Methods, apparatus, and systems for determining communication priority

• US 10,462,807 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Wallentin, Pontus, Sorrentino, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Asad M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cairns, Thomas R
• Application Number:
  US15/305,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 of the traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A method includes determining, by a network device, a priority for communicating data. The method further includes determining a priority indicator based on the determined priority. The method further includes communicating, by the network device, the priority indicator included within a scheduling assignment (SA) to a data transmitter. The method further includes communicating, by the network device, the data. The data has a priority level that exceeds a predetermined priority threshold.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a network device for managing device-to-device (D2D) communications, the method comprising:

determining, by the network device, a priority for communicating data;

measuring by the network device, an amount of traffic for a resource, wherein the determined priority is based on;

at least the measured amount of traffic; and

different sets of values associated with different levels of quality of service (QoS);

determining a priority indicator based on the determined priority, wherein the priority indicator indicates priority based on a distance between different network devices;

communicating, by the network device, the priority indicator included within a scheduling assignment (SA) to a data transmitter for communicating data,

wherein the priority indicator provides an indication to use or not use a resource to the data transmitter such that the data transmitter uses the resource in accordance with the priority indicator and modifies its own behavior based upon reception of the priority indicator; and

communicating, by the network device, the data, in response to a priority level, of the determined priority, that exceeds a predetermined priority threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resource is associated with a cellular network and time and frequencies associated with the cellular network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the SA may be sent to multiple receivers within a broadcast transmission and using particular values as part of the SA.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication of the data is associated with the D2D communications.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the priority indicator is communicated to a receiving device that uses a resource in accordance with the priority indicator.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the receiving device refrains from using the resource in response to determining that the priority indicator indicates that the resource is not free.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein, in response to determining that the priority indicator indicates that the resource is free, the receiving device communicates data that has a priority level that is below the predetermined priority threshold.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the SA does not carry an address and is read by all receivers.

9. A network device for managing device-to-device (D2D) communications, the network device comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, said computer readable medium containing instructions executable by the processor, whereby the device is operative to;

determine a priority for communicating data;

measure an amount traffic for a resource, wherein the determined priority is based on;

at least the measured amount of traffic; and

different sets of values associated with different levels of quality of service (QoS);

determine a priority indicator based on the determined priority;

communicate the priority indicator included within a scheduling assignment (SA) to a data transmitter for communicating data, wherein the priority indicator indicates priority based on a distance between different network devices,

wherein the priority indicator provides an indication to use or not use a resource to the data transmitter such that the modifies its own behavior based upon reception of the priority indicator; and

communicate the data, in response to a priority level, of the determined priority, that exceeds a predetermined priority threshold.

10. The network device according to claim 9, wherein the resource is associated with a cellular network and time and frequencies associated with the cellular network.

11. The network device according to claim 9, wherein the SA may be sent to multiple receivers within a broadcast transmission and using particular values as part of the SA.

12. The network device according to claim 9, wherein the transmission of the data is associated with the D2D communications.

13. The network device according to claim 9, wherein the SA does not carry an address and is read by all receivers.

14. The network device according to claim 9, wherein the network device is at least one of a base station and a user equipment.

15. The network device according to claim 9, wherein the priority indicator is communicated to a receiving device that uses a resource in accordance with the priority indicator.

16. The network device according to claim 15, wherein the receiving device refrains from using the resource in response to determining that the priority indicator indicates that the resource is not free.

17. The network device according to claim 15, wherein, in response to determining that the priority indicator indicates that the resource is free the receiving device communicates data that has a priority level that is below the predetermined priority threshold.