System and method for peer-to-peer communication in cellular systems

• US 8,588,836 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2012
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Periyalwar, Shalini, Zhang, Hang, Senarath, Nimal, Yu, Derek, Au, Kelvin Kar-Kin, Mann, Kari
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/566,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20120294209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 455/517, 455/41.2, 455/101, 455450-4522, 455/502, 455/552.1, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/350, 370/280, 370/389
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1074 for supporting data block transmission mechanisms file transfer H04L67/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/383 power control in peer-to-peer links
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for delivering both PMP communications, for example standard cellular communications via a base station, and also delivering P2P communications, for example, communications between two mobile stations, using the same spectral resources for both types of communication.

Claims

1. A method for a first mobile station performing wireless communication with a base station and a second mobile station, comprising:

the first mobile station receiving data from the base station using a downlink band of a cellular spectral resource;

the first mobile station transmitting data to the base station using an uplink band of the cellular spectral resource;

the first mobile station receiving data from the second mobile station using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource; and

the first mobile station transmitting data to the second mobile station using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving data from the second mobile station is performed in response to user input received to the first mobile station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed in response to a request received from the second mobile station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving data from the second mobile station and said transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed in a time division duplex (TDD) manner.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transitioning into a peer to peer (P2P) mode to perform said receiving data from the second mobile station and said transmitting data to the second mobile station independent of network control by directly coordinating set up of a P2P communication link with the second mobile station.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command from the base station to enter a peer to peer (P2P) mode with the second mobile station, wherein said receiving data from the second mobile station and said transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed in response to the command.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving data from the base station is performed concurrently with transmitting data to the second mobile station and/or receiving data from the second mobile station.

8. A mobile station, comprising:

a transceiver, configured to transmit and receive data using a cellular spectral resource; and

a control block coupled to the transceiver, wherein the control block is configured to use the transceiver to;

receive data from a base station using a downlink band of the cellular spectral resource;

transmit data to the base station using an uplink band of the cellular spectral resource;

receive data from a second mobile station using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource; and

transmit data to the second mobile station using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource.

9. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein the control block comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

10. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein the control block comprises a microprocessor.

11. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein said receiving data from the second mobile station is performed in response to user input received to the first mobile station.

12. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein said transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed in response to a request received from the second mobile station.

13. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein said receiving data from the second mobile station and said transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed in a time division duplex (TDD) manner.

14. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein the control block is further configured to:

transition into a peer to peer (P2P) mode to perform said receiving data from the second mobile station and said transmitting data to the second mobile station independent of network control by directly coordinating set up of a P2P communication link with the second mobile station.

15. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein the control block is further configured to:

receive a command from the base station to enter a peer to peer (P2P) mode with the second mobile station, wherein said receiving data from the second mobile station and said transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed in response to the command.

16. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein said receiving data from the base station is performed concurrently with transmitting data to the second mobile station and/or receiving data from the second mobile station.

17. A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for performing wireless communication by a first mobile station, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

receive data from a base station using a downlink band of the cellular spectral resource;

transmit data to the base station using an uplink band of the cellular spectral resource;

receive data from a second mobile station using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource; and

transmit data to the second mobile station using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource.

18. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 17, wherein said receiving data from the second mobile station is performed in response to user input received to the first mobile station.

19. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 17, wherein said transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed in response to a request received from the second mobile station.

20. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 17, wherein said receiving data from the second mobile station and said transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed in a time division duplex (TDD) manner.

21. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 17, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

transition into a peer to peer (P2P) mode to perform said receiving data from the second mobile station and said transmitting data to the second mobile station independent of network control by directly coordinating set up of a P2P communication link with the second mobile station.

22. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 17, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive a command from the base station to enter a peer to peer (P2P) mode with the second mobile station, wherein said receiving data from the second mobile station and said transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed in response to the command.

23. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 17, wherein said receiving data from the base station is performed concurrently with transmitting data to the second mobile station and/or receiving data from the second mobile station.