in device to device communication in part at separate times and in part simultaneously.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mode change is required in response to detecting that a transmission power for simultaneously using the first transceiver to engage in cellular communication and the second transceiver to engage in device to device communication exceeds a threshold, and wherein the mode change comprises selecting at least one of the first mode and the third mode for resource allocation.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mode change is required in response to a detection of a transmission power for simultaneously using the first transceiver to engage in cellular communication and the second transceiver to engage in device to device communication does not exceed a threshold, and wherein the mode change comprises a selection of at least one of the second mode and the third mode for resource allocation.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to at least:

in response to the detection that a mode change is required, send a resource allocation mode change request to at least one of a paired device and the base station.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to at least:

receive a resource allocation message from at least one of a paired device and the base station.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the resource allocation message comprises at least one of the following:

subframe numbers that the apparatus are scheduled or not scheduled, discontinuous reception offset, discontinuous reception cycle, and power allocation.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the command comprises at least one of a mode switch command, a scheduling decision, a scheduling restriction, discontinuous reception configuration, and discontinuous transmission configuration.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detection that the mode change is required comprises a receipt of a mode switch command from the base station or a paired device.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to at least:

report power required for device to device communication in a power headroom report message to the base station.