Method and device for communicating via an ad-hoc wireless network

• US 7,224,954 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Okajima, Ichiro, Yamao, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Application Number:
  US09/748,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20010018336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,344 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/445, 455/502, 455/507, 455/517, 455/524, 455/525, 379/90.1
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communication method used when a mobile station receives a signal from a base station in a mobile communication system is provided. The method includes the steps of: deciding one or a plurality of mobile stations which can communicate with the mobile station via a predetermined wireless network and which can receive a signal from the base station; the one or a plurality of mobile stations sending a signal destined for the mobile station received from the base station to the mobile station via the predetermined wireless network; and the mobile station synthesizing a signal received from the base station and the signal destined for the mobile station received from the one or a plurality of mobile stations.

Claims

1. A communication method used when a mobile station receives a signal from a base station in a mobile communication system, comprising the steps of:

said mobile station deciding on one or a plurality of mobile stations which can communicate with said mobile station via one or a plurality of wireless networks that include said mobile station and said one or a plurality of mobile stations, and that do not include said base station, wherein said one or a plurality of mobile stations can receive a signal from said base station;

said one or a plurality of mobile stations sending a signal destined for said mobile station received from said base station to said mobile station via said one or a plurality of wireless networks; and

said mobile station synthesizing a signal received from said base station and said signal destined for said mobile station received from said one or a plurality of mobile stations.

2. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

forming said one or a plurality of wireless networks by said mobile station and other mobile stations in said mobile communication system;

selecting said one or a plurality of mobile stations among said other mobile stations as mobile stations for diversity reception; and

said one or a plurality of mobile stations selected as used for diversity reception of said mobile station sending said signal destined for said mobile station received from said base station to said mobile station via said one or a plurality of wireless networks.

3. The communication method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

selecting said one or a plurality of mobile stations among said other mobile stations such that communication condition between said one or a plurality of mobile stations and said base station is better than predetermined condition.

4. The communication method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

selecting said one or a plurality of mobile stations among said other mobile stations such that each level of signals received from said base station by said one or a plurality of mobile stations is higher than a predetermined level.

5. The communication method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

said mobile station sending participation requests which are requests to operate for diversity reception of said mobile station, to said one or a plurality of mobile stations via said one or a plurality of wireless networks;

each mobile station which receives said participation request determines whether said each mobile station can receive a signal from said base station;

each mobile station which can receive a signal from said base station recognizing that said each mobile station operates for diversity reception of said mobile station which sends said participation request, and sending a participation response which indicates acceptance of said participation request to said mobile station via said one or a plurality of wireless networks; and

said mobile station recognizing that said each mobile station which sends said participation response operates for diversity reception of said mobile station.

6. The communication method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

said each mobile station which receives said participation request measuring a state of receiving a signal from said base station;

said each mobile station in which said state is better than a predetermined state recognizing that said each mobile station operate for diversity reception of said mobile station and sending said reception response to said mobile station via said one or a plurality of wireless networks.

7. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or a plurality of wireless networks is a mobile ad-hoc network.

8. A mobile station which receives a signal from a base station in a mobile communication system, comprising:

a first transceiver unit which transmits and receives a signal between said mobile station and said base station;

a second transceiver unit which transmits and receives a signal between said mobile station and a first mobile station;

network forming control means which forms a one or a plurality of wireless networks including said mobile station and at least said first mobile station, but not said base station by communicating with said first mobile station by using said second transceiver unit; and

signal synthesizing means which synthesizes a signal received from said base station by said first transceiver unit and a signal destined for said mobile station received from said first mobile station by said second transceiver unit via said one or a plurality of wireless networks.

9. The mobile station as claimed in claim 8, further comprising;

transfer control means which sends a signal destined for a second mobile station received by said first transceiver unit to said second mobile station via said one or a plurality of wireless networks by said second transceiver unit.

10. The mobile station as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

first determining means which determines whether a signal from said base station can be received when said second transceiver unit receives a participation request from said second mobile station, said participation request being a request to operate for diversity reception of said second mobile station;

second storing means which stores said second mobile station when said first determining means determines that a signal from said base station can be received;

participation response control means which sends a participation response, to said second mobile station from which said participation request is received, by using said second transceiver unit via said one or a plurality of wireless networks, said participation response indicating that said mobile station accepts said participation request; and

wherein said transfer control means sends, by said second transceiver unit, a signal destined for said second mobile station to said second mobile station when said first transceiver unit receives said signal destined for said second mobile station, said second mobile station being stored in said second storing means.

11. The mobile station as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

receive state measuring means which measures a state of receiving a signal from said base station when said second transceiver unit receives said participation request from said second mobile station via said one or a plurality of wireless networks;

second determining means which determines whether said state measured by said receive state measuring means is better than a predetermined state;

wherein said second mobile station which sends said participation request is stored in said second storing means and said participation response control means sends said participation response, by said second transceiver unit, to said second mobile station via said one or a plurality of wireless networks when said first determining means determines that a signal from said base station can be received and when said second determining means determines that said state is better than said predetermined state.

12. The mobile station as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

participation request send control means which sends a participation request to said first mobile station by said second transceiver unit via said one or a plurality of wireless networks, said participation request being a request to operate for diversity reception of said mobile station;

first storing means which stores said first mobile station as used for diversity reception of said mobile station when said second transceiver unit receives a participation response from said first mobile station via said one or a plurality of wireless networks, said participation response indicating that said first mobile station accepts said participation request;

wherein said signal synthesizing means synthesizes a signal received from said base station by said first transceiver unit and a signal destined for said mobile station received from said first mobile station by said second transceiver unit via said one or a plurality of wireless networks, said first mobile station being stored in said first storing means.

13. The mobile station as claimed in claim 8, wherein said one or a plurality of wireless networks formed by said network forming control means is a mobile ad-hoc network.