Multicast-based group communications in ad hoc arrangements of wireless devices

• US 10,609,680 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2017
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Stojanovski, Alexandre, Venkatachalam, Muthaiah, Bienas, Maik, Luft, Achim, Zong, Pingping
• Primary Examiner(s): Park, Jung H
• Application Number:
  US15/691,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20170367072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0452 Multi-user MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0486 taking channel rank into account
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0626 Channel coefficients, e.g. channel state information [CSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/12 Arrangements providing for calling or supervisory signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/184 with heterogeneous receivers, e.g. layered multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03 Shaping networks in transmitter or receiver, e.g. adaptive shaping networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/165 : for reducing network power consumption H04W36/18 - H04W36/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 : for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 : Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 : using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/244 : Interferences in heterogeneous networks, e.g. among macro and femto or pico cells or other sector / system interference [OSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 : based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 : Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 : using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/543 : based on requested quality, e.g. QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 : based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 : Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 : Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 : Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Wireless communication devices may directly communicate within groups of wireless communication devices using Layer-2 communications to implement “push-to-talk” type applications. In one implementation, a method may include generating a floor request signaling message to take control of a communication channel for a group. After transmitting data relating to the communications, a floor release signaling message may be generated and transmitted a number of times.

Claims

1. A device, for User Equipment (UE), for proximity-based direct communications in a communication channel with one or more other UEs of a group, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more device-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to;

obtain information related to the group including;

a layer-2 group identifier (ID), and

a group security key;

encrypt user data using the group security key;

generate a first frame having;

a destination layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication, wherein the destination layer-2 address is based on the layer-2 group ID and identifies the one or more other UEs of the group, and

a layer-3 identifier for the group; and

transmit the first frame to UEs on the communication channel, including at least one UE that is not a member of the group; and

generate a second frame having;

the layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication, and

the encrypted user data; and

transmit the second frame to the one or more other UEs affiliated with the layer-2 group ID based on the destination layer-2 address.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first frame further comprises a source layer-2 ID indicating a source layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the layer-2 group ID is a media access control (MAC) value.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the group security key is a symmetric encryption key for the group.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first frame comprises a floor request signaling message to take control of a communication channel from another UE of the group.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the instructions further cause the device to:

transmit a third frame comprising a floor release signaling message to release the a communication channel after transmitting the second frame to the one or more other UEs.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the instructions further cause the device to:

transmit the floor request signaling message for a plurality of times, based on current quality of the communication channel.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing program instructions for causing one or more processors of a UE to:

obtain information related to proximity-based direct communications in a communication channel with one or more other UEs of a group of UEs, the information including;

a layer-2 group identifier (ID), and

a group security key;

encrypt user data using the group security key;

generate a first frame having;

a destination layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication, wherein the destination layer-2 address is based on the layer-2 group ID and identifies the one or more other UEs of the group, and

a layer-3 identifier for the group; and

transmit the first frame to UEs in the communication channel, including at least one UE that is not a member of the group; and

generate a second frame having;

the destination layer-2 address for the proximity-based communication, and

the encrypted user data; and

transmit the second frame to the one or more other UEs affiliated with the layer-2 group ID based on the destination layer-2 address.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first frame further comprises a source layer-2 ID indicating a source layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the layer-2 group ID is a media access control (MAC) value.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the group security key is a symmetric encryption key for the group.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first frame comprises transmit a floor request signaling message to take control of a communication channel from another UE of the group.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

transmit a third frame comprising a floor release signaling message to release a communication channel after transmitting the second frame to the one or more other UEs.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

transmit the floor request signaling message for a plurality of times, based on current quality of the communication channel.

15. A method, implemented by User Equipment (UE), for proximity-based direct communications in a communication channel with one or more other UEs of a group, comprising:

obtaining information related to the group including;

a layer-2 group identifier (ID), and

a group security key;

encrypting user data using the group security key;

generating a first frame having;

a destination layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication, wherein the destination layer-2 address is based on the layer-2 group ID and identifies the one or more other UEs of the group, and

a layer-3 identifier for the group;

transmitting the first frame to UEs in the communication channel, including at least one UE that is not a member of the group; and

generating a second frame having;

the destination layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication, and

the encrypted user data; and

transmitting the second frame to the one or more other UEs affiliated with the layer-2 group ID based on the destination layer-2 address.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second frames further comprise a source layer-2 ID indicating a source layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the layer-2 group ID is a media access control (MAC) value.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the group security key is a symmetric encryption key for the group.