Transmission of device to device sounding reference signals using macrocell communication resources

• US 9,549,427 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Kalhan, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): Elpenord, Candal
• Application Number:
  US14/357,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20140328299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2621 using frequency division multiple access [FDMA] H04B7/2615 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0051 of dedicated pilots, i.e. pilots destined for a single user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0278 using buffer status reports dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A first wireless communication user equipment (UE) device transmits a device-to device (D2D) Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) to a second wireless communication (UE) device using microcell communication resources. The second wireless communication (UE) device evaluates the SRS to discover the first wireless communication (UE) device, estimate channel conditions, and/or determine Channel State Information. Information indicative of the CSI is reported to a base station. Based on the reported channel conditions, (D2D) communication resources are scheduled by assigning microcell communication resources to the wireless communication (UE) devices.

Claims

1. A method performed at a first user equipment (UE) device, the method comprising:

communicating with a second UE device over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link using uplink radio resources defined by a communication specification for uplink communication between base stations and wireless communication UE devices, the uplink radio resources including uplink reference signal resources for transmitting uplink reference signals;

transmitting data and control signals to the second UE device over the D2D communication link, wherein the transmitting occurs on uplink radio resources other than the uplink reference signal resources; and

transmitting a D2D demodulation signal along with the data signals to the second UE device, the D2D demodulation signal used by the second UE device to demodulate the data signals.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

demodulating a data signal transmitted from the first UE device using the D2D demodulation signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the uplink radio resources are time-frequency communication resources having a specified times and frequencies.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the uplink radio resources are organized into a plurality of frequency bands and a plurality of time segments.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the uplink radio resources comprise a plurality of frequency bands divided in time by a series of periodically repeating frames, each frame comprising a plurality of time slots, wherein each time-frequency resource is at least one time slot and at least one frequency band.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication specification is The Third-Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) communication specification.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the D2D demodulation signal is scrambled with codes that are function of the first UE device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the D2D demodulation signal is scrambled with codes that are function of a Cell ID of a base station.

9. A communication system comprising:

a first wireless communication user equipment (UE) device;

a second wireless communication UE device;

a base station; and

a scheduler configured to assign uplink radio resources, defined by a communication specification for uplink communication between base stations and wireless communication UE devices, as device-to-device (D2D) communication resources, the uplink radio resources including uplink reference signal resources for transmitting uplink reference signals,

the first wireless communication UE device configured to transmit data and control signals to the second wireless communication UE device over the D2D communication resources, wherein the data and control signals are transmitted on uplink radio resources other than the uplink reference signal resources,

the first wireless communication UE device further configured to transmit a D2D demodulation signal along with the data signals to the second wireless communication UE device, the second wireless communication UE device configured to use the D2D demodulation signal to demodulate the data signals.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the communication specification is The Third-Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) communication specification.

11. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the first UE device is configured to scramble the D2D demodulation signal with codes that are function of the first UE device.

12. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the first UE device is configured to scramble the D2D demodulation signal with codes that are function of a Cell ID of the base station.

13. A first user equipment (UE) device comprising:

a transceiver; and

a controller coupled to the transceiver, the controller including at least one processor and at least one memory, the controller configured to cause the first UE device to

communicate with a second UE device over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link using uplink radio resources of cellular communication, the uplink radio resources including uplink reference signal resources for transmitting uplink reference signals;

transmit data and control signals to the second UE device over the D2D communication link, wherein the data and control signals are transmitted on uplink radio resources other than the uplink reference signal resources; and

transmit a D2D demodulation signal along with the data signals to the second UE device, the D2D demodulation signal used by the second UE device to demodulate the data signals.

14. The first UE device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the first UE device to transmit the data and control signals over the D2D communication link in accordance with The Third-Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) communication specification.

15. The first UE device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the first UE device to scramble the D2D demodulation signal with codes that are function of the first UE device.

16. The first UE device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the first UE device to scramble the D2D demodulation signal with codes that are function of a Cell ID of a base station.

17. A device to be equipped in a first user equipment (UE) device, the device comprising:

at least one memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to cause the first UE device to

communicate with a second UE device over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link using uplink radio resources of cellular communication, the uplink radio resources including uplink reference signal resources for transmitting uplink reference signals;

transmit data and control signals to the second UE device over the D2D communication link, wherein the data and control signals are transmitted on uplink radio resources other than the uplink reference signal resources; and

transmit a D2D demodulation signal along with the data signals to the second UE device, the D2D demodulation signal used by the second UE device to demodulate the data signals.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the first UE device to transmit the data and control signals over the D2D communication link in accordance with The Third-Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) communication specification.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the first UE device to scramble the D2D demodulation signal with codes that are function of the first UE device.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the first UE device to scramble the D2D demodulation signal with codes that are function of a Cell ID of a base station.