INTERFERENCE COORDINATION FOR PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) COMMUNICATION AND WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN) COMMUNICATION

• US 20120044815A1
• Filed: 07/21/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Geirhofer, Stefan, Bhushan, Naga, Palanki, Ravi, Borran, Jaber Mohammad, Damnjanovic, Aleksandar
• Granted Patent: US 10,517,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/243 taking into account interferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/383 power control in peer-to-peer links
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Techniques for supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication in a wide area network (WAN) are disclosed. In an aspect, interference coordination between P2P devices engaged in P2P communication and WAN devices engaged in WAN communication may be performed based on a network-controlled architecture. For the network-controlled architecture, P2P devices may detect other P2P devices and/or WAN devices and may send measurements (e.g., for pathloss, interference, etc.) for the detected devices to the WAN (e.g., serving base stations). The WAN may perform resource partitioning and/or association for the P2P devices based on the measurements. Association may include selection of P2P communication or WAN communication for a given P2P device. Resource partitioning may include allocation of resources to a group of P2P devices for P2P communication. The WAN may send the results of association and/or resource partitioning to the P2P devices, which may communicate in accordance with the association and/or resource partitioning results.

Claims

1. A method of supporting wireless communication in a wide area network (WAN), comprising:

receiving at least one measurement from a first device supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication and WAN communication, the at least one measurement being for at least one second device detected by the first device;

performing association to select P2P communication or WAN communication, or resource partitioning to allocate resources for P2P communication, or both association and resource partitioning for the first device based on the at least one measurement; and

sending results of the association, or the resource partitioning, or both to the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving at least one measurement comprises receiving at least one pathloss measurement from the first device, each pathloss measurement being indicative of pathloss between the first device and one of the at least one second device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one network address of the at least one second device from the first device; and

identifying a P2P group including the first device and the at least one second device based on the at least one network address of the at least one second device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing association, or resource partitioning, or both comprises performing association and selecting P2P communication or WAN communication for the first device based on the at least one measurement, and wherein the sending the results of the association, or the resource partitioning, or both comprises sending a decision of P2P communication or WAN communication being selected for the first device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the performing association comprises

estimating performance of the first device for P2P communication,

estimating performance of the first device for WAN communication, and

selecting P2P communication or WAN communication for the first device based on the estimated performance for P2P communication and the estimated performance for WAN communication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing association, or resource partitioning, or both comprises performing resource partitioning and allocating resources to the first device for P2P communication, and wherein the sending the results of the association, or the resource partitioning, or both comprises sending information indicative of the allocated resources to the first device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more measurements from a third device desiring to join a P2P group including the first device; and

updating an allocation of resources for the P2P group to account for the third device joining the P2P group.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a maximum transmit power level for the first device for P2P communication; and

sending information indicative of the maximum transmit power level to the first device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information indicative of at least one P2P device potentially causing strong interference to the first device; and

allocating resources to the first device, or the at least one P2P device, or both to reduce interference from the at least one P2P device to the first device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving measurements for one or more P2P devices from the first device located within coverage of a first base station, the one or more P2P devices being located within coverage of a second base station; and

forwarding the measurements for the one or more P2P devices from the first base station to a second base station.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing resource partitioning for a first P2P group by a first base station with coordination with at least one neighboring base station in the WAN; and

performing resource partitioning for a second P2P group by the first base station without coordination with the at least one neighboring base station.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the performing resource partitioning for the first P2P group comprises assigning first resources to the first P2P group by a designated base station in a group of base stations including the first base station and the at least one neighboring base station, and wherein the performing resource partitioning for the second P2P group comprises assigning second resources to the second P2P group by the first base station, the second resources being selected from among available resources that exclude the first resources.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the performing resource partitioning for the first P2P group comprises assigning first resources to the first P2P group by the first base station, the first resources being selected from reserved resources for cell-edge P2P groups within coverage of multiple base stations, and wherein the performing resource partitioning for the second P2P group comprises assigning second resources to the second P2P group by the first base station, the second resources being selected from available resources that exclude the reserved resources.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first base station and the at least one neighboring base station negotiate to assign resources to the first P2P group.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one interference measurement for at least one WAN device from the first device, each WAN device communicating with the WAN, each interference measurement indicating strong interference detected by the first device from one of the at least one WAN device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

scheduling the at least one WAN device, or reducing transmit power level of the at least one WAN device, or both to reduce interference to the first device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein each interference measurement is further indicative of particular resources on which the strong interference is detected by the first device.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

configuring the at least one WAN device to transmit a sounding reference signal on different resources; and

identifying the at least one WAN device causing strong interference to the first device based on resources on which the strong interference is detected by the first device and resources on which each of the at least one WAN device is configured to transmit the sounding reference signal.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is not engaged in WAN communication prior to sending the at least one measurement.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein reporting of the at least one measurement is initiated by the first device.

21. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving at least one measurement from a first device supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication and wide area network (WAN) communication, the at least one measurement being for at least one second device detected by the first device;

means for performing association to select P2P communication or WAN communication, or resource partitioning to allocate resources for P2P communication, or both association and resource partitioning for the first device based on the at least one measurement; and

means for sending results of the association, or the resource partitioning, or both to the first device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving at least one network address of the at least one second device from the first device; and

means for identifying a P2P group including the first device and the at least one second device based on the at least one network address of the at least one second device.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for performing association, or resource partitioning, or both comprises means for performing association and selecting P2P communication or WAN communication for the first device based on the at least one measurement, and wherein the means for sending the results of the association, or the resource partitioning, or both comprises means for sending a decision of P2P communication or WAN communication being selected for the first device.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for performing association, or resource partitioning, or both comprises means for performing resource partitioning and allocating resources to the first device for P2P communication, and wherein the means for sending the results of the association, or the resource partitioning, or both comprises means for sending information indicative of the allocated resources to the first device.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving measurements for one or more P2P devices from the first device located within coverage of a first base station, the one or more P2P devices being located within coverage of a second base station; and

means for forwarding the measurements for the one or more P2P devices from the first base station to a second base station.

26. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to receive at least one measurement from a first device supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication and wide area network (WAN) communication, the at least one measurement being for at least one second device detected by the first device, to perform association to select P2P communication or WAN communication, or resource partitioning to allocate resources for P2P communication, or both association and resource partitioning for the first device based on the at least one measurement, and to send results of the association, or the resource partitioning, or both to the first device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive at least one network address of the at least one second device from the first device, and to identify a P2P group including the first device and the at least one second device based on the at least one network address of the at least one second device.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform association and select P2P communication or WAN communication for the first device based on the at least one measurement, and to send a decision of P2P communication or WAN communication being selected for the first device.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform resource partitioning and allocate resources to the first device for P2P communication, and to send information indicative of the allocated resources to the first device.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive measurements for one or more P2P devices from the first device located within coverage of a first base station, the one or more P2P devices being located within coverage of a second base station, and to forward the measurements for the one or more P2P devices from the first base station to a second base station.

31. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one processor to receive at least one measurement from a first device supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication and wide area network (WAN) communication, the at least one measurement being for at least one second device detected by the first device,

code for causing the at least one processor to perform association to select P2P communication or WAN communication, or resource partitioning to allocate resources for P2P communication, or both association and resource partitioning for the first device based on the at least one measurement, and

code for causing the at least one processor to send results of the association, or the resource partitioning, or both to the first device.

32. A method of wireless communication in a wide area network (WAN), comprising:

performing peer discovery by a first device supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication and WAN communication;

detecting at least one second device by the first device via peer discovery;

obtaining at least one measurement for the at least one second device by the first device;

sending the at least one measurement from the first device to the WAN;

receiving results of association, or resource partitioning, or both association and resource partitioning from the WAN, wherein association to select P2P communication or WAN communication, or resource partitioning to allocate resources for P2P communication, or both association and resource partitioning are performed by the WAN for the first device based on the at least one measurement; and

communicating by the first device based on the results of association, or resource partitioning, or both.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the performing peer discovery comprises transmitting a proximity detection signal by the first device to enable at least one other device to detect the first device.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the performing peer discovery comprises detecting at least one proximity detection signal from the at least one second device, and wherein the obtaining at least one measurement comprises making the at least one measurement for the at least one second device by the first device based on the at least one proximity detection signal.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the obtaining at least one measurement comprises making at least one pathloss measurement for the at least one second device by the first device, each pathloss measurement being indicative of pathloss between the first device and one of the at least one second device.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

determining at least one network address of the at least one second device by the first device; and

sending the at least one network address of the at least one second device to the WAN.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the receiving the results of association, or resource partitioning, or both comprises receiving a decision of P2P communication or WAN communication selected by the WAN for the first device, and wherein the communicating by the first device comprises directly communicating with the at least one second device by the first device if P2P communication is selected.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the receiving the results of association, or resource partitioning, or both comprises receiving information indicative of resources allocated to the first device for P2P communication, and wherein the communicating by the first device comprises directly communicating with the at least one second device on the allocated resources by the first device.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving a maximum transmit power level to be used by the first device for P2P communication; and

transmitting at the maximum transmit power level or lower by the first device for P2P communication.

40. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

detecting at least one P2P device potentially causing strong interference to the first device; and

sending information indicative of the at least one P2P device to the WAN.

41. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

making at least one interference measurement for at least one WAN device by the first device, each WAN device communicating with the WAN, each interference measurement being made on different resources and indicative of interference detected by the first device from one of the at least one WAN device; and

sending the at least one interference measurement for the at least one WAN device to the WAN.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein each interference measurement sent by the first device is further indicative of particular resources on which the strong interference is detected by the first device.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein the first device is a P2P client in a P2P group including the first device and the at least one second device, the method further comprising:

performing a random access procedure by the first device to establish a P2P communication link with the at least one second device.

44. The method of claim 32, wherein the first device is a P2P server in a P2P group including the first device and the at least one second device, the method further comprising:

scheduling the at least one second device for data transmission for P2P communication by the first device.

45. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for performing peer discovery by a first device supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication and wide area network (WAN) communication;

means for detecting at least one second device by the first device via peer discovery;

means for obtaining at least one measurement for the at least one second device by the first device;

means for sending the at least one measurement from the first device to a WAN;

means for receiving results of association, or resource partitioning, or both association and resource partitioning from the WAN, wherein association to select P2P communication or WAN communication, or resource partitioning to allocate resources for P2P communication, or both association and resource partitioning are performed by the WAN for the first device based on the at least one measurement; and

means for communicating by the first device based on the results of association, or resource partitioning, or both.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

means for determining at least one network address of the at least one second device by the first device; and

means for sending the at least one network address of the at least one second device to the WAN.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the means for receiving the results of association, or resource partitioning, or both comprises means for receiving a decision of P2P communication or WAN communication selected by the WAN for the first device, and wherein the means for communicating by the first device comprises means for directly communicating with the at least one second device by the first device if P2P communication is selected.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the means for receiving the results of association, or resource partitioning, or both comprises means for receiving information indicative of resources allocated to the first device for P2P communication, and wherein the means for communicating by the first device comprises means for directly communicating with the at least one second device on the allocated resources by the first device.

49. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to perform peer discovery by a first device supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication and wide area network (WAN) communication, to detect at least one second device by the first device via peer discovery, to obtain at least one measurement for the at least one second device by the first device, to send the at least one measurement from the first device to a WAN, to receive results of association, or resource partitioning, or both association and resource partitioning from the WAN, wherein association to select P2P communication or WAN communication, or resource partitioning to allocate resources for P2P communication, or both association and resource partitioning are performed by the WAN for the first device based on the at least one measurement, and to communicate by the first device based on the results of association, or resource partitioning, or both.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine at least one network address of the at least one second device by the first device, and to send the at least one network address of the at least one second device to the WAN.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a decision of P2P communication or WAN communication selected by the WAN for the first device, and to directly communicate with the at least one second device by the first device if P2P communication is selected.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive information indicative of resources allocated to the first device for P2P communication, and to directly communicate with the at least one second device on the allocated resources by the first device.

53. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one processor to perform peer discovery by a first device supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication and wide area network (WAN) communication,

code for causing the at least one processor to detect at least one second device by the first device via peer discovery,

code for causing the at least one processor to obtain at least one measurement for the at least one second device by the first device,

code for causing the at least one processor to send the at least one measurement from the first device to a WAN,

code for causing the at least one processor to receive results of association, or resource partitioning, or both association and resource partitioning from the WAN, wherein association to select P2P communication or WAN communication, or resource partitioning to allocate resources for P2P communication, or both association and resource partitioning are performed by the WAN for the first device based on the at least one measurement, and

code for causing the at least one processor to communicate by the first device based on the results of association, or resource partitioning, or both.