Devices and methods for network-assisted D2D communications by devices operating in an ad hoc mode or a network-assisted mode

• US 10,624,062 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hu, Liang, Zhou, Chan, Dillinger, Markus Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Daya, Tejis
• Application Number:
  US15/862,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20180146453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• 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

The application relates to devices and methods for network-assisted D2D communication. A communication device is configured to select a data channel communication resource from a plurality of data channel communication resources which are reserved for D2D data channel communications. The communication device is configured to select an ad-hoc mode control channel resource from a plurality of ad-hoc mode control channel resources which are reserved for D2D ad-hoc mode control channel communications. The communication device is further configured to broadcast, using the selected ad-hoc mode control channel resource, a communication resource selection message including information about the selected data channel communication resource to the plurality of communication devices. The communication device is further configured to communicate with at least one of the plurality of communication devices using the selected data channel communication resource.

Claims

1. A first communication device, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, the program including instructions for;

selecting a data channel communication resource from a plurality of data channel communication resources;

selecting an ad-hoc mode control channel resource from a plurality of ad-hoc mode control channel resources, wherein the first communication device operates in an ad hoc communication mode for communicating with a plurality of second communication devices;

broadcasting, using the selected ad-hoc mode control channel resource, a communication resource selection message to the plurality of second communication devices;

communicating with at least one of the plurality of second communication devices using the selected data channel communication resource; and

receiving a communication resource allocation message from a second communication device of the plurality of second communication devices, the second communication device being operated in an network-assisted communication mode, the communication resource allocation message including information about at least a further data channel communication resource selected by the second communication device; and

wherein selecting the data channel communication resource from the plurality of data channel communication resources comprises selecting the data channel communication resource taking into account the further data channel communication resource selected by the second communication device.

2. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein the program further includes instructions for:

receiving a communication resource setup message from a base station, the communication resource setup message indicating the plurality of ad-hoc mode control channel resources; and

wherein selecting the ad-hoc mode control channel resource from the plurality of ad-hoc mode control channel resources comprises selecting the ad-hoc mode control channel resource out of the indicated plurality of ad-hoc mode control channel resources in the communication resource setup message.

3. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein the program further includes instructions for:

receiving a communication resource setup message comprising information about a communication resource selection protocol;

wherein selecting the data channel communication resource from the plurality of data channel communication resources and selecting the ad-hoc mode control channel resource from the plurality of ad-hoc mode control channel resources comprises selecting the data channel communication resource or the ad-hoc mode control channel resource on the basis of the communication resource selection protocol.

4. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein the program further includes instructions for:

decoding network-assisted mode control channel communication resources to receive the communication resource allocation message.

5. A first communication device, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, the program including instructions for;

receiving a communication resource selection message broadcasted by at least one second communication device of a plurality of second communication devices, the second communication device being operated in an ad-hoc communication mode, wherein the first communication device is configured to operate in a network-assisted communication mode, in which an active connection is established to a base station, for communicating with the plurality of second communication devices, and wherein the communication resource selection message includes information about a first data channel communication resource selected by the second communication device;

forwarding the information about the first data channel communication resource selected by the second communication device to the base station;

receiving a communication resource allocation message from the base station, the communication resource allocation message including information about a second data channel communication resource allocated to the first communication device, wherein the second data channel communication resource allocated to the first communication device is different that the first data channel communication resource selected by the second communication device;

communicating with the plurality of second communication devices using the second data channel communication resource allocated to the first communication device; and

switching from the network-assisted communication mode to the ad-hoc communication mode upon a release of a radio bearer between the base station and the first communication device.

6. The first communication device of claim 5, wherein the program further includes instructions for:

broadcasting, to the plurality of second communication devices, a message indicating the second data channel communication resource allocated to the first communication device.

7. The first communication device of claim 6, wherein the program further includes instructions for broadcasting the message indicating the second data channel communication resource allocated to the first communication device using a network-assisted mode control channel communication resource.

8. The first communication device of claim 5, wherein the program further includes instructions for forwarding the information about the first data channel communication resource selected by the second communication device to the base station as part of a request for allocating further communication resources for a communication between the base station and the first communication device.

9. A base station, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, the program including instructions for;

receiving a communication resource selection message from a first communication device, wherein the base station is configured to communicate with the first communication device, and the first communication device is operated in a network-assisted communication mode, wherein the communication resource selection message includes information about a first data channel communication resource selected by at least one second communication device operated in an ad-hoc communication mode;

allocating a second data channel communication resource to the first communication device, wherein the second data channel communication resource allocated to the first communication device is different than the first data channel communication resource selected by the second communication device;

transmitting a communication resource allocation message to the first communication device including information about the second data channel communication resource allocated to the first communication device; and

sharing the information about the first data channel communication resource selected by the second communication device and the information about the second data channel communication resource allocated to the first communication device with another base station.

10. The base station according to claim 9, wherein the program further includes instructions for:

receiving further communication resource selection messages from further communication devices operated in the network-assisted communication mode, the further communication resource selection messages including information about further data channel communication resources selected by further communication devices operating in the ad-hoc communication mode; and

allocating the second data channel communication resource to the first communication device taking into account the further data channel communication resources selected by the further communication devices operating in the ad-hoc communication mode.

11. The base station of claim 9, wherein the program further includes instructions for broadcasting a communication resource setup message, the communication resource setup message including information associated with a plurality of communication resources, the information associated with a plurality of communication resources comprising particular information about a communication resource selection protocol or about ad-hoc mode control channel communication resources.

12. The base station of claim 9, wherein the base station is configured to transmit the communication resource allocation message using a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).