Cell search for D2D enabled UEs in out of network coverage

• US 10,212,650 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Thangarasa, Santhan, Kazmi, Muhammad, Axmon, Joakim, Sorrentino, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Amancio
• Application Number:
  US15/815,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20180098274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 455434
• 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 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• 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 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

There is disclosed a method for operating a D2D enabled UE for a cellular communication network. The method comprises performing a cell search in an out of coverage condition of the UE, wherein performing a cell search is based on a first measurement configuration during a first phase, and based on a second measurement configuration during a second phase, wherein the first measurement configuration pertains to a carrier whose sidelink is preconfigured for ProSe operation in out of network coverage operation.

The disclosure also pertains to related methods and devices.

Claims

1. A Device-to-Device, D2D, enabled User Equipment, UE, for a cellular communication network, the D2D enabled UE comprising control circuitry adapted for performing a cell search in an out of coverage condition of the D2D enabled UE, wherein performing the cell search is based on a first measurement configuration during a first phase, and performing the cell search is based on a second measurement configuration during a second phase, wherein the first measurement configuration pertains to a carrier whose sidelink is preconfigured for D2D operation in an out of network coverage operation and wherein a first set of carriers that is searched based on the first measurement configuration during the first phase comprises less than all of a second set of carriers that is searched based on the second measurement configuration during the second phase.

2. The D2D enabled UE of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises one or more of a processor, a microprocessor, and a microcontroller.

3. The D2D enabled UE of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device and/or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) device.

4. The D2D enabled UE of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises, or is configured to couple to, memory configured to be accessible for reading and/or writing by the control circuitry.

5. The D2D enabled UE of claim 1, wherein the second phase is not performed if the D2D enabled UE detects a cell during the first phase.

6. A network node for a wireless communication network, the network node comprising control circuitry adapted for configuring a Device-to-Device, D2D, enabled User Equipment, UE, with a first measurement configuration for performing a cell search during a first phase and a second measurement configuration for performing a cell search during a second phase, wherein the first measurement configuration pertains to a carrier whose sidelink is preconfigured for D2D operation in an out of network coverage operation and wherein a first set of carriers that is searched based on the first measurement configuration during the first phase comprises less than all of a second set of carriers that is searched based on the second measurement configuration during the second phase.

7. The network node of claim 6, wherein the control circuitry comprises one or more of a processor, a microprocessor, and a microcontroller.

8. The network node of claim 6, wherein the control circuitry comprises a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device and/or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) device.

9. The network node of claim 6, wherein the control circuitry comprises, or is configured to couple to, memory configured to be accessible for reading and/or writing by the control circuitry.

10. The network node of claim 6, wherein the second phase is not performed if the D2d enabled UE detects a cell during the first phase.

11. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program having instructions executable by control circuitry, the instructions which, when executed, cause the control circuitry to perform a cell search in an out of coverage condition of a Device-to-Device, D2D enabled User Equipment, UE, wherein performing the cell search is based on a first measurement configuration during a first phase, and performing the cell search is based on a second measurement configuration during a second phase, wherein the first measurement configuration pertains to a carrier whose sidelink is preconfigured for D2D operation in an out of network coverage operation and wherein a first set of carriers that is searched based on the first measurement configuration during the first phase comprises less than all of a second set of carriers that is searched based on the second measurement configuration during the second phase.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions are configured to be stored in an associated memory or storage medium.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions are configured to be provided as software.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions are configured to be provided as firmware.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions are configured to be executable by control circuitry comprising a processor.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions are configured to be stored in the D2D enabled UE and the instructions are executable by control circuitry in the D2D enabled UE.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions are configured to be stored in a network node adapted for configuring the D2D enabled UE, and wherein the instructions are executable by control circuitry in the network node.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed, are configured to cause a computing device to control or configure the D2D enabled UE to perform the cell search when executed by the computing device.

19. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when excuted, are configured to cause a computing device to control or configure a network node to perform the cell search when executed by the computing device.

20. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the storage medium is one or more of a computer-readable medium selected from a group consisting of:

an optical disc, magnetic memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, flash memory, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), buffer memory, cache memory, and a database.