Method for switching communication connection mode, communication system, base station, transmitter and receiver

• US 9,357,580 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chiu, Chun-Yuan, Lin, Tzu-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwar, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US14/172,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20140219198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections

Abstract

A method for switching communication connection modes, a communication system, a base station, a transmitter and a receiver are provided. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, when a base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between a transmitter and a receiver should be switched from a cellular communication mode to a device-to-device communication mode, the base station sends a control message to the transmitter. Next, the transmitter stops transmitting at least one first packet to the base station in response to the control message. Afterwards, the receiver receives at least one transmission-unfinished packet and a transmission-unfinished packet status related to the at least one transmission-unfinished packet forwarded by the base station.

Claims

1. A method for switching communication connection modes, adapted to a communication system comprising a transmitter, a receiver and at least one base station, and the method comprising:

when the at least one base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver requires to be switched from a cellular communication mode to a device-to-device communication mode, sending a control message by the at least one base station to the transmitter;

stopping transmitting, by the transmitter, at least one first packet to the at least one base station in response to the control message;

buffering, by the at least one base station, a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have been received, by the at least one base station, from the transmitter but have not been transmitted, by the at least one base station, to the receiver in the cellular communication mode, wherein each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets; and

receiving, by the receiver, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets forwarded by the at least one base station before the at least one base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the cellular communication mode to the device-to-device communication mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the at least one base station, an end marker to the core network; and

stopping transmitting, by the at least one base station, at least one second packet received from the transmitter to the core network, wherein the at least one second packet comprises the transmission-unfinished packets.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

forwarding, by the at least one base station, at least one third packet from the core network to the receiver until the end marker is received from the core network, wherein the at least one third packet corresponds to at least one packet sent, by the at least one base station, to the core network before the at least one base station sent the end marker.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein after the step of receiving, by the receiver, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets forwarded by the at least one base station, the method further comprises:

setting, by the receiver, a packet data convergence protocol sequence number receiving status of a packet data convergence protocol entity of the receiver according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses;

resetting, by the receiver, a radio link control entity of the receiver; and

returning, by the receiver, a confirmation message to the at least one base station.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein after the step of returning, by the receiver, the confirmation message to the at least one base station, the method further comprises:

resetting, by the at least one base station, a first packet data convergence protocol entity and a second packet data convergence protocol entity in the at least one base station in response to the confirmation message,

wherein the first packet data convergence protocol entity is corresponding to the transmitter, and the second packet data convergence protocol entity is corresponding to the receiver.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein after the step of returning, by the receiver, the confirmation message to the at least one base station, the method further comprises:

allocating, by the at least one base station, a communication resource for executing the device-to-device communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one base station comprises a first base station connected to the transmitter and a second base station connected to the receiver, and the step of receiving, by the receiver, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets forwarded by the at least one base station comprises:

receiving, by the receiver, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets from the first base station via the second base station.

8. A communication system, comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver; and

at least one base station,

wherein when the at least one base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver requires to be switched from a cellular communication mode to a device-to-device communication mode, the at least one base station sends a control message to the transmitter;

the transmitter stops transmitting at least one first packet to the at least one base station in response to the control message;

the at least one base station buffers a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have been received, by the at least one base station, from the transmitter but have not been transmitted, by the at least one base station, to the receiver in the cellular communication mode, wherein each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets; and

the receiver receives the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets forwarded by the at least one base station before the at least one base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the cellular communication mode to the device-to-device communication mode.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the at least one base station is further configured to:

send an end marker to the core network; and

stop transmitting at least one second packet received from the transmitter to the core network, wherein the at least one second packet comprises the transmission-unfinished packets.

10. The communication system of claim 9, further comprising:

the at least one base station forwarding at least one third packet from the core network to the receiver until the end marker is received from the core network, wherein the at least one third packet corresponds to at least one packet sent, by the at least one base station, to the core network before the at least one base station sent the end marker.

11. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the receiver is further configured to:

set a packet data convergence protocol sequence number receiving status of a packet data convergence protocol entity of the receiver according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses;

reset a radio link control entity of the receiver; and

return a confirmation message to the at least one base station.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the at least one base station is further configured to:

reset a first packet data convergence protocol entity and a second packet data convergence protocol entity in the at least one base station in response to the confirmation message,

wherein the first packet data convergence protocol entity is corresponding to the transmitter, and the second packet data convergence protocol entity is corresponding to the receiver.

13. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the at least one base station is further configured to:

allocate a communication resource for executing the device-to-device communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver.

14. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the at least one base station comprises a first base station connected to the transmitter and a second base station connected to the receiver, and the receiver receives the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets from the first base station via the second base station.

15. A base station, comprising:

a communication unit;

a storage unit, storing a plurality of program codes; and

a processing unit, connecting to the storage unit and the communication unit, and accessing the program codes to perform steps of;

when the base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between a transmitter and a receiver requires to be switched from a cellular communication mode to a device-to-device communication mode, sending a control message to the transmitter, so as to control the transmitter to stop transmitting at least one first packet to the base station;

buffering a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have been received, by the base station, from the transmitter but have not been transmitted, by the base station, to the receiver in the cellular communication mode, wherein each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets; and

forwarding the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the receiver before the base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the cellular communication mode to the device-to-device communication mode.

16. The base station of claim 15, further configured to:

send an end marker to the core network; and

stop transmitting at least one second packet received from the transmitter to the core network, wherein the at least one second packet comprises the transmission-unfinished packets.

17. The base station of claim 16, further configured to:

forward at least one third packet from the core network to the receiver until the end marker is received from the core network, wherein the at least one third packet corresponds to at least one packet sent, by the at least one base station, to the core network before the at least one base station sent the end marker.

18. The base station of claim 15, wherein when a confirmation message from the receiver is received by the base station, the base station is further configured to reset a first packet data convergence protocol entity and a second packet data convergence protocol entity in the base station in response to the confirmation message,

wherein the first packet data convergence protocol entity is corresponding to the transmitter, and the second packet data convergence protocol entity is corresponding to the receiver.

19. The base station of claim 18, wherein after the confirmation message is received by the base station, the base station is further configured to:

allocate a communication resource for executing the device-to-device communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver.

20. A receiver, comprising:

a communication unit;

a storage unit, storing a plurality of program codes; and

a processing unit, connecting to the storage unit and the communication unit, and accessing the program codes to perform steps of;

when at least one base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between a transmitter and the receiver requires to be switched from a cellular communication mode to a device-to-device communication mode, receiving a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets forwarded by the at least one base station before the at least one base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the cellular communication mode to the device-to-device communication mode,

wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have been received, by the at least one base station, from the transmitter but have not been transmitted, by the at least one base station, to the receiver in the cellular communication mode, and each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets.

21. The receiver of claim 20, further configured to:

set a packet data convergence protocol sequence number receiving status of a packet data convergence protocol entity of the receiver according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses;

reset a radio link control entity of the receiver; and

return a confirmation message to the at least one base station.

22. A method for switching communication connection modes, adapted to a communication system comprising a transmitter, a receiver and at least one base station, and the method comprising:

when the at least one base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver requires to be switched from a device-to-device communication mode to a cellular communication mode, sending a control message by the at least one base station to the transmitter;

stopping transmitting, by the transmitter, at least one first packet to the receiver in response to the control message; and

forwarding, by the transmitter, a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station before the at least one base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the device-to-device communication mode to the cellular communication mode, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have not been transmitted, by the transmitter, to the receiver in the device-to-device communication mode, and each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein after the step of forwarding, by the transmitter, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station, the method further comprises:

setting, by the at least one base station, a packet data convergence protocol sequence number transmitting status of a packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the receiver in the at least one base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein after the step of setting, by the at least one base station, the packet data convergence protocol sequence number transmitting status of the packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the receiver in the at least one base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses, the method further comprises:

allocating, by the at least one base station, a communication resource for executing the cellular communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one base station comprises a first base station connected to the transmitter and a second base station connected to the receiver, and the step of forwarding, by the transmitter, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station comprises:

forwarding, by the transmitter, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses to the second base station via the first base station.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein after the step of forwarding, by the transmitter, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station, the method further comprises:

setting, by the second base station, a packet data convergence protocol sequence number transmitting status of a packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the receiver in the second base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein after the step of setting, by the second base station, the packet data convergence protocol sequence number transmitting status of the packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the receiver in the second base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses, the method further comprises:

allocating, by the first base station and the second base station, a communication resource for executing the cellular communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver, respectively.

28. A communication system, comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver; and

at least one base station,

wherein when the at least one base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver requires to be switched from a device-to-device communication mode to a cellular communication mode, the at least one base station sends a control message to the transmitter;

the transmitter stops transmitting at least one first packet to the receiver in response to the control message; and

the transmitter forwards a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station before the at least one base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the device-to-device communication mode to the cellular communication mode, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have not been transmitted, by the transmitter, to the receiver in the device-to-device communication mode, and each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets.

29. The communication system of claim 28, wherein the at least one base station is further configured to:

set a packet data convergence protocol sequence number transmitting status of a packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the receiver in the at least one base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses.

30. The communication system of claim 29, wherein the at least one base station allocates a communication resource for executing the cellular communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver.

31. The communication system of claim 28, wherein the at least one base station comprises a first base station connected to the transmitter and a second base station connected to the receiver, the transmitter forwards the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses to the second base station via the first base station.

32. The communication system of claim 31, wherein the second base station sets a packet data convergence protocol sequence number transmitting status of a packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the receiver in the second base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses.

33. The communication system of claim 32, wherein the first base station and the second base station allocate a communication resource for executing the cellular communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver, respectively.

34. A base station, comprising:

a communication unit;

a storage unit, storing a plurality of program codes; and

a processing unit, connecting to the storage unit and the communication unit, and accessing the program codes to perform steps of;

when the base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between a transmitter and a receiver requires to be switched from a device-to-device communication mode to a cellular communication mode, sending a control message to the transmitter, so as to control the transmitter to stop transmitting at least one first packet to the receiver; and

receiving a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets forwarded by the transmitter before the base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the device-to-device communication mode to the cellular communication mode, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have not been transmitted, by the transmitter, to the receiver in the device-to-device communication mode, and each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets.

35. The base station of claim 34, wherein the base station is further configured to:

set a packet data convergence protocol sequence number transmitting status of a packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the receiver in the station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses.

36. The base station of claim 35, further configured to:

allocate a communication resource for executing the cellular communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver.

37. A transmitter, comprising:

a communication unit;

a storage unit, storing a plurality of program codes; and

a processing unit, connecting to the storage unit and the communication unit, and accessing the program codes to perform steps of;

when at least one base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between the transmitter and a receiver requires to be switched from a device-to-device communication mode to a cellular communication mode, receiving a control message from the at least one base station;

stopping transmitting at least one first packet to the receiver in response to the control message; and

forwarding a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station before the at least one base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the device-to-device communication mode to the cellular communication mode, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have not been transmitted, by the transmitter, to the receiver in the device-to-device communication mode, and each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets.

38. A method for switching communication connection modes, adapted to a communication system comprising a transmitter, a receiver and at least one base station, and the method comprising:

when the at least one base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver requires to be switched from a device-to-device communication mode to a cellular communication mode, sending a control message by the at least one base station to the transmitter and the receiver;

stopping transmitting, by the transmitter, at least one first packet to the receiver in response to the control message; and

forwarding, by the receiver, a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station in response to the control message before the at least one base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the device-to-device communication mode to the cellular communication mode, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have been received, by the receiver, from the transmitter in the device-to-device communication mode and are out-of-sequence, and each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein after the step of forwarding, by the receiver, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station in response to the control message, the method further comprises:

setting, by the at least one base station, a packet data convergence protocol sequence number receiving status of a packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the transmitter in the at least one base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein after the step of setting, by the at least one base station, the packet data convergence protocol sequence number receiving status of the packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the transmitter in the at least one base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses, the method further comprises:

allocating, by the at least one base station, a communication resource for executing the cellular communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one base station comprises a first base station connected to the transmitter and a second base station connected to the receiver, and the step of forwarding, by the receiver, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station comprises:

forwarding, by the receiver, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses to the first base station via the second base station.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein after the step of forwarding, by the receiver, the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station, the method further comprises:

setting, by the first base station, a packet data convergence protocol sequence number receiving status of a packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the transmitter in the first base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein after the step of setting, by the first base station, the packet data convergence protocol sequence number receiving status of the packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the transmitter in the first base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses, the method further comprises:

allocating, by the first base station and the second base station, a communication resource for executing the cellular communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver, respectively.

44. A communication system, comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver; and

at least one base station,

wherein when the at least one base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver requires to be switched from a device-to-device communication mode to a cellular communication mode, the at least one base station sends a control message to the transmitter and the receiver;

the transmitter stops transmitting at least one first packet to the receiver in response to the control message; and

the receiver forwards a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station in response to the control message before the at least one base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the device-to-device communication mode to the cellular communication mode, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have been received, by the receiver, from the transmitter in the device-to-device communication mode and are out-of-sequence, and each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets.

45. The communication system of claim 44, wherein the at least one base station is further configured to:

set a packet data convergence protocol sequence number receiving status of a packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the transmitter in the at least one base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses.

46. The communication system of claim 45, wherein the at least one base station is further configured to allocate a communication resource for executing the cellular communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver.

47. The communication system of claim 44, wherein the at least one base station comprises a first base station connected to the transmitter and a second base station connected to the receiver, the receiver forwards the transmission-unfinished packets and the transmission-unfinished packet statuses to the first base station via the second base station.

48. The communication system of claim 47, wherein the first base station is further configured to set a packet data convergence protocol sequence number receiving status of a packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the transmitter in the first base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses.

49. The communication system of claim 48, wherein the first base station and the second base station allocate a communication resource for executing the cellular communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver, respectively.

50. A base station, comprising:

a communication unit;

a storage unit, storing a plurality of program codes; and

a processing unit, connecting to the storage unit and the communication unit, and accessing the program codes to perform steps of;

when the base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between a transmitter and a receiver requires to be switched from a device-to-device communication mode to a cellular communication mode, sending a control message to the transmitter and the receiver, so as to control the transmitter to stop transmitting at least one first packet to the receiver, and controlling the receiver to forward a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the base station before the base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the device-to-device communication mode to the cellular communication mode, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have been received, by the receiver, from the transmitter in the device-to-device communication mode and are out-of-sequence, and each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets.

51. The base station of claim 50, wherein the base station is further configured to:

set a packet data convergence protocol sequence number receiving status of a packet data convergence protocol entity corresponding to the transmitter in the base station or corresponding to transmitter in at least one other base station according to the transmission-unfinished packet statuses.

52. The base station of claim 51, further configured to allocate a communication resource for executing the cellular communication mode to the transmitter and the receiver.

53. A receiver, comprising:

a communication unit;

a storage unit, storing a plurality of program codes; and

a processing unit, connecting to the storage unit and the communication unit, and accessing the program codes to perform steps of;

when at least one base station or a core network entity determines that a communication mode between a transmitter and the receiver requires to be switched from a device-to-device communication mode to a cellular communication mode, receiving a control message from the at least one base station; and

forwarding a plurality of transmission-unfinished packets and a plurality of transmission-unfinished packet statuses related to the transmission-unfinished packets to the at least one base station in response to the control message before the at least one base station or the core network entity has completed switching the communication mode between the transmitter and the receiver from the device-to-device communication mode to the cellular communication mode, wherein the transmission-unfinished packets are packets have been received, by the receiver, from the transmitter in the device-to-device communication mode and are out-of-sequence, and each of the transmission-unfinished packet statuses is a packet data convergence protocol sequence number of each of the transmission-unfinished packets.