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

• US 9,264,492 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• 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:
  US14/488,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20150004993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 455517-519, 455/41.2
• 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 performing wireless communication with a base station, and direct transmissions to at least one second mobile station, comprising:

at a first mobile station;

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

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

receiving a message from the base station indicating resources allocated for direct transmissions between the first mobile station and the at least one second mobile station; and

based at least in part on the received message from the base station, transmitting information directly to the at least one second mobile station using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource, wherein the first mobile station transmitting the information directly to the at least one second mobile station comprises transmitting signals similar in form to signals used in transmitting the second data to the base station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the first mobile station, receiving a configuration of a first portion of time for which direct mobile station to mobile station transmissions are enabled and a second portion of time for which mobile-base station communications are enabled.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining synchronization at the first mobile station at least in part from a synchronization signal transmitted by at least one other mobile station.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining frame timing information from the synchronization signal transmitted by the at least one other mobile station.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting to the at least one second mobile station, wherein at least the first mobile station is outside of base station coverage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting information directly to the at least second mobile station comprises:

transmitting a first direct transmission to the at least one second mobile station for direct communication establishment, wherein the first direct transmission is transmitted in a first set of defined resources, wherein the first set of resources are defined for first transmissions for direct communication establishment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first set of defined resources is indicated to at least the first mobile station by the base station.

8. A first mobile station, configured to perform wireless communication with a base station and direct transmissions to at least one second mobile station, comprising:

transmission circuitry;

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

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

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

receive a message from the base station indicating resources allocated for direct transmissions between the first mobile station and the at least one second mobile station; and

based at least in part on the received message from the base station, transmit information directly to the at least one second mobile station using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource, wherein the first mobile station transmitting the information directly to the at least one second mobile station comprises transmitting signals similar in form to signals used in transmitting the second data to the base station.

9. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein the processing hardware is further configured to:

receive a configuration of a first portion of time for which direct mobile station to mobile station transmissions are enabled and a second portion of time for which mobile-base station communications are enabled.

10. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein the processing hardware is further configured to operate with the transmission circuitry to determine synchronization at the first mobile station at least in part from a synchronization signal transmitted by at least one other mobile station.

11. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the processing hardware is further configured to operate with the transmission circuitry to determine frame timing information from the synchronization signal transmitted by the at least one other mobile station.

12. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein the processing hardware is further configured to operate with the transmission circuitry to transmit to the at least one second mobile station, wherein at least the first mobile station is outside of base station coverage.

13. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein transmitting information directly to the at least second mobile station further comprises

transmitting a first direct transmission to the at least one second mobile station for direct communication establishment, wherein the first direct transmission is transmitted in a first set of defined resources, wherein the first set of resources are defined for first transmissions for direct communication establishment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first set of defined resources is indicated to at least the first mobile station by the base station.

15. A method for a first mobile station performing wireless communication with a base station and receiving direct transmissions from at least one second mobile station, comprising:

at the first mobile station;

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

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

receiving a message from the base station indicating resources allocated for direct transmissions between the first mobile station and the at least one second mobile station; and

based at least in part on the received message from the base station, receiving information directly from the at least one second mobile station using the uplink band of the cellular spectral resource, wherein receiving information directly from the at least one second mobile station comprises receiving signals similar in form to signals used in transmitting the second data to the base station.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

at the first mobile station, receiving a configuration of a first portion of time for which direct mobile station to mobile station transmissions are enabled and a second portion of time for which mobile-base station communications are enabled.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining synchronization at the first mobile station at least in part from a synchronization signal transmitted by at least one other mobile station.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining frame timing information from the synchronization signal transmitted by the at least one other mobile station.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving direct transmission from at least one second mobile station, wherein at least the first mobile station is outside of base station coverage.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving information directly from the at least second mobile station further comprises

receiving a first direct transmission from the at least one second mobile station for direct communication establishment, wherein the first direct transmission is received in a first set of defined resources, wherein the first set of resources are defined for first transmissions for direct communication establishment, and wherein the first set of defined resources is indicated to at least the first mobile station by the base station.