CENTRALIZED CONTROL OF INTRA-CELL DEVICE-TO-DEVICE COMMUNICATION

• US 20130195026A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Johnsson, Kerstin, Himayat, Nageen, Talwar, Shilpa
• Application Number:
  US13/537,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20130195026A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0456 Selection of precoding matrices or codebooks, e.g. using matrices antenna weighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0623 Auxiliary parameters, e.g. power control [PCB] or not acknowledged commands [NACK], used as feedback information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0626 Channel coefficients, e.g. channel state information [CSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0639 Using selective indices, e.g. of a codebook, e.g. pre-distortion matrix index [PMI] or for beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0027 Scheduling of signalling, e.g. occurrence thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0031 Multiple signaling transmission H04L1/1664, F15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1864 ARQ related signaling H04L1/1607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1896 ARQ related signaling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2607 Cyclic extensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 : using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 : for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• 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: H04W 36/0094 : Definition of hand-off measurement parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 : Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 : User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 : using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• 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 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 : based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 : using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 : using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 : Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method to centrally establish and control intra-cell device-to-device connections on licensed bands of a wireless communications network are disclosed herein. An eNodeB receives a request from a first device to communicate with a second device or a request from the first device for content or service. The eNodeB schedules a device discovery between the first device and at least a candidate device. The eNodeB determines establishing the device-to-device connection between the first device and the candidate device based on a discovery report generated by one of the first or candidate device. The discovery report comprises information about signal quality of transmission from the other one of the first or candidate device that is received by the one of the first or candidate device during the scheduled device discovery.

Claims

1. An enhanced node B (eNodeB) for controlling a device-to-device connection on licensed bands of a wireless communications network, the eNodeB comprising:

a transceiver to receive a request from a first device to communicate with a second device or a request from the first device for content or service;

a processor in communication with the transceiver, the processor to schedule a device discovery between the first device and at least a candidate device and to determine establishing the device-to-device connection between the first device and the candidate device based on a discovery report generated by one of the first or candidate device, wherein the discovery report comprises information about signal quality of transmission from the other one of the first or candidate device that is received by the one of the first or candidate device during the scheduled device discovery.

2. The eNodeB of claim 1, wherein the processor determines scheduling information to establish the device-to-device connection, and wherein the transceiver transmits the scheduling information to each of the first device and the candidate device to establish the device-to-device connection.

3. The eNodeB of claim 1, wherein the candidate device is the second device when the received request from the first device is to communicate with the second device.

4. The eNodeB of claim 1, wherein the processor determines the at least one candidate device based on proximity of the at least one candidate device to the first device

5. The eNodeB of claim 1, wherein the processor determines that at least one candidate device based on availability of the candidate device to offer the content or service requested by the first device.

6. The eNodeB of claim 5, wherein a memory in communication with the processor includes information about the availability of devices to offer the content or service requested by the first device.

7. The eNodeB of claim 1, wherein the device discovery comprises a first instruction to the other one of the first or candidate device to transmit a specific message during the scheduled device discovery and a second instruction to the one of the first or candidate device to operate in a receive mode during the scheduled device discovery.

8. The eNodeB of claim 7, wherein the device discovery comprises a third instruction to the other one of the first or candidate device to transmit information about the content or service requested and a fourth instruction to the one of the first or candidate device to confirm its availability of the content or service, when the request received from the first device is for the content or service, and wherein the other one of the first or candidate device comprising the first device and the one of the first or candidate device comprising the candidate device.

9. The eNodeB of claim 7, wherein the device discovery comprises a third instruction to the other one of the first or candidate device to include in the specific message content or service being offered by the other one of the first or candidate device, when the request received from the first device is for the content or service, and wherein the other one of the first or candidate device comprises the candidate device and the one of the first or candidate device comprises the first device.

10. The eNodeB of claim 7, wherein the transceiver receives availability information about the content or service automatically from the candidate device without an instruction from the eNodeB.

11. The eNodeB of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) network.

12. An enhanced node B (eNodeB), comprising:

a transceiver to receive a request from a first device to communicate with a second device or a request from the first device for content or service;

a processor in communication with the transceiver, the processor to schedule a device discovery between the first device and at least a candidate device and to determine establishing the device-to-device connection between the first device and the candidate device based on a discovery report generated by one of the first or candidate device, wherein the discovery report comprises information about transmission signal quality during the scheduled device discovery, and wherein both of the first device and the candidate device are located within a cell served by the eNodeB.

13. The eNodeB of claim 12, wherein discovery report comprises information about signal quality of transmission from the other one of the first or candidate device as received by the one of the first or candidate device during the scheduled device discovery.

14. The eNodeB of claim 12, wherein the processor determines whether to establish the device-to-device connection by selecting among establishing a uni-directional device-to-device connection, a bi-directional device-to-device connection, and device-to-base connections.

15. The eNodeB of claim 12, wherein the scheduling information comprises a connection identifier (CID) that is unique for the device-to-device connection and at least one signaling parameter for communicating on the device-to-device connection.

16. The eNodeB of claim 12, wherein the processor selects the at least one candidate device from among a plurality of devices based on a certain device-to-device range between the first device and the candidate device.

17. The eNodeB of claim 12, wherein the processor monitors performance of a session of the device-to-device connection after the device-to-device connection has been established to schedule subsequent communications between the first device and the candidate device on the device-to-device connection.

18. The eNodeB of claim 12, wherein the candidate device is the second device when the received request from the first device is to communicate with the second device.

19. The eNodeB of claim 12, wherein the processor determines the at least one candidate device based on proximity of the at least one candidate device to the first device.

20. The eNodeB of claim 12, wherein the processor determines that at least one candidate device based on availability of the candidate device to offer the content or service requested by the first device.

21. The eNodeB of claim 12, wherein each of the first device, the second device, and the candidate device comprises a user equipment (UE) operating in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) network.

22. A method for controlling a device-to-device connection on licensed bands of a wireless communications network including an enhanced node B (eNodeB), the method comprising:

receiving a request from a first device to communicate with a second device;

scheduling, by the eNodeB, a device discovery between the first device and the second device, the scheduling of the device discovery including specifying one of the first or second device to operate in transmit mode and the other one of the first or second device to operate in receive mode during a device discovery time period;

receiving a discovery report from the other one of the first or second device, the discovery report comprising information about signal quality of a transmission from the one of the first or second device as received by the other one of the first or second device during the device discovery time period; and

determining, by the eNodeB, the device-to-device connection between the first and second devices in accordance with the received discovery report.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the determining of the device-to-device connection comprises selecting among establishing a uni-directional device-to-device connection, a bi-directional device-to-device connection, and device-to-base connections.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting scheduling information to each of the first and second devices to establish the device-to-device connection.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the scheduling information comprises a connection identifier (CID) for the device-to-device connection and at least one signaling parameter for communicating on the device-to-device connection.

26. A computer readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a processor of an enhanced node B (eNodeB), causes the eNodeB to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request from a first device for content or service;

scheduling a device discovery between the first device and at least a second device, the scheduling of the device discovery including specifying one of the first or second device to operate in transmit mode and the other one of the first or second device to operate in receive mode during a device discovery time period;

receiving a discovery report from the other one of the first or second device, the discovery report comprising information about signal quality of a transmission from the one of the first or second device as received by the other one of the first or second device during the device discovery time period; and

determining a device-to-device connection between the first and second devices in accordance with the received discovery report.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, further comprising selecting the at least second device from among a plurality of candidate devices based at least on a device-to-device range between the first device and the second device, wherein both the first device and the second device are intra-cell located with each other.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the selecting of the at least second device includes receiving information relating to availability of the content or service requested at the second device prior to scheduling the device discovery.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the scheduling of the device discovery includes instructing the second device to provide information relating to availability of the content or service at the second device during the device discovery time period.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the scheduling of the device discovery includes instructing the first device to transmit identification information corresponding to the content or service requested during the device discovery time period.