SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORK PROVISIONING OF MOBILE ENTITIES FOR PEER-TO-PEER SERVICE

• US 20120243437A1
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, Gavin Bernard, Griot, Miguel, Giaretta, Gerardo
• Granted Patent: US 9,503,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Techniques are provided for peer-to-peer (P2P) service provisioning. For example, there is provided a method, operable by a network entity, that may involve determining a set of region-specific parameters for use in the P2P service in a coverage area. The method may involve providing the set of the region-specific parameters to at least one user equipment (UE) for configuration of the at least one UE for the P2P service, in response to the at least one UE entering the coverage area. In related aspects, the set of the region-specific parameters may include RF parameters, service discovery parameters, connection establishment parameters, and/or security parameters

Claims

1. A method for provisioning a peer-to-peer (P2P) service by a network entity, comprising:

determining a set of region-specific parameters for use in the P2P service in a coverage area; and

providing the set of the region-specific parameters to at least one user equipment (UE) for configuration of the at least one UE for the P2P service, in response to the at least one UE entering the coverage area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of the region-specific parameters comprises at least one of RF parameters, service discovery parameters, connection establishment parameters, and security parameters.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining comprises determining at least one region-specific parameter updated at the network entity; and

the at least one region-specific parameter is updated at the network entity, in response to a new application being enabled for P2P service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing comprises sending the set of the region-specific parameters to the at least one UE via (a) an Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Device Management (DM) procedure or (b) via an over-the-air (OTA) procedure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining comprises allocating at least one of a service discovery identifier (SD ID) and a service discovery prefix (SD prefix) for the at least one UE.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network entity comprises a P2P configuration server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an entry indication from the at least one UE upon entry of the at least one UE into the coverage area.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an entry indication from a core network upon entry of the at least one UE into the coverage area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the core network comprises a mobility management entity (MME).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the coverage area comprises a tracking area, a routing area, a cell area, a public land mobile network (PLMN) area, or a global positioning system (GPS) calculated area.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at periodic time intervals, updating the region-specific parameters; and

sending the updated region-specific parameters to the at least one UE.

12. An apparatus for provisioning a peer-to-peer (P2P) service by a network entity, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

determine a set of region-specific parameters for use in the P2P service in a coverage area; and

provide the set of the region-specific parameters to at least one user equipment (UE) for configuration of the at least one UE for the P2P service, in response to the at least one UE entering the coverage area; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the set of the region-specific parameters comprises at least one of RF parameters, service discovery parameters, connection establishment parameters, and security parameters.

14. A apparatus for provisioning a peer-to-peer (P2P) service, comprising:

means for determining a set of region-specific parameters for use in the P2P service in a coverage area; and

means for providing the set of the region-specific parameters to at least one user equipment (UE) for configuration of the at least one UE for the P2P service, in response to the at least one UE entering the coverage area.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

determine a set of region-specific parameters for use in the P2P service in a coverage area; and

provide the set of the region-specific parameters to at least one user equipment (UE) for configuration of the at least one UE for the P2P service, in response to the at least one UE entering the coverage area.

16. A method for provisioning a peer-to-peer (P2P) service at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

receiving a set of region-specific parameters from a network entity for use in the P2P service in a coverage area, in response to the UE entering the coverage area; and

enabling the P2P service at the UE based at least in part on the received set of region-specific parameters.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of the region-specific parameters comprises at least one of RF parameters, service discovery parameters, connection establishment parameters, and security parameters.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein enabling comprises (a) authorizing the P2P service for the UE based at least in part on the set of the region-specific parameters or (b) configuring the UE for the P2P service based at least in part on the set of the region-specific parameters.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving comprises receiving the set of the region-specific parameters, in response to at least one region-specific parameter being updated at the network entity.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

initiating an application at the UE;

receiving a request for the P2P service from the application; and

querying the network entity for the set of the region-specific parameters, in response to the received request.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

installing an application at the UE;

determining a given P2P service needed for the application; and

querying the network entity for a given region-specific parameter set for the determined given P2P service.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending an entry indication to a network entity upon entry of the UE into the coverage area.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the network entity comprises a P2P configuration server or a mobility management entity (MME).

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the coverage area comprises one of a tracking area, a routing area, a cell area, a public land mobile network (PLMN) area, and a global positioning system (GPS) calculated area.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising, at periodic time intervals, receiving updates to the region-specific parameters.

26. An apparatus for provisioning a peer-to-peer (P2P) service at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a set of region-specific parameters from a network entity for use in the P2P service in a coverage area, in response to the UE entering the coverage area; and

enable the P2P service at the UE based at least in part on the received set of region-specific parameters; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the set of the region-specific parameters comprises at least one of RF parameters, service discovery parameters, connection establishment parameters, and security parameters.

28. An apparatus for provisioning a peer-to-peer (P2P) service, comprising:

means for receiving a set of region-specific parameters from a network entity for use in the P2P service in a coverage area, in response to the UE entering the coverage area; and

means for enabling the P2P service at a UE based at least in part on the received set of region-specific parameters.

29. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

receive a set of region-specific parameters from a network entity for use in the P2P service in a coverage area, in response to the UE entering the coverage area; and

enable the P2P service at the UE based at least in part on the received set of region-specific parameters.