Direct communication method and direct communication device and coordinator device using the same

• US 9,014,093 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2012
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Zheng, Yan-Xiu
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, JUNG
• Application Number:
  US13/647,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20130107801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 370/203, 370204-215, 370229-240, 370310-337, 370338-350, 370351-394, 370/395.1, 370/395.3, 370/395.4, 370/395.41, 370/395.42, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/395.53, 370412-421, 370431-457, 370458-463, 370464-497, 370498-529
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/281 taking into account user or data type priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0473 the resource being transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0875 with assigned priorities based access

Abstract

A direct communication method, a direct communication device, and a coordinator device using the same method are provided. The direct communication method may be adapted for direct communications between devices with multiple priorities/power upper bounds/ranges. Multiple contention/transmission slots with different power upper bounds or priorities are used as a configuration to allocate resource for the direct communication. The associated configuration acquisition is also disclosed. The direct communication method may also adopt relative periodicity of occurrence of the contention/transmission slots, and may adaptively vary the relative periodicity. The direct communication method may include an associated monitor scheme for spectrum regulation.

Claims

1. A direct communication method, adapted to a first communication device performing a random access, the method comprising:

performing a random access in at least a first contention slot or a second contention slot wherein the first contention slot has a first transmission power upper bound and the second contention slot has a second transmission power upper bound which is different from the first transmission upper bound;

detecting a beacon signal to acquire a default timing in response to entering a direct communication network;

acquiring a transmission power configuration from the beacon signal or receiving the transmission power configuration externally;

transmitting wireless signal at any transmission power less than the first transmission power upper bound in the first contention slot or the second transmission power upper bound in the second contention slot according to the transmission power configuration in which the first communication device participates in the random access in the at least the first contention slot or the second contention slot;

transmitting in the first contention slot when the transmission power configuration is corresponding to the first transmission power upper bound; and

transmitting in the second contention slot when the transmission power configuration is corresponding to the second transmission power upper bound.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after performing the random access in the first contention slot, the first communication device receives a random access acknowledgment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the random access in the second contention slot, the first communication device receives a random access acknowledgment corresponding to the first contention slot.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

After receiving the random access acknowledgement corresponding to the first contention slot, a second communication device receives a random access acknowledgment corresponding to the second contention slot after performing the random access on the second contention slot.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the first communication device aligning its timing with a cellular communication system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the beacon signal to acquire the default timing further comprising:

the first communication device aligning its timing with a second communication device by following a beacon signal of the second communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

The first communication device acquiring its transmission configuration by following a beacon signal or a message from a cellular communication system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of acquiring its transmission configuration by following the beacon signal or the message from the cellular communication system comprises:

receiving and decoding the beacon signal;

receiving an associated timing in the decoded beacon signal; and

acquiring its transmission configuration by following a default transmission configuration based on the associated timing.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of acquiring its transmission configuration by following the beacon signal or the message from the cellular communication system comprises:

receiving and decoding the beacon signal;

receiving an associated timing in the decoded beacon signal; and

acquiring its transmission configuration by following the associated timing.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of following the beacon signal or the message from the cellular communication system comprises:

the first communication device requesting a coordinator device for spectrum access admission; and

the first communication device receiving the transmission power configuration from the coordinator device.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of the first communication device aligning its timing with the second communication device by following the beacon signal of the second communication device comprises:

when the first communication device newly enters the direct communication network, the first communication device detects the beacon signal from the second communication device to acquire the default timing; and

the first communication device acquiring associated transmission power configuration from the beacon signal, or the first communication device requesting the second communication device for the associated transmission power configuration.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an emergency command; and

adapting the occurrence of the contention slot within a predetermined time cycle according to the emergence command.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprises:

receiving a reconfiguration message from the second communication device; and

adjusting its transmission power according to the reconfiguration message.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the two contention slots are time division multiplexed.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises an identifier and a power tag of the first communication device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmission power upper bound and the second transmission power upper bound have least 5 dB difference.

17. A direct communication method, adapted to a first communication device performing a data transmission, the method comprising:

performing the data transmission in at least a first transmission slot or a second transmission slot wherein the first transmission slot has a first transmission power upper bound and the second transmission slot has a second transmission power upper bound which is different from the first transmission upper bound;

detecting a beacon signal to acquire a default timing in response to entering a direct communication network;

acquiring a transmission power configuration from the beacon signal or receiving the transmission power configuration externally;

transmitting its wireless signal at any transmission power less than the first transmission power upper bound in the first transmission slot or the second transmission power upper bound in the second transmission slot according to the transmission power configuration in which the first communication device participates in the random access in the at least the first transmission lot or the second transmission slot;

transmitting in the first transmission slot when the transmission power configuration is corresponding to the first transmission power upper bound; and

transmitting in the second transmission slot when the transmission power configuration is corresponding to the second transmission power upper bound.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising,

performing a random access in a first contention slot according to the first transmission power upper bound before performing the data transmission in the at least the first transmission slot or the second transmission slot.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprises:

receiving a random access acknowledgment.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first transmission power upper bound and the second transmission power upper bound have least 5 dB difference.

21. A first communication device, comprising:

a transceiver unit, configured for transmitting and receiving wireless signals with a communication device; and

a communication protocol unit, coupled to the transceiver unit, configured for

performing a random access in at least a first contention slot with a first transmission power upper bound and a second contention slot with a second transmission power upper bound which is different from the first transmission upper bound;

detecting a beacon signal to acquire a default timing in response to entering a direct communication network;

acquiring a transmission power configuration from the beacon signal or receiving the transmission power configuration externally;

transmitting wireless signal at any transmission power less than the first transmission power upper bound in the first contention slot or the second transmission power upper bound in the second contention slot according to the transmission power configuration in which the first communication device participates in the random access in the at least the first contention slot or the second contention slot;

transmitting in the first contention slot when the transmission power configuration is corresponding to the first transmission power upper bound; and

transmitting in the second contention slot when the transmission power configuration is corresponding to the second transmission power upper bound.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein

after performing the random access in the first contention slot, the communication protocol unit is further configured for receiving a random access acknowledgment.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein

after the random access in the second contention slot, the communication protocol unit is further configured for receiving a random access acknowledgment corresponding to the first contention slot.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein

after receiving the random access in the first contention slot, the communication protocol unit is further configured for receiving a second random access acknowledgment corresponding to the second slot.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the communication protocol unit is further configured for transmitting its wireless signal at any transmission power less than the first transmission power upper bound of the first contention slot in which the first communication device participates in a contention.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the communication protocol unit is configured for detecting the beacon signal to acquire the default timing comprising:

aligning its timing with a second communication device by following a beacon signal of the second communication device.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the communication protocol unit is further configured for acquiring its transmission configuration by following a beacon signal or a message from a cellular communication system.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the communication protocol unit is further configured for acquiring its transmission configuration by following the beacon signal or the message from the cellular communication system comprises:

receiving and decoding the beacon signal;

receiving an associated timing in the decoded beacon signal; and

acquiring its transmission configuration by following a default transmission configuration based on the associated timing.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the communication protocol unit is further configured for acquiring its transmission configuration by following the beacon signal or the message from the cellular communication system comprises:

requesting a coordinator device for spectrum access admission; and

receiving a transmission power configuration from the coordinator device.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein the communication protocol unit is configured for aligning its timing with the second communication device by following the beacon signal of the second communication device comprises:

when a first communication device newly enters the direct communication network, the first communication device detects the beacon signal from the second communication device to acquire the default timing; and

the first communication device acquiring associated transmission power configuration from the beacon signal, or the first communication device requesting the second communication device for the associated transmission power configuration.

31. The device of claim 21, wherein the communication protocol unit is further configured for:

receiving an emergency command; and

adapting the occurrence of the contention slot within a predetermined cycle according to the emergence command.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the communication protocol unit is further configured for:

receiving a reconfiguration message from the second communication device; and

adjusting its transmission power according to the reconfiguration message.

33. The device of claim 21, wherein the first transmission power upper bound and the second transmission power upper bound have least 5 dB difference.

34. A first communication device, comprising:

a transceiver unit, configured for transmitting and receiving wireless signals with a communication device; and

a communication protocol unit, coupled to the transceiver unit, configured for

performing a data transmission in at least a first transmission slot or a second transmission slot wherein the first transmission slot has a first transmission power upper bound and the second transmission slot has a second transmission power upper bound which is different from the first transmission upper bound;

detecting a beacon signal to acquire a default timing in response to entering a direct communication network;

acquiring a transmission power configuration from the beacon signal or receiving the transmission power configuration externally;

transmitting its wireless signal at any transmission power less than the first transmission power upper bound in the first transmission slot or the second transmission power upper bound in the second transmission slot according to the transmission power configuration in which the communication protocol unit participates in the random access in the at least the first transmission slot or the second transmission slot;

transmitting in the first transmission slot when the transmission power configuration is corresponding to the first transmission power upper bound; and

transmitting in the second transmission slot when the transmission power configuration is corresponding to the second transmission power upper bound.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein before the communication protocol unit performs the data transmission in the at least the first transmission slot or the second transmission slot, the communication protocol unit is further configured for:

performing a random access in a first contention slot according to the first transmission power upper bound.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein the communication protocol unit is further configured for:

receiving a random access acknowledgment.

37. The device of claim 34, wherein the two transmission slots are ranked with different transmission power upper bounds.

38. The device of claim 34, wherein the first transmission power upper bound and the second transmission power upper bound have least 5 dB difference.

39. A direct communication method, adapted to a coordinator device among at least two direct communication devices, comprising:

configuring one contention slot comprises at least a first contention slot with a first transmission power upper bound and at least a second contention slot with a second transmission power upper bound which is different from the first transmission upper bound;

identifying power tags and associated identifiers respectively corresponding to the direct communication devices;

determining whether any power value of the power tags exceeds a transmission power limit according to the associated identifier of the power tags and transmission power configurations of the direct communication devices; and

receiving a request message from a newly entered direct communication device, wherein the request message requests for a transmission power configuration or a priority configuration of the newly entered direct communication device; and

in response to the request message, transmitting the transmission power configuration or the priority configuration to the newly entered direct communication device.

40. The direct communication method of claim 39, wherein the direct communication devices are configured with an allowed transmission power configuration or a priority level.

41. The direct communication method of claim 39, further comprising:

transmitting a timing reference beacon signal to the other direct communication devices among the direct communication devices.

42. The direct communication method of claim 41, further comprising:

transmitting a transmission power configuration or a priority configuration corresponding to the direct communication devices in the timing reference beacon signal.

43. The direct communication method of claim 39, further comprising:

in response to an emergency event, the coordinator device broadcasting an emergency command, wherein the emergency command is configured to adjust the occurrence of the at least two contention slots within a predetermined cycle.

44. The direct communication method of claim 39, further comprising:

in response to an emergency event, the coordinator device broadcasting an emergency command, wherein the emergency command is configured to adjust the occurrence of a transmission slots in which the direct communication devices contends for data transmission within a predetermined cycle.

45. The direct communication method of claim 39, wherein before the step of identifying power tags and associated identifiers respectively corresponding to the direct communication devices, the communication method further comprising:

the coordinator device detecting wireless signal of the direct communication devices.

46. The direct communication method of claim 39, further comprising:

when the coordinator device determines that one power tag exceeds the transmission power limit of a transmission power configuration of a transmitting direct communication device, the coordinator device transmitting a reconfiguration message to the transmitting direct communication device to lower the power value of the power tag of the transmitting direct communication device.

47. A coordinator device, comprising:

a transceiver unit, configured for transmitting and receiving wireless signals; and

a communication protocol unit, connected to the transceiver unit, configuring

configuring one contention slot comprises at least a first contention slot with a first transmission power upper bound and at least a second contention slot with a second transmission power upper bound which is different from the first transmission upper bound;

identifying power tags and associated identifiers respectively corresponding to the direct communication devices;

determining whether any power value of the power tags exceeds a transmission power limit according to the associated identifier of the power tags and transmission power configurations of the direct communication devices; and

receiving a request message from a newly entered direct communication device, wherein the request message requests for a transmission power configuration or a priority configuration of the newly entered direct communication device; and

in response to the request message, transmitting the transmission power configuration or the priority configuration to the newly entered direct communication device.

48. The coordinator device of claim 47, wherein:

the communication protocol unit is further configured for transmitting a timing reference beacon signal through the transceiver unit to the other direct communication devices among the direct communication devices.

49. The coordinator device of claim 47 wherein:

in response to an emergency event, the communication protocol unit is further configured for broadcasting an emergency command through the transceiver unit, wherein the emergency command is configured to adjust the occurrence of the contention slot within a predetermined cycle.

50. The coordinator device of claim 47, wherein:

when the communication protocol unit determines that a power value of the power tag exceeds a transmission power limit of a transmission power configuration of a transmitting direct communication device associated with the power tag, the communication protocol unit is further configured for transmitting a reconfiguration message to lower the power value of the power tag of the transmitting direct communication device.