Group procedures for machine type communication devices

• US 9,185,530 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2011
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gomes, Sylvie, Pani, Diana, Anepu, Bhaskar M., Cave, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US13/638,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20130130684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455436-444
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Systems, methods, and instrumentalities to optimize procedures relating to machine type communication devices. Individual UEs may be grouped together in order to optimize procedures relating to members of the group. For example, a group of UE devices may be predefined or a group may be configured by a network associated with the UEs. One or more of the members of the group may be designated as a special UE or a master UE. The special UE or master UE may perform an action on behalf of one or more members of the group.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing communications relating to machine type communication devices, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first user equipment (UE), an indication to operate according to an optimization procedure, wherein the optimization procedure is configured for the first UE, and wherein the first UE is a member of a group of machine type communication devices that includes a second UE;

the first UE performing a cell reselection measurement;

the first UE performing cell reselection based on the reselection measurement, when a cell reselection criteria is met; and

the first UE monitoring a source cell for a confirmation message within a time period while preventing an uplink transmission from being sent, wherein the confirmation message is based on an uplink transmission from the second UE.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UE foregoes sending a cell update to the network when the confirmation message is received before the time period has expired.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UE sends a cell update to the network when the confirmation message is not received before the time period has expired.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second UE is configured to perform an action on behalf of the group of machine type communication devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the uplink transmission is a cell update or an UL message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UE is a non-special UE and the second UE is a special UE.

4. A first user equipment (UE) configured, at least in part, to:

receive an indication to operate according to an optimization procedure, wherein the optimization procedure is configured for the first UE, and wherein the first UE is a member of a group of machine type communication devices that includes a second UE;

perform a cell reselection measurement;

perform cell reselection based on the reselection measurement, when a cell reselection criteria is met; and

monitor a source cell for a confirmation message within a time period while preventing an uplink transmission from being sent, wherein the confirmation message is based on an uplink transmission from the second UE.

5. The first UE of claim 4, wherein the first UE foregoes sending a cell update to the network when the confirmation message is received before the time period has expired.

6. The first UE of claim 4, wherein the first UE sends a cell update to the network when the confirmation message is not received before the time period has expired.

8. The first UE of claim 4, wherein the second UE is configured to perform an action on behalf of the group of machine type communication devices.

10. The first UE of claim 4, wherein the uplink transmission is a cell update or an UL message.

12. The first UE of claim 4, wherein the first UE is a non-special UE and the second UE is a special UE.