Method of relay between devices

• US 9,319,127 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Kim, Eunkyung, Cha, Jae Sun, Park, Jae Joon, Lee, Hyun, Lim, Kwang Jae, Chang, Sung Cheol
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHAVAL V
• Application Number:
  US14/455,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20150045033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/11.1, 455/434, 455/437, 455/509, 455/426.1, 455/404.2, 370/315, 370/312, 370/241, 370/329, 370/331
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/03 Reselecting a link using a direct mode connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/033 in pre-organised networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A data relay method includes receiving a relay request from a BS, and when the relay request is accepted, relaying data between the BS and at least one external terminal, or the data relay method includes determining relaying between a first terminal among a plurality of terminals, and other remaining terminals excluding the first terminal among the plurality of terminals, and relaying data between the first terminal and the other remaining terminals.

Claims

1. A data relay method enabling a terminal to relay data between a base station (BS) and at least one external terminal located outside of a service area of the BS, the method comprising:

receiving a relay request from the BS;

when the relay request is accepted, relaying data between the BS and the at least one external terminal;

requesting handover with respect to the relay request from the BS; and

handing over the relay role to a relay terminal newly selected by the BS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the relay request is a request transmitted by the BS to the terminal determined based on relay terminal selection conditions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the relay terminal selection conditions include a condition regarding a remaining amount of power of a terminal connected to the BS.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the relay terminal selection conditions include channel quality between a terminal and the BS and a condition regarding channel quality of a direct link between a terminal and an external terminal.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the relay terminal selection conditions include a condition regarding a location of a terminal, relative to the BS.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the relay terminal selection conditions include a condition regarding mobility of a terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting relay capability of a terminal to the BS before receiving the relay request.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein

the relaying comprises

delivering an intention of acceptance of the relay request, to the BS.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein

the relaying comprises

when the relay request is not accepted, delivering an intention of rejection or an intention of reserved acceptance of the relay request, to the BS.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein

the relaying comprises:

searching for at least one external terminal and establishing a direct link with the at least one external terminal; and

relaying data between the BS and the at least one external terminal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving instruction to hand over the relay role to the relay terminal newly selected by the BS, from the BS; and

handing over the relay role to the relay terminal.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising managing a list of at least one external terminal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises information regarding a destination terminal.

14. A data relay method enabling a relay terminal to relay data between a plurality of terminals, the method comprising:

determining relaying between a first terminal among the plurality of terminals, and other remaining terminals excluding the first terminal among the plurality of terminals;

relaying data between the first terminal and the other remaining terminals;

after a new terminal establishes a direct link with the first terminal, receiving, by the first terminal, a handover instruction with respect to relay transmitted from the first terminal; and

handing over the relay role to the new terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein

the determining comprises

receiving a relay request with respect to data from the first terminal.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein

the determining comprises

receiving a relay request with respect to data from a second terminal among the remaining terminals.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

requesting the first terminal to hand over the relay role; and

handing over, by the first terminal, the relay role to the selected new terminal.