Methods and apparatus for providing D2D system information to a UE served by a home evolved Node-B

• US 9,019,913 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2012
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Madan, Ritesh K., Li, Junyi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kao, Jutai
• Application Number:
  US13/476,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20130308552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which a network entity may be operable to communicate D2D resource allocations to a UE supported by a HeNB. In one example, the network entity may be operable to determine whether a HeNB is operable to communicate system information to a UE. As used herein, system information may include, but is not limited to, D2D resource allocations, paging information, etc. When the network entity determines that a HeNB is operable to communicate system information to a UE, then it may transmit the system information to the HeNB to allow the HeNB to convey the system information to the UE. When the network entity determines that a HeNB is not operable to communicate system information to a UE, then it may transmit the system information to the UE via one or more other network entities.

Claims

1. A method of communications, comprising:

determining whether a home evolved NodeB (HeNB) supports device to device (D2D) communications such that the HeNB is operable to communicate system information to a user equipment (UE), wherein the system information includes D2D resource allocations;

transmitting the system information to the UE via a network entity upon a determination that the HeNB does not support D2D communications such that the HeNB is not operable to communicate the system information; and

transmitting the system information to the HeNB to allow the HeNB to convey the system information to the UE upon a determination that the HeNB supports D2D communications such that the HeNB is operable to communicate the system information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the system information conveyed to the UE by the HeNB is conveyed using radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting to the HeNB comprises signaling using either an X2 or S1 interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the system information to the UE via a network entity further comprises transmitting the system information during an almost blank subframe (ABS) of the HeNB.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network entity comprises an MME, and wherein the transmitting further comprises transmitting an internet protocol (IP) packet including the system information to the UE.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the IP packet is communicated through a HeNB gateway to the HeNB and to the UE.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving the system information from a macro eNB.

8. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for determining whether a home evolved NodeB (HeNB) supports device to device (D2D) communications such that the HeNB is operable to communicate system information to a user equipment (UE), wherein the system information includes D2D resource allocations;

means for transmitting the system information to the UE via a network entity upon a determination that the HeNB does not support D2D communications such that the HeNB is not operable to communicate the system information; and

means for transmitting the system information to the HeNB to allow the HeNB to convey the system information to the UE upon a determination that the HeNB supports D2D communications such that the HeNB is operable to communicate the system information.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the system information conveyed to the UE by the HeNB is conveyed using radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for transmitting to the HeNB comprises means for signaling using either an X2 or S1 interface.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for transmitting the system information to the UE via a network entity further comprises means for transmitting the system information during an almost blank subframe (ABS) of the HeNB.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the network entity comprises an MME, and wherein the means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting an internet protocol (IP) packet including the system information to the UE.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the IP packet is communicated through a HeNB gateway to the HeNB and to the UE.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for receiving the system information from a macro eNB.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for;

determining whether a home evolved NodeB (HeNB) supports device to device (D2D) communications such that the HeNB is operable to communicate system information to a user equipment (UE), wherein the system information includes D2D resource allocations;

transmitting the system information to the UE via a network entity upon a determination that the HeNB does not support D2D communications such that the HeNB is not operable to communicate the system information; and

transmitting the system information to the HeNB to allow the HeNB to convey the system information to the UE upon a determination that the HeNB supports D2D communications such that the HeNB is operable to communicate the system information.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the system information conveyed to the UE by the HeNB is conveyed using radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the code for transmitting to the HeNB comprises code for signaling using either an X2 or S1 interface.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the code for transmitting the system information to the UE via a network entity further comprises code for transmitting the system information during an almost blank subframe (ABS) of the HeNB.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the network entity comprises an MME, and wherein the code for transmitting further comprises code for transmitting an internet protocol (IP) packet including the system information to the UE.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the IP packet is communicated through a HeNB gateway to the HeNB and to the UE.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising code for receiving the system information from a macro eNB.

22. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processing system configured to;

determine whether a home evolved NodeB (HeNB) supports device to device (D2D) communications such that the HeNB is operable to communicate system information to a user equipment (UE), wherein the system information includes D2D resource allocations;

transmit the system information to the UE via a network entity upon a determination that the HeNB does not support D2D communications such that the HeNB is not operable to communicate the system information; and

transmit the system information to the HeNB to allow the HeNB to convey the system information to the UE upon a determination that the HeNB supports D2D communications such that the HeNB is operable to communicate the system information.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the system information conveyed to the UE by the HeNB is conveyed using radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processing system is further configured to signal using either an X2 or S1 interface.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the system information is transmitted to the UE via a network entity, and wherein the processing system is further configured to transmit the system information during an almost blank subframe (ABS) of the HeNB.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the network entity comprises an MME, and wherein the processing system is further configured to transmit an internet protocol (IP) packet including the system information to the UE.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the IP packet is communicated through a HeNB gateway to the HeNB and to the UE.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the processing system is further configured to receive the system information from a macro eNB.