D2D COMMUNICATION IN WIRELESS NETWORKS
First Claim
1. A method of forming a device-to-device, D2D, wireless communication link between first and second terminals in a network wherein a base station is in wireless communication with at least the first terminal, the method comprising:
- the first terminal determining itself as a D2D-capable terminal which can provide a D2D link with another terminal;
the first terminal broadcasting, during a random access period set by the base station, a random access preamble to advertise its D2D capability;
the base station transmitting, in response to the random access preamble from the first terminal, a random access response including information to assist in establishing the D2D link andthe second terminal detecting the random access preamble and establishing the D2D link with the first terminal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a wireless communication network, a Device-to-Device (D2D) link is set up using a modified Random Access (RACH) procedure. The conventional RACH procedure is modified to enable a D2D-capable UE (11) to indicate its capability to other UEs (12), to receive additional information from a base station (20), and to enable the handshake procedure used to establish a D2D link. Broadcast system information may additionally be modified to enable D2D links between UEs (11, 12) in the same or different coverage areas, taking into consideration the RRC UE states (RRC_Connected or RRC_Idle). The proposed modifications to the broadcast system information include: an indication of D2D link opportunities with other UEs under a different coverage area to that of the D2D capable UE; and RACH parameters in the coverage area of the D2D capable UE, to indicate the listening period for the D2D link.
60 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of forming a device-to-device, D2D, wireless communication link between first and second terminals in a network wherein a base station is in wireless communication with at least the first terminal, the method comprising:
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the first terminal determining itself as a D2D-capable terminal which can provide a D2D link with another terminal; the first terminal broadcasting, during a random access period set by the base station, a random access preamble to advertise its D2D capability; the base station transmitting, in response to the random access preamble from the first terminal, a random access response including information to assist in establishing the D2D link and the second terminal detecting the random access preamble and establishing the D2D link with the first terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless communication system comprising at least one base station and first and second terminals, at least the first terminal being in wireless communication with the base station, wherein:
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the base station includes a controller arranged to set a random access period and a transmitter arranged to broadcast the random access period; the first terminal includes a controller arranged to determine that the terminal is a D2D-capable terminal which can provide a device-to-device, D2D link with another terminal, and a transmitter arranged to broadcast, during the random access period set by the base station, a random access preamble to advertise its D2D capability; and the second terminal includes a receiver arranged to detect the random access preamble and a controller responsive to detection of the random access preamble to establish the D2D link with the first terminal;
whereinthe base station is further arranged, in response to receiving the random access preamble from the first terminal, to transmit from the transmitter a random access response including information to assist in establishing the D2D link.
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14. A terminal for use in a wireless communication system comprising the terminal, at least one base station in wireless communication with the terminal, and at least one other terminal, the terminal comprising:
a controller arranged to determine that the terminal is a D2D-capable terminal which can provide a device-to-device, D2D link with another terminal, and a transmitter arranged to broadcast, during a random access period set by the base station, a random access preamble to advertise its D2D capability to the at least one other terminal.
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15. A base station for use in a wireless communication system comprising the base station, a first terminal in wireless communication with the base station and capable of device-to-device, D2D, communication, and a second terminal, the base station comprising:
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a controller arranged to set a random access period for the purpose of allowing the first terminal to advertise its D2D capability by transmission by the first terminal of a D2D preamble; a transmitter arranged to broadcast the random access period and optionally, to notify a dedicated D2D preamble to the first terminal; and a receiver arranged to receive the D2D preamble transmitted from the first terminal; the controller being responsive to the receiver receiving the D2D preamble to cause the transmitter to transmit further information to assist in establishing a D2D link between the first terminal and the second terminal.
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Specification