Network assistance for device-to-device discovery
First Claim
1. A non-transitory device-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by processing circuitry of a User Equipment (UE) device, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processing circuitry to:
- generate a registration request to transmit to a proximity service function of a wireless network, the proximity service function operating at an evolved packet core (EPC) level of the wireless network;
generate a proximity request message to transmit to the proximity service function via the wireless network, the proximity request message comprising a request for notification by the wireless network when a second UE is proximate to the UE for direct communication with the second UE via a wireless local area network (WLAN);
process a proximity response message received from the proximity service function via the wireless network, the proximity response message comprising an alert that the second UE is proximate to the UE and a WLAN peer-to-peer (P2P) device identifier for the second UE, the alert being in response to the request for notification; and
establish a WLAN P2P connection with the second UE using the WLAN P2P identifier for the second UE.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of system and method configurations for device discovery and connection establishment in connection with use of device-to-device (D2D) and proximity-based services are generally described herein. In some examples, an evolved packet core (EPC) of a 3GPP Long Term Evolution or 3GPP Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE/LTE-A) network is arranged to assist D2D identification and discovery procedures at user equipment (UEs) connected to the LTE/LTE-A network. Various identification and discovery procedures may be implemented in connection with proximity detection and the establishment of communication times for the establishment of the D2D communication link, between the UEs. Accordingly, the EPC of the LTE/LTE-A network may assist the establishment of a device-to-device communication link between UEs on a wireless network employing a distinct wireless protocol (for example, a direct wireless network connection via a wireless local area network (WLAN) or wireless personal area network (WPAN)).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A non-transitory device-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by processing circuitry of a User Equipment (UE) device, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processing circuitry to:
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generate a registration request to transmit to a proximity service function of a wireless network, the proximity service function operating at an evolved packet core (EPC) level of the wireless network; generate a proximity request message to transmit to the proximity service function via the wireless network, the proximity request message comprising a request for notification by the wireless network when a second UE is proximate to the UE for direct communication with the second UE via a wireless local area network (WLAN); process a proximity response message received from the proximity service function via the wireless network, the proximity response message comprising an alert that the second UE is proximate to the UE and a WLAN peer-to-peer (P2P) device identifier for the second UE, the alert being in response to the request for notification; and establish a WLAN P2P connection with the second UE using the WLAN P2P identifier for the second UE. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Processing circuitry of a User Equipment (UE) device, comprising:
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network communication circuitry to; transmit a registration request to a proximity service function of a 3GPP wireless network, the proximity service function operating at an evolved packet core (EPC) level of the wireless network; transmit a proximity request message to the proximity service function via the wireless network, the proximity request message comprising a request for notification by the network when a second UE is proximate to the UE for direct communication with the second UE via a wireless local area network (WLAN); receive a proximity response message from the proximity service function via the wireless network, the proximity response message comprising an alert that the second UE is proximate to the UE and a WLAN peer-to-peer (P2P) device identifier for the second UE, the alert being in response to the request for notification; and WLAN direct connection circuitry to establish a WLAN P2P connection with the second UE, in response to the alert in the proximity response message, using the WLAN P2P identifier for the second UE. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus of an evolved packet core (EPC) network equipment, comprising:
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processing circuitry; and at least one storage medium embodying instructions to be executed via the processing circuitry, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processing circuitry to; process proximity service registration request messages received from a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE of a first wireless network; process a proximity request message received from the first UE via the first wireless network, the proximity request message comprising a request for notification when the second UE is proximate to the first UE for direct communication with the second UE via a second wireless network different than the first wireless network; process UE location information received from the first UE and the second UE via the first wireless network; detect when the second UE is proximate to the first UE based, at least in part, on the received UE location information from the first UE and the second UE; and in response to a detection that the second UE is proximate to the first UE, cause transmission of an alert message to the first UE, via the first wireless network, based on information in the received proximity request message. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification