Method and apparatus for obtaining synchronization for communication between devices

• US 8,909,276 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lim, Chi-Woo, Yu, Hyun-Kyu, Kim, Kyung-Kyu, Jeong, Su-Ryong
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/527,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20120320776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/350, 370/338, 455518-520, 455/502, 455/450, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for obtaining synchronization of a terminal for communication between devices when a base station collapses are provided. The method includes, when a preamble signal is not received from the base station, maintaining a first synchronization for a predetermined time using a timer, transmitting a first preamble signal at a first synchronization point, performing a synchronization procedure with at least one neighbor terminal based on the first preamble signal, and, after the synchronization procedure, performing communication with the at least one neighbor terminal. In addition, when a preamble signal is not received from a base station, a first preamble signal from a relevant neighbor terminal is monitored for a predetermined time. When the first preamble signal is not received from the relevant neighbor terminal for the predetermined time, a second preamble signal is transmitted at an arbitrary point.

Claims

1. A method for operating a terminal, the method comprising:

monitoring a preamble signal from a base station;

transmitting a first preamble signal based on a synchronization with the base station, if the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station; and

performing communication with a neighbor terminal which receives the first preamble signal from the terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first preamble signal indicates that the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the preamble signal received from the base station;

if the preamble signal is received from the base station, performing synchronization based on the preamble signal; and

performing communication with the base station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first preamble signal comprises a sequence which is different from sequences for the preamble signal transmitted by the base station.

5. A method for operating a terminal, the method comprising:

monitoring a preamble signal from a base station;

monitoring a first preamble signal from a neighbor terminal, if the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station;

transmitting a second preamble signal, if the terminal fails to receive the first preamble signal; and

performing communication with a first neighbor terminal which receives the second preamble signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first preamble signal indicates that the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

monitoring a preamble signal from a base station; and

if the preamble signal is received from the base station, performing synchronization based on the preamble signal to communicate with the base station.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

monitoring a first preamble signal from a second neighbor terminal; and

if the first preamble signal is received from the second neighbor terminal, performing synchronization based on the first preamble signal to communicate with the second neighbor terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

monitoring a preamble signal from a base station; and

if the preamble signal is received from the base station, performing synchronization based on the preamble signal to communicate with the base station.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

monitoring a preamble signal from a base station and a first preamble signal from a relevant neighbor terminal; and

maintaining synchronization with the first neighbor terminal, if the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station and the first preamble signal from the neighbor terminal.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the second preamble signal comprises a sequence which is different from sequences for the preamble signal transmitted by the base station.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the first preamble signal is transmitted based on a synchronization with the base station.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the second preamble signal indicates that the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station.

14. An apparatus for a terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to monitor a preamble signal from a base station; and

a transmitter configured to, transmit a first preamble signal based on synchronization with the base station, if the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station,

wherein the controller is further configured to perform communication with a neighbor terminal which receives the first preamble signal from the terminal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first preamble signal indicates that the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to:

monitors the preamble signal received from the base station; and

perform synchronization based on the preamble signal if the preamble signal is received from the base station; and

perform communication with the base station.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first preamble signal comprises a sequence which is different from sequences for the preamble signal transmitted by the base station.

18. An apparatus for a terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to monitor a preamble signal from a base station, and, to monitor a first preamble signal from a neighbor terminal, if the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a second preamble signal, if the terminal fails to receive the first preamble signal,

wherein the controller is further configured to perform communication with the at least one neighbor terminal which receives the second preamble signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first preamble signal indicates that the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to monitor a preamble signal from a base station;

and

to perform synchronization based on the preamble signal to communicate with the base station if the preamble signal is received from the base station.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to monitor a first preamble signal from a second neighbor terminal, and to perform synchronization based on the first preamble signal to communicate with the second neighbor terminal if the first preamble signal is received from the second neighbor terminal.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to monitor a preamble signal from a base station, and, to perform synchronization based on the preamble signal to communicate with the base station if the preamble signal is received from the base station.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to monitor a preamble signal from a base station and a first preamble signal from a neighbor terminal, and to maintains synchronization with the first neighbor terminal if the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station and the first preamble signal from the neighbor terminal.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second preamble signal comprises a sequence which is different from sequences for the preamble signal transmitted by the base station.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first preamble signal is transmitted based on a synchronization with the base station.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second preamble signal indicates that the terminal fails to receive the preamble signal from the base station.