Radio communication method, radio communication system, and mobile station

• US 9,743,438 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Kishiyama, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Diaby, Moustapha
• Application Number:
  US14/116,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20140120934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Provided are a radio communication method, a radio communication system, and a mobile station, by which it is possible to easily establish initial access between mobile stations in D2D communication. A mobile station 200A transmits a synchronization-use signal to be used for establishment of initial access with a mobile station 200B toward the mobile station 200B on the basis of control information received from a cell to which the mobile station 200A is connected. The mobile station 200B receives the synchronization-use signal on the basis of the control information received from the cell. Moreover, the mobile station 200B determines transmission power and a transmission timing of a response signal on the basis of the received synchronization-use signal, and transmits the response signal toward the mobile station 200A. The mobile station 200A and the mobile station 200B start D2D communication on the basis of the synchronization-use signal and the response signal.

Claims

1. A radio communication method, which uses a first mobile station that transmits and receives a radio signal and a second mobile station that performs direct communication for transmitting and receiving a radio signal to and from the first mobile station without passing through a base station, comprising:

a step of generating and transmitting, by the first mobile station, a synchronization-use signal to be used for establishment of initial access with the second mobile station toward the second mobile station on the basis of identification information received from the base station to which the first mobile station is connected;

a step of receiving, by the second mobile station, the synchronization-use signal; and

a step of generating and transmitting, by the second mobile station, a response signal when identification information received from the base station coincides with identification information obtained from the synchronization-use signal received from the first mobile station,

wherein the identification information received from the base station includes information identifying the synchronization-use signal.

2. The radio communication method according to claim 1, comprising:

a step of determining, by the second mobile station, transmission power and a transmission timing of a response signal on the basis of the received synchronization use signal, and transmitting the response signal toward the first mobile station; and

a step of starting, by the first mobile station and the second mobile station, communication on the basis of the synchronization use signal and the response signal.

3. A radio communication system, comprising:

a first mobile station that transmits and receives a radio signal and

a second mobile station that performs direct communication for transmitting and receiving a radio signal to and from the first mobile station without passing through a base station,

wherein the first mobile station comprises;

a first receiver that receives identification information from the base station to which the first mobile station is connected;

a first transmitter that transmits a synchronization-use signal to be used for establishment of initial access with the second mobile station toward the second mobile station on the basis of the identification information received by the first receiver, and

the second mobile station comprises;

a second receiver that receives the identification information from the base station;

the second receiver receives the synchronization-use signal; and

a second transmitter that transmits a response signal when the identification information received from the base station coincides with identification information obtained from the synchronization-use signal received from the first mobile station,

wherein the identification information received from the base station includes information identifying the synchronization-use signal.

4. The radio communication system according to claim 3,

wherein the first transmitter transmits a direct communication request for requesting direct communication with the second mobile station, which is connected to the base station, toward the base station, and

wherein on the basis of the direct communication request, the first receiver and the second receiver receive the identification information transmitted from the base station.

5. The radio communication system according to claim 4, wherein

the base station detects a pair of mobile stations that may be able to perform the direct communication among mobile stations connected to a cell, and transmits the identification information toward the detected pair of mobile stations.

6. The radio communication system according to claim 3, wherein

the first receiver receives control information from the base station to which the first mobile station is connected, and

the control information includes a transmission power value that is used for transmission of the synchronization use signal.

7. The radio communication system according to claim 3, wherein the synchronization use signal is the synchronization use signal addressed to the second mobile station when the synchronization use signal coincides with a signal applied to the second mobile station in advance.

8. The radio communication system according to claim 3, wherein the first transmitter transmits the synchronization use signal multiple times.

9. The radio communication system according to claim 3, wherein

the first transmitter and first receiver transmits and receives data to and from the second mobile station, and

the second transmitter and second receiver transmits and receives data to and from the first mobile station,

wherein the second mobile station comprises a processor that determines transmission power and a transmission timing of the response signal on the basis of the synchronization-use signal received by the second receiver, and the second transmitter transmits the response signal toward the first mobile station.

10. The radio communication system according to claim 9, wherein

the processor measures path loss of the synchronization-use signal, wherein the processor and second transmitter determine whether to transmit the response signal to the first mobile station on the basis of a measurement result of the path loss by the processor.

11. The radio communication system according to claim 10, wherein the processor determines transmission power of the response signal on the basis of the measurement result of the path loss by the processor.

12. The radio communication system according to claim 9, wherein the second transmitter transmits the response signal to the first mobile station, the response signal being scrambled using the identification information of the synchronization-use signal.

13. The radio communication system according to claim 3, wherein

The second receiver performs discontinuous reception of the synchronization-use signal.

14. A mobile station, which performs direct communication for transmitting and receiving a radio signal to and from another mobile station without passing through a base station, comprising:

a receiver that receives identification information from a base station;

the receiver receives a synchronization-use signal to be used for establishment of initial access with the other mobile station; and

a transmitter that transmits a response signal when the identification information received from the base station coincides with identification information obtained from the synchronization-use signal received from the other mobile station,

wherein the identification information received from the base station includes information identifying the synchronization-use signal.

15. The mobile station according to claim 14,

wherein the transmitter and receiver transmits and receives data to and from the other mobile station,

wherein a processor determines transmission power and a transmission timing of the response signal on the basis of the synchronization-use signal received by the receiver, and the transmitter transmits the response signal toward the other mobile station.