METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING COMMUNICATION OF A PORTABLE TERMINAL IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20160323823A1
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: JUNG, Byounghoon, RYOO, Sunheui, JUNG, Jungsoo, MOON, Jung-Min, PARK, Seung-Hoon
• Granted Patent: US 10,542,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0221 power availability or consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a 5^th Generation (5G) or pre-5G communication system supporting a higher data transfer rate after a 4^th Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). In particular, a method and an apparatus for controlling communication of a terminal in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes receiving information regarding an operation of a second system by using a first communication module configured to support a first system and controlling an activation state of a second communication module configured to support the second system, based on the information regarding the operation of the second system.

Claims

1. A method of a terminal in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving information regarding an operation of a second system by using a first communication module configured to support a first system; and

controlling an activation state of a second communication module configured to support the second system, based on the information regarding the operation of the second system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling of the activation state of the second communication module comprises:

changing the second communication module from the activation state to a deactivation state;

changing the second communication module from the deactivation state to the activation state;

or

keeping the activation state of the second communication module,

wherein the activation state is a state in which the second communication module operates in an awake mode, and

wherein the deactivation state is a state in which the second communication module operates in a sleep mode and an operation of the awake mode is prohibited.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising,

receiving, if the second communication module is changed from the deactivation state to the activation state, a beacon signal containing information required to receive downlink data of the second system via the second communication module,

wherein the beacon signal contains a first-type beacon signal transmitted with a fixed period or a second-type beacon signal transmitted at a time point between the fixed periods of the first-type beacon signal, and

wherein the second-type beacon signal contains a part of information contained in the first-type beacon signal.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, if the second communication module is changed from the deactivation state to the activation state, the beacon signal containing the information required to receive the downlink data of the second system;

transmitting, if the beacon signal is not received, the signal containing information for indicating that a change of a base station is required for the second system via the first communication module;

determining a target base station for the second system, based on a signal received via the second communication module;

transmitting information regarding the target base station via the first communication module; and

receiving the beacon signal containing the information required to receive the downlink data of the second system from the target base station via the second communication module.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the changing of the second communication module from the activation state to the inactivate state comprises transmitting, before the second communication module is changed to the deactivation state, a signal for indicating that the second communication module is changed to the deactivation state via the second communication module.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the changing of the second communication module from the activation state to the deactivation state comprises transmitting, after the second communication module is changed to the deactivation state, a signal for indicating that the second communication module is changed to the deactivation state via the first communication module.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the changing of the second communication module from the activation state to the deactivation state comprises:

acquiring a first sequence number for indicating last downlink data to be received via the second communication module from the information regarding the operation of the second system;

determining whether reception of downlink data is complete via the second communication module based on the first sequence number; and

changing, if the reception of downlink data is complete via the second communication module, the second communication module from the activation state to the deactivation state.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the changing of the second communication module from the activation state to the deactivation state comprises:

identifying a second sequence number for indicating last downlink data received by the terminal via the second communication module;

transmitting the second sequence number via the first communication module; and

receiving downlink data having a sequence number greater than the second sequence number and less than or equal to the first sequence number via the first communication module.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the changing of the second communication module from the activation state to the deactivation state comprises:

acquiring critical time information for controlling the activation state of the second communication module from the information regarding the operation of the second system;

receiving downlink data via the second communication module;

determining whether different downlink data is received via the second communication module within a critical time from a time at which the downlink data is received; and

changing, if the different downlink data is not additionally received via the second communication module within the critical time, the second communication module from the activation state to the deactivation state.

10. An apparatus of a terminal in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a first communication module configured to support a first system;

a second communication module configured to support a second system; and

a controller configured to;

receive information regarding an operation of the second system by using the first communication module and,

control, based on the information regarding the operation of the second system, an activation state of the second module.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to:

change the second communication module from the activation state to a deactivation state,

change the second communication module from the deactivation state to the activation state, or

keep the activation state of the second communication module,

wherein the activation state is a state in which the second communication module operates in an awake mode, and

wherein the deactivation state is a state in which the second communication module operates in a sleep mode and an operation of the awake mode is prohibited.

12. The apparatus of claim 11,

wherein, if the second communication module is changed from the deactivation state to the activation state, the controller is further configured to receive a beacon signal containing information required to receive downlink data of the second system via the second communication module,

wherein the beacon signal contains a first-type beacon signal transmitted with a fixed period or a second-type beacon signal transmitted at a time point between the fixed periods of the first-type beacon signal, and

wherein the second-type beacon signal contains a part of information contained in the first-type beacon signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive the beacon signal containing the information required to receive the downlink data of the second system if the second communication module is changed from the deactivation state to the activation state,

determine a target base station for the second system based on a signal received via the second communication module if the beacon signal is not received,

transmit the signal containing information for indicating that a change of a base station is required for the second system via the first communication module,

transmit information regarding the target base station via the first communication module, and

receive the beacon signal containing the information required to receive the downlink data of the second system from the target base station via the second communication module.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, before the second communication module is changed to the deactivation state, the controller is further configured to transmit a signal for indicating that the second communication module is changed to the deactivation state via the second communication module.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, after the second communication module is changed to the deactivation state, the controller is further configured to transmit a signal for indicating that the second communication module is changed to the deactivation state via the first communication module.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

acquire a first sequence number for indicating last downlink data to be received via the second communication module from the information regarding the operation of the second system,

determine whether reception of downlink data is complete via the second communication module based on the first sequence number, and

change, if the reception of downlink data is complete via the second communication module, the second communication module from the activation state to the deactivation state.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

change the second communication module from the activation state to the deactivation state,

identify a second sequence number for indicating last downlink data received by the terminal via the second communication module,

transmit the second sequence number via the first communication module, and

receive downlink data having a sequence number greater than the second sequence number and less than or equal to the first sequence number via the first communication module.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

acquire critical time information for controlling the activation state of the second communication module from the information regarding the operation of the second system,

receive downlink data via the second communication module,

determine whether different downlink data is received via the second communication module within a critical time from a time at which the downlink data is received, and

change, if the different downlink data is not additionally received via the second communication module within the critical time, the second communication module from the activation state to the deactivation state.

19. An apparatus of a base station supporting a first system, the apparatus comprising:

a communication module; and

a controller configured to;

detect a presence/absence of downlink traffic of a second system for a terminal, and

transmit information regarding an operation of the second system of the terminal to the terminal via a link of the first system based on the presence/absence of the downlink traffic of the second system.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein, in the presence of the downlink traffic of the second system, the controller is further configured to transmit a signal for instructing activation of the communication module configured to support the second system among communication modules included in the terminal via the link of the first system.