Method for performing handover during device-to-device communication in wireless access system and device for same

• US 9,155,002 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jang, Jiwoong, Cho, Hangyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Prez-Gutirrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pannell, Mark G.
• Application Number:
  US14/125,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20140135019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 455/437, 455/436, 455/439, 455/442, 370331-334
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0016 Hand-off preparation specially adapted for end-to-end data sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing a handover during a device-to-device communication in a wireless access system are disclosed. More particularly, the method comprises: a first device sensing a handover state by considering a link quality with a second device while performing device-to-device communication with the second device; the first device measuring channel quality with respect to neighboring devices by using a reference signal that is transmitted from the neighboring devices; the first device transmitting a handover request message to a relay device in order to start handover the relay device selected from the neighboring devices based on measuring channel quality; the first device receiving from the relay device a handover completion message indicating the completion of resource allocation; and the first device performing the device-to-device communication with the second device by using a resource that is allocated by the relay device.

Claims

1. A method for performing handover during a direct communication between a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE in a wireless communication system supporting the direct communication, the method comprising:

sensing, by the first UE, a handover state in consideration of link quality with the second UE while performing communication with the second device;

measuring, by the first UE, channel quality for a candidate group of neighboring devices using a reference signal transmitted from the candidate group of neighboring devices;

selecting, by the first UE, a relay device from the candidate group of neighboring devices;

transmitting, by the first UE to the relay device, a handover request message in order to start handover to the relay device;

receiving, by the first UE from the relay UE, a handover complete message indicating that resource allocation has been completed; and

performing, by the first UE, communication with the second UE via the relay device using resources allocated by the relay device,

wherein selecting the relay device includes;

receiving, by the first UE from the second UE, a list of neighboring devices having a channel quality value equal to or greater than a threshold for the second UE, the list of neighboring devices being constructed by the second UE based on the second UE measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices, and

determining, by the first UE, the relay device based on the list of neighboring devices and a result of measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices,

wherein measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the first UE and measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the second UE are simultaneously performed.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

broadcasting, by the first UE to the candidate group of neighboring devices, a request message for requesting transmission of the reference signal.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the first UE and measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the second UE are performed immediately or a predetermined time elapsed after broadcasting the request message for requesting transmission of the reference signal to the candidate group of neighboring devices.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the first UE to the second UE, a message indicating that the relay device has been selected.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

alternately performing, by the first UE, communication with the relay device and communication with the second UE until receiving the handover complete message from the relay device.

6. A method for performing handover during a direct communication between a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE in a wireless communication system supporting the direct communication, the method comprising:

confirming, by the first UE, that the second UE has requested transmission of a reference signal from a candidate group of neighboring devices while performing communication with the second UE;

measuring, by the first UE, channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices using the reference signal transmitted from the candidate group of neighboring devices;

selecting, by the first UE, a relay device from the candidate group of neighboring devices;

transmitting, by the first UE to the relay device, a handover request message in order to start handover to the relay device;

receiving, by the first UE from the relay device, a handover complete message indicating that resource allocation has been completed; and

performing, by the first UE, communication with the second UE via the relay device using resources allocated by the relay device,

wherein selecting the relay device includes;

receiving, by the first UE from the second UE, a list of neighboring devices having a channel quality value equal to or greater than a threshold for the second UE, the list of neighboring devices being constructed by the second UE based on the second UE measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices, and

determining, by the first UE, the relay device based on the list of neighboring devices and a result of measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices,

wherein measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the first UE and measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the second UE are simultaneously performed.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the confirming includes:

receiving a request message broadcasted to the candidate group of neighboring devices by the second UE in order to request transmission of the reference signal,. and

confirming that the second UE has requested transmission of the reference signal from the candidate group of neighboring devices.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the confirming includes:

receiving, from the second UE, an indication message indicating that the second UE has broadcasted a request message for requesting transmission of the reference signal from the candidate group of neighboring devices, and

confirming that the second UE has requested transmission of the reference signal from the candidate group of neighboring devices.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the first UE and measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the second UE are performed immediately after confirming that the second UE has requested transmission of the reference signal from the neighboring device or after a predetermined time has elapsed.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting, by the first UE to the second UE, a message indicating that the relay device has been selected.

11. The method according to claim 6, further comprising alternately performing, by the first UE, communication with the relay device and communication with the second UE until receiving the handover complete message from the relay device.

12. A device for performing handover during a direct communication with another device in a wireless communication system supporting the direct communication, the device comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) unit configured to transmit and receive a radio signal; and

a processor configured to;

sense a handover state in consideration of link quality with the another device while performing communication with the another device;

measure channel quality for a candidate group of neighboring devices using a reference signal transmitted from the candidate group of neighboring devices;

select a relay device from the candidate group of neighboring devices;

transmit a handover request message to the relay device in order to start handover to the relay device;

receive, from the relay device, a handover complete message indicating that resource allocation has been completed; and

perform communication with the another device via the relay device using resources allocated by the relay device,

wherein selecting the relay device includes;

receiving, from the another device, a list of neighboring devices having a channel quality value equal to or greater than a threshold for the another device, the list of neighboring devices being constructed by the another device based on the another device measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices, and

determining the relay device based on the list of neighboring devices and a result of measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices,

wherein measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the device and measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the another device are simultaneously performed.

13. A device for performing handover during a direct communication with another device in a wireless communication system supporting the direct communication, the device comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) unit configured to transmit and receive a radio signal; and

a processor configured to

confirm that the another device has requested transmission of a reference signal from a candidate group of neighboring devices while performing communication with the another device;

measure channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices using the reference signal transmitted from the candidate group of neighboring devices;

select a relay device from the candidate group of neighboring devices;

transmit a handover request message to the relay device in order to start handover to the relay device;

receive, from the relay device, a handover complete message indicating that resource allocation has been completed; and

perform communication with the another device via the relay device using resources allocated by the relay device,

wherein selecting the relay device includes;

receiving, from the another device, a list of neighboring devices having a channel quality value equal to or greater than a threshold for the another device, the list of neighboring devices being constructed by the another device based on the another device measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices, and

determining the relay device based on the list of neighboring devices and a result of measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices,

wherein measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the device and measuring channel quality for the candidate group of neighboring devices by the another device are simultaneously performed.