Methods and Arrangements in a Cellular Network
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a user equipment and a network node, and to related methods of supporting resource efficient ad hoc networking between user equipments (UEs) of a cellular network. This is addressed by a solution where the network node is supporting the ad hoc networking between UEs. The network node is capable of 5 accessing a user equipment capability database and receives (210, 220) update messages from UEs (UE1, UE2) comprising information regarding the capabilities of the user equipments such as supported frequency bands, RATs and antenna modes. The network node updates (230) the user equipment capability database (DB) with the information comprised in the received update message, and determines based on the 10 information stored in the user equipment capability database and a matching algorithm (240), that UE1 and UE2 have matching capabilities and are able to communicate wirelessly. The network node then transmits (250) an ad hoc “paging” message comprising the UE1 and UE2 identities. The “paging” message is received by the UE1 and UE2 identified in the “paging” message, and UE1 may then e.g. establish an ad hoc 15 network with UE2 (260).
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Citations
46 Claims
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1-22. -22. (canceled)
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23. A method for a network node of supporting ad hoc networking between user equipments of a cellular network, wherein the network node is configured to access a user equipment capability database, and wherein the method comprises:
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receiving an update message comprising information regarding a capability of a first user equipment; updating the user equipment capability database with the information in the received update message; determining an identity of at least one further user equipment with which the first user equipment is able to communicate wirelessly, based on the information stored in the user equipment capability database; and transmitting a message comprising the determined identity of the at least one further user equipment and the first user equipment identity. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for a user equipment of a cellular network, of supporting ad hoc networking between user equipments of the cellular network, said method comprising:
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receiving a message from a network node capable of accessing a user equipment capability database, the message comprising an identity of at least one further user equipment with which the user equipment is able to communicate wirelessly, the identity determined based on information stored in the user equipment capability database, and establishing an ad hoc network with at least one of said identified further user equipments. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A network node configured to support ad hoc networking between user equipments of a cellular network, wherein the network node is configured to access a user equipment capability database and comprises:
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a receiver configured to receive an update message comprising information regarding a capability of a first user equipment; an updating unit configured to update the user equipment capability database with the information comprised in the received update message; a determining unit configured to determine an identity of at least one further user equipment with which the first user equipment is able to communicate wirelessly, based on the information stored in the user equipment capability database; and a transmitter configured to transmit a message comprising the determined identity of the at least one further user equipment and the first user equipment identity. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A user equipment of a cellular network, configured to support ad hoc networking between user equipments of the cellular network, the user equipment comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a message from a network node capable of accessing a user equipment capability database, the message comprising an identity of at least one further user equipment with which the user equipment is able to communicate wirelessly, the identity determined based on information stored in the user equipment capability database; and an establishing unit configured to establish an ad hoc network with at least one of said identified further user equipments. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of enabling ad hoc communications between user equipments in a cellular network, said method performed by a network node and comprising:
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updating a user equipment capability database, as needed, responsive to receiving capability information for individual user equipments, wherein the capability information for each user equipment indicates ad hoc networking capabilities of that user equipment; identifying a matching group of user equipments, based on identifying user equipments that have compatible ad hoc networking capabilities, as determined from the capability information stored in the user equipment capability database; and sending signaling indicating the matching group, to apprise the user equipments in the matching group of said matching group. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification