Group procedures for machine type communication devices

• US 10,448,294 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gomes, Sylvie, Pani, Diana, Anepu, Bhaskar M., Cave, Christopher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US15/853,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20180115932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• 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 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Systems, methods, and instrumentalities to optimize procedures relating to machine type communication devices. Individual UEs may be grouped together in order to optimize procedures relating to members of the group. For example, a group of UE devices may be predefined or a group may be configured by a network associated with the UEs. One or more of the members of the group may be designated as a special UE or a master UE. The special UE or master UE may perform an action on behalf of one or more members of the group.

Claims

1. A method of machine communication, comprising:

receiving, by a first UE, an indication that the first UE is a member of a group of UEs, the group of UEs associated with a first communication cell associated with a first base station;

receiving, by the first UE, an indication that a second UE in the group of UEs is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group;

in response to the indication that the second UE is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group, determining, by the first UE, not to perform operations performed by the second UE on behalf of the group; and

receiving, by the first UE, an indication the group of UEs is to change its association from the first communication cell associated with the first base station to a second communication cell associated with a second base station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first UE, an indication that the second UE is no longer designated to perform operations on behalf of the group; and

in response to the indication the second UE is no longer designated to perform operations on behalf of the group, determining, by the first UE, to perform operations the second UE had been designated to perform on behalf of the group.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining to perform operations the second UE had been designated to perform on behalf of the group comprises determining to perform measurements of neighboring cells.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving an indication that the second UE is no longer designated to perform operations on behalf of the group comprises receiving a paging message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication that a second UE in the group of UEs is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group comprises receiving an RRC message indicating that a second UE in the group of UEs is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first UE, an indication that the second UE is no longer designated to perform operations on behalf of the group; and

receiving, by the first UE, an indication that a third UE in the group is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving an indication that a third UE in the group is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group comprises receiving a paging message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving an indication a third UE in the group is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group comprises receiving an RRC message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein determining, by the first UE, not to perform operations performed by the second UE on behalf of the group comprises determining, by the first UE, not to perform measurements of neighboring cells.

10. A method for machine communication, comprising:

determining, by a network node, a first user equipment (UE) belongs to a group of UEs associated with a first communication cell associated with a first base station;

selecting, by the network node, the first UE in the group of UEs to perform operations on behalf of the group of UEs;

receiving, by the network node, cell measurements from the first UE;

receiving, by the network node, from the first UE an indication of associating with a second communication cell associated with a second base station;

determining, by the network node, in response to the indication of associating with a second communication cell from the first UE, that the group of UEs should associate with the second communication cell; and

sending, by the network node, an indication the group of UEs is to change association to the second communication cell.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, by the network node, the first UE should no longer be designated to perform operations on behalf of the group of UEs; and

sending, by the network node, to the group of UEs an indication the first UE is no longer designated to perform operations on behalf of the group of UEs.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the first UE should no longer be designated to perform operations on behalf of the group of UEs comprises determining the first UE is no longer communicating with the network node.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the first UE should no longer be designated to perform operations on behalf of the group comprises receiving a notification that the first UE is leaving the group of UEs.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending, by the network node, an indication that a second UE in the group of UEs is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group.

15. The method of claim 10,

wherein determining a first UE belongs to a group of UEs comprises determining that the first UE moves with the group of UEs.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining that the first UE moves with the group of UEs comprises determining neighbor cell measurements from the first UE are approximately the same as other UEs in the group.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

communicating, by the network node, an indication the first UE is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group of UEs.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein communicating an indication the first UE is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group of UEs comprises communicating the indication the first UE is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group of UEs to all UEs in the group.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein communicating an indication the first UE is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group of UEs comprises communicating an indication the first UE is designated to perform operations on behalf of the group during a registration process.