Methods, Computer Program Products and Apparatuses Enabling to Improve Network Controlled Discovery in Mobile Communication Networks

• US 20150208225A1
• Filed: 08/01/2012
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Van Phan, Vinh, Horneman, Kari Veikko, Yu, Ling
• Granted Patent: US 9,479,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A network entity, interfaces with at least one other apparatus. The network entity receives a plurality of reports from respective terminals, each report being indicative of a detection of at least one particular apparatus of a specific type by the respective terminal, and analyzes the plurality of reports in terms of which. The network entity determines that terminals, the reports of which are indicative of the same particular apparatus of the specific type, are in proximity to each other, and causes transmission of a corresponding proximity indication to each terminal for which a proximity to one or more other terminals was determined. Similarly, corresponding proximity discovery agent entities, i.e. apparatus of the specific type, corresponding terminal apparatuses and related methods as well as computer program products are envisaged.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising

a control unit configured to interface at least one other apparatus, wherein the control unit is configured to

receive a plurality of reports from respective terminals, each report being indicative of a detection of at least one particular apparatus of a specific type by the respective terminal,

analyze the plurality of reports in terms of which terminal reported a detection of which particular apparatus of the specific type,

determine that terminals, the reports of which are indicative of the same particular apparatus of the specific type, are in proximity to each other, and

cause transmission of a corresponding proximity indication to each terminal for which a proximity to one or more other terminals was determined.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a memory unit connected to the control unit,

the memory unit maintaining a list of at least network entities, their associated identification information and their broadcast system information, wherein

the control unit is further configured to

select one or more of the network entities as particular apparatus of a specific type.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

control unit is further configured to

cause transmission of information indicative of the selected network entities in terms of their identification information and their broadcast system information towards the terminals.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

control unit is further configured to

configure the selected network entities so as to include an indication of their status of being selected as a particular apparatus of a specific type in their broadcast system information.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the memory unit maintains a list of at least terminals and their associated identification information, and

the control unit is further configured to

select one or more of the terminals as particular apparatus of a specific type.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

control unit is further configured to

configure the selected network entities and/or selected terminals so as to broadcast a proximity discovery signal which uniquely identifies a particular apparatus of a specific type within a service area of a network or uniquely identifies a service area of a network where it is broadcasted.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the control unit is further configured to

select one or more of the network entities based on at least a geographical distribution of those entities within the network area and/or a number of terminals within a service area of a network.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

control unit is further configured to

provide terminals with criteria which trigger a terminal'"'"'s report indicative of a detection of at least one particular apparatus of a specific type.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein

the criteria comprise at least one of the following:

detection of a same apparatus of a specific type for a certain time period,

detection of a same unique proximity discovery signal for a number of consecutive times,

detection that a received power difference in a sequence of at least two consecutive detections of the same unique proximity discovery signal is not larger than a threshold,

reporting an apparatus of a specific type selectively dependent on an operator of the apparatus.

2. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

16. An apparatus, comprising

a control unit configured to interface at least one other apparatus, wherein the control unit is configured to

receive an indication of being selected as a particular apparatus of a specific type, and

responsive thereto

broadcast a signal indicative of the apparatus being selected as a particular apparatus of a specific type.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the indication of being selected as a particular apparatus of a specific type comprises a status indication, and the

control unit is configured to include that status indication in the broadcast system information.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the control unit is configured to

receive information defining a unique proximity discovery signal which uniquely identifies a particular apparatus of a specific type within a service area of a network or uniquely identifies a service area of a network where it is broadcasted, and

responsive thereto

broadcast the unique proximity discovery signal.

19. (canceled)

20. An apparatus, comprising

a control unit configured to interface at least one other apparatus, wherein the control unit is configured to

detect at least one particular apparatus of a specific type, and

cause transmission of a report indicative of the detection.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein

the control unit is further configured to

receive a proximity indication comprising the identities of terminals which are in proximity to the apparatus.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein

the control unit is further configured to

receive information indicative of selected network entities in terms of their identification information and their broadcast system information towards terminals, and

detect the at least one particular apparatus of the specific type based on received broadcasted information from network entities which match with the received information.

24. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein

the control unit is further configured to

receive information indicative of configured unique proximity discovery signals, which proximity discovery signal uniquely identifies a particular apparatus of a specific type within a service area of a network or uniquely identifies a service area of a network where it is broadcasted, and respective proximity discovery signal broadcast transmission resources, and

detect the at least one particular apparatus of the specific type based on a received broadcasted unique proximity discovery signal.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the received information comprises and detection is based on proximity discovery signals'"'"' broadcast transmission resources comprising at least one of:

frequency domain, time domain, transmission power and transmission interval.

26. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein

the control unit is further configured to

receive criteria which trigger a terminal'"'"'s report indicative of a detection of at least one particular apparatus of a specific type.

23. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. A method, comprising

receiving a plurality of reports from respective terminals, each report being indicative of a detection of at least one particular apparatus of a specific type by the respective terminal,

analyzing the plurality of reports in terms of which terminal reported a detection of which particular apparatus of the specific type,

determining that terminals, the reports of which are indicative of the same particular apparatus of the specific type, are in proximity to each other, and

causing transmission of a corresponding proximity indication to each terminal for which a proximity to one or more other terminals was determined.

59. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising code for performing the method of claim 30.

31-58. -58. (canceled)