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

• US 9,112,877 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• 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, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US14/083,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20140080495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 455517-519, 455/41.2, 455/101, 455450-4522, 455/502, 455/552.1, 455 301- 306
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 message from the base station indicating availability of direct communication between the first mobile station and the second mobile station; and

in response to the message, the first mobile station;

receiving data directly from the second mobile station; and

transmitting data directly to the second mobile station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving data from the second mobile station is performed using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to successful direct communication with the second mobile station, the first mobile station transmitting a response to the message indicating successful direct communication with the second mobile station.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the message comprises a peer to peer (P2P) request message and wherein the response comprises a P2P response message.

6. 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.

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. 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.

9. A mobile station, comprising:

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

processing hardware coupled to the transmission circuitry, wherein the processing hardware is configured to operate with the transmission circuitry to;

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

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

receive message from the base station indicating availability of direct communication between the first mobile station and the second mobile station; and

in response to the message;

receive data directly from the second mobile station; and

transmit data directly to the second mobile station.

10. The mobile station of claim 9, wherein receiving data from the second mobile station is performed using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource.

11. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource.

12. The mobile station of claim 9, wherein the processing hardware is further configured to:

in response to successful direct communication with the second mobile station, transmit a response to the message indicating successful direct communication with the second mobile station.

13. The mobile station of claim 9, wherein 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.

14. The mobile station of claim 9, wherein the processing hardware comprises a microprocessor.

15. The mobile station of claim 9, wherein the processing hardware comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

16. 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 the base station using a downlink band of a cellular spectral resource;

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

receive message from the base station indicating availability of direct communication between the first mobile station and the second mobile station; and

in response to the message;

receive data directly from the second mobile station; and

transmit data directly to the second mobile station.

17. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 16, wherein receiving data from the second mobile station is performed using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource.

18. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 16, wherein transmitting data to the second mobile station is performed using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource.

19. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 16, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

in response to successful direct communication with the second mobile station, transmit a response to the message indicating successful direct communication with the second mobile station.

20. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 16, wherein 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.