Communication control method, user terminal, processor, and storage medium

• US 9,749,834 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Morita, Kugo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibide Akonai, Olumide T
• Application Number:
  US14/699,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/383 power control in peer-to-peer links
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/48 during retransmission after error or non-acknowledgment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communication control method used in a cellular mobile communication system that performs inter-terminal communication that is direct radio communication capable of being performed between user terminals in a state where a radio connection with a network is established, comprises a step of transmitting, by a first user terminal, to the network, communication request information indicating a desire to start the inter-terminal communication, a step of transmitting, by the network, to a second user terminal, start request information for starting waiting for a search signal, in a case where the second user terminal identified on the basis of the communication request information is stopping the waiting for the search signal for the inter-terminal communication, and a step of starting, by the second user terminal, waiting for the search signal upon receiving the start request information from the network.

Claims

1. A communication control method, comprising:

transmitting, by a network, to a first user terminal, information for the first user terminal to start to receive a discovery signal for discovering another user terminal;

starting, by the first user terminal, receiving the discovery signal upon receiving the information from the network;

transmitting, by a second user terminal, the discovery signal including an identifier indicating an application, wherein the identifier is used to limit a user terminal to respond to the discovery signal;

transmitting, by the first user terminal, to the second user terminal, a response signal in response to a reception of the discovery signal from the second user terminal, wherein the response signal includes an identifier indicating an application;

receiving, by the second user terminal, the response signal from the first user terminal; and

transmitting, by the second user terminal, to the network, the identifier from the first user terminal together with an identifier indicating the second user terminal, in response to a reception of the response signal from the second user terminal.

2. The communication control method according to claim 1, wherein the application is used in a proximity service.

3. A first user terminal, comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory, wherein

the processor is configured to;

receive, from a network, information for the first user terminal to start to receive a discovery signal for discovering another user terminal;

start receiving the discovery signal upon receiving the information from the network;

receive, from a second user terminal, the discovery signal including an identifier indicating an application, wherein the identifier is used to limit an user terminal to respond to the discovery signal, and

transmit, to the second user terminal, a response signal including an identifier indicating an application in response to a reception of the discovery signal from the second user terminal, in order for the second user terminal to transmit the identifier from the first user terminal to the network.

4. A second user terminal, comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory, wherein

the processor is configured to;

transmit a discovery signal for discovering another user terminal, wherein the discovery signal includes an identifier indicating an application and used to limit a user terminal to respond to the discovery signal;

receive a response signal from a first user terminal which starts receiving the discovery signal upon receiving information from a network and has received the discovery signal, wherein the information is for the first user terminal to start to receive the discovery signal, and the response signal includes an identifier indicating an application; and

transmit, to the network, the identifier from the first user terminal together with an identifier indicating the second user terminal, in response to a reception of the response signal from the second user terminal.

5. A processor for controlling a first user terminal, the processor coupled to a memory and configured to:

receive, from a network, information for the first user terminal to start to receive a discovery signal for discovering another user terminal;

start receiving the discovery signal upon receiving the information from the network;

receive, from a second user terminal, the discovery signal including an identifier indicating an application, wherein the identifier is used to limit an user terminal to respond to the discovery signal; and

transmit, to the second user terminal, a response signal including an identifier indicating an application, in response to a reception of the discovery signal from the second user terminal, in order for the second user terminal to transmit, to the network, the identifier from the first user terminal together with an identifier indicating the second user terminal.

6. A processor for controlling a second user terminal, the processor coupled to a memory and configured to:

transmit a discovery signal for discovering another user terminal, wherein the discovery signal includes an identifier indicating an application and used in order to limit a user terminal to respond to the discovery signal;

receive a response signal from a first user terminal, which starts receiving the discovery signal upon receiving information from a network and has received the discovery signal, wherein the information is for the first user terminal to start to receive the discovery signal, and the response signal includes an identifier indicating an application; and

transmit, to the network, the identifier from the first user terminal together with an identifier indicating the second user terminal, in response to a reception of the response signal from the second user terminal.

7. A non-transitory storage medium provided in a first user terminal, wherein

the non-transitory storage medium stores therein a program for the first user terminal to perform a process for:

receiving, from a network, information for the first user terminal to start to receive a discovery signal for discovering another user terminal;

start receiving the discovery signal upon receiving the information from the network;

receiving, from a second user terminal, the discovery signal including an identifier indicating an application, wherein the identifier is used to limit a user terminal to respond to the discovery signal; and

transmitting, to the second user terminal, a response signal including an identifier indicating an application, in response to a reception of the discovery signal from the second user terminal, in order for the second user terminal to transmit, to the network, the identifier from the first user terminal together with an identifier indicating the second user terminal.

8. A non-transitory storage medium provided in a second user terminal, wherein

the non-transitory storage medium stores therein a program for the second user terminal to perform a process for:

transmitting a discovery signal for discovering another user terminal, wherein the discovery signal includes an identifier indicating an application and used to limit an user terminal to respond to the discovery signal;

receiving a response signal from a first user terminal, which starts receiving the discovery signal upon receiving information from a network and has received the discovery signal, wherein the information is for the first user terminal to start to receive the discovery signal, and the response signal includes an identifier indicating an application; and

transmitting, to the network, the identifier from the first user terminal together with an identifier indicating the second user terminal, in response to a reception of the response signal from the second user terminal.