Apparatuses and Methods for a Communication System

• US 20140148142A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: HAKOLA, Sami-Jukka, TURTINEN, Samuli, KOSKELA, Timo, PANTELIDOU, Anna
• Application Number:
  US14/091,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20140148142A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Apparatuses and method for communication are provided. The solution includes determining that user equipment is out of network coverage; switching to out of network coverage operating mode; monitoring properties of out of network coverage operation; and if one or more predetermined conditions related to the properties are fulfilled controlling the transmission of a message using resources reserved to out of network coverage operation, the message comprising indication of the fulfilled conditions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in user equipment, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

and at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

determine that the user equipment is out of network coverage;

switch to an out of network coverage operating mode;

monitor properties of out of network coverage operation;

and if one or more predetermined conditions related to the properties are fulfilled control the transmission of a message using resources reserved for out of network coverage operation, the message comprising information on the fulfilled conditions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured to address the message to a predetermined user equipment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured to send the message as a broadcast message.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information in the message is for generating at least part of a Minimization of Drive Tests report.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured to determine the location of the user equipment and include information on the location in the message.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured to detect other user equipment utilising the resources reserved for out of network coverage operation;

estimate the distance between the user equipment and the detected user equipment and include information on the detected user equipment and the estimated distances in the message.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured to send messages at regular intervals.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message is a discovery message.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions are predetermined thresholds related to the monitored properties.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monitored properties comprise at least one of the following:

the load of resources reserved to out of network coverage operation,

the number of consecutive failed setup attempts in device to device communication between user equipment of which at least one is out of network coverage, and

quality of service in device to device communication between user equipment of which at least one is out of network coverage.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further configured to:

scan available spectrum for a second communication system;

establish a connection with the second communication system; and

cause the transmission of the message to the network the apparatus belongs to, the message comprising information on the fulfilled conditions via the second communication system.

12. An apparatus for use in user equipment, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

and at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive a command from a network element of a communication network to initiate monitoring of messages sent using resources reserved for out of network coverage operation;

detect messages transmitted by user equipment having no network coverage;

prepare information based on the received messages; and

control the transmission of the information to the communication network.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the detected and received messages are discovery messages and/or the detected and received messages comprise information on properties of out of network coverage operation.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the properties of out of network coverage operation comprise at least one of the following:

the load of resources reserved for out of network coverage operation,

the number of consecutive failed setup attempts in device to device communication between user equipment of which at least one is out of network coverage, and

the quality of service in device to device communication between user equipment of which at least one is out of network coverage.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the detected messages comprise location information on the user equipment having no network coverage and/or estimated distances between the user equipment of which at least one is out of network coverage.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transmitted information comprise a part of a Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) report.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, the processing system being further configured to monitor load of the resources reserved to out of network coverage operation;

and

control the transmission of the information to the communication network on the basis of the detected load.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, the processing system being further configured to receive from the communication network configuration for the transmission of the information.

19. An apparatus for use in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

and at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

control the transmission of a command to a first user equipment of the communication network to initiate monitoring of messages sent using resources reserved for out of network coverage operation;

receive from the first user equipment one or more messages comprising information on at least one message transmitted by second user equipment having no network coverage; and

analyse the information and adjust operational parameters of a base station on the basis of the analysis.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the information comprises at least one of the following:

information on if one or more predetermined conditions related to properties of out of network coverage operation monitored by the second user equipment are fulfilled,

data on the load of the resources reserved to out of network coverage operation,

data on the quality service in device to device communication between user equipment of which at least one is out of network coverage,

data on the number of consecutive failed setup attempts in direct communication between user equipment of which at least one is out of network coverage, and

information on the location of the user equipment out of network coverage.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the information is a part of a Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) report.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, further configured to forward the received information to a network element of the core network of the communication system.

23. An apparatus for use in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

and at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive from a base station of the communication system at least part of information on at least one message transmitted by a user equipment having no network coverage;

analyse the information and adjust network parameters of the communication system on the basis of the analysis to enhance the coverage of the communication system.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the information comprises at least one of:

data on the load of the resources reserved to out of network coverage operation,

data on the quality service in device to device communication between user equipment of which at least one is out of network coverage,

data on the success of setting up direct communication between user equipment of which at least one is out of network coverage, and

information on the location of the user equipment out of network coverage.