Cooperative communication method and system, access network device, and user equipment

• US 9,831,991 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Li, Yue, Yang, Fei, Guo, Xiaolong
• Primary Examiner(s): Mian, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US14/623,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20150163026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/026 Co-operative diversity, e.g. using fixed or mobile stations as relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/304 due to measured or perceived resources with higher communication quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a cooperative communication method and system, an access network device, and a user equipment. The method includes, when a access network device receives downlink data belonging to a first user equipment UE, if it is determined that a supporting UE in a support list of the first UE cannot serve as a current supporting UE of the downlink data, establishing a cooperative communication relationship between a second UE and the first UE, that is, setting the second UE as the current supporting UE of the first UE. The second UE is another UE except the first UE and the supporting UE in the support list of the first UE. The downlink data is sent to the second UE, so that the second UE sends the downlink data to the first UE.

Claims

1. A cooperative communication method, comprising:

receiving, by an access network device, downlink data belonging to a first user equipment (UE);

determining that each supporting UE in a support list of the first UE stored at the access network device cannot serve as a current supporting UE of the downlink data due to a channel quality between the first UE and the respective supporting UE;

identifying a second UE as a potential supporting UE for the first UE in response to receiving, from the second UE, a pairing identifier associated with the first UE and information regarding channel quality between the first UE and the second UE, wherein the support list of the first UE excludes the second UE during the determining that each supporting UE in the support list of the first UE cannot serve as the current supporting UE of the downlink data;

adding, in response to the identifying the second UE as the potential supporting UE, the pairing identifier associated with the first UE, an identifier of the second UE and the information regarding the channel quality between the first UE and the second UE to the support list of the first UE;

establishing, in response to, and after, the determining that each supporting UE in the support list of the first UE cannot serve as the current supporting UE of the downlink data, and further in response to the adding the pairing identifier associated with the first UE to the support list of the first UE, a cooperative communication relationship between the first UE and the second UE by setting the second UE as the current supporting UE of the first UE;

sending the downlink data to the second UE, the sending the downlink data to the second UE causing the second UE to send the downlink data to the first UE; and

deleting the added information from the support list of the first UE in response to one of receiving a release request from the second UE or a report indicating a poor quality of the channel between the first UE and second UE.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying the second UE as the potential supporting UE and the establishing the cooperative communication relationship between a second UE and the first UE comprises:

receiving, by the access network device, synthesis request information that is sent by the second UE by using higher layer signaling, wherein the higher layer signaling uses one of an radio link control (RLC) protocol or an radio resource control (RRC) message, wherein the synthesis request information comprises a pairing identifier, and the pairing identifier is a pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE;

wherein the establishing the cooperative communication relationship between the first UE and the second UE comprises;

setting the second UE as the current supporting UE of the downlink data;

sending synthesis establishment information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling, so that the second UE sets, according to the synthesis establishment information, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

sending first synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, so that the first UE sets, according to the first synthesis update information, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the deleting the added information from the support list of the first UE comprises:

receiving, by the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, synthesis release request information sent by the second UE, wherein the synthesis release request information comprises the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE;

deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier from the support list of the first UE;

sending synthesis release response information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling, so that the second UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

sending second synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the second synthesis update information comprises the identifier of the second UE, so that the first UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the deleting the added information from the support list of the first UE comprises:

determining that the second UE is inappropriate to serve as a supporting UE of the first UE;

deleting, by the access network device, the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE;

sending synthesis deletion information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the synthesis deletion information comprises an identifier of the first UE, so that the second UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

sending second synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the second synthesis update information comprises the identifier of the second UE, so that the first UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE comprises deleting, by the access network device, the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE when it is determined that a time during which the second UE is inappropriate to serve as the supporting UE of the first UE is greater than a preset time threshold.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying the second UE as the potential supporting UE, the adding the pairing identifier associated with the first UE to the support list of the first UE, and the establishing the cooperative communication relationship between a second UE and the first UE comprises:

sending, by the access network device, synthesis establishment information to the second UE by using higher layer signaling, so that the second UE sets, according to the synthesis establishment information, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE;

receiving, by using the higher layer signaling, synthesis establishment response information returned by the second UE, wherein the synthesis establishment response information comprises a pairing identifier, and the pairing identifier is a pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE;

saving the pairing identifier and an identifier of the second UE into the support list of the first UE and setting the second UE as the current supporting UE of the downlink data; and

sending first synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, so that the first UE sets, according to the first synthesis update information, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the deleting the added information from the support list of the first UE comprises:

receiving, by the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, synthesis release request information sent by the second UE, wherein the synthesis release request information comprises the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE;

deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier from the support list of the first UE;

sending synthesis release response information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling, so that the second UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

sending second synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the second synthesis update information comprises the identifier of the second UE, so that the first UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the deleting the added information from the support list of the first UE comprises:

determining that the second UE is inappropriate to serve as a supporting UE of the first UE;

deleting, by the access network device, the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE;

sending synthesis deletion information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the synthesis deletion information comprises an identifier of the first UE, so that the second UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

sending second synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the second synthesis update information comprises the identifier of the second UE, so that the first UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE comprises deleting, by the access network device, the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE when it is determined that a time during which the second UE is inappropriate to serve as the supporting UE of the first UE is greater than a preset time threshold.

10. An access network device, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, the program including instructions for;

determining when downlink data belonging to a first user equipment (UE) is received;

determining that each supporting UE in a support list of the first UE stored in a memory of the access network device cannot serve as a current supporting UE of the downlink data due to a channel quality between the first UE and the respective supporting UE;

identifying a second UE as a potential supporting UE for the first UE in response to receiving, from the second UE, a pairing identifier associated with the first UE and information regarding channel quality between the first UE and the second UE, wherein the support list of the first UE excludes the second UE during the determining that each supporting UE in the support list of the first UE cannot serve as the current supporting UE of the downlink data;

adding, in response to the identifying the second UE as the potential supporting UE, the pairing identifier associated with the first UE, an identifier of the second UE and the information regarding the channel quality between the first UE and the second UE to the support list of the first UE;

setting, in response to, and after, the determining that each supporting UE in the support list of the first UE cannot serve as the current supporting UE of the downlink data, and further in response to the adding the pairing identifier associated with the first UE to the support list of the first UE the second UE as the current supporting UE of the first UE;

sending the downlink data to the second UE in response to setting the second UE as the current supporting UE of the first UE, the sending the downlink data to the second UE causing the second UE to send the downlink data to the first UE; and

deleting the added information from the support list of the first UE in response to one of receiving a release request from the second UE or a report indicating a poor quality of the channel between the first UE and second UE.

11. The access network device according to claim 10, wherein the instructions for identifying the second UE as the potential supporting UE includes instructions for:

receiving synthesis request information that is sent by the second UE by using higher layer signaling, wherein the higher layer signaling uses one of an Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol or an radio resource control (RRC) message, wherein the synthesis request information comprises a pairing identifier, and the pairing identifier is a pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE; and

wherein the instructions for establishing the cooperative communication relationship between the first UE and the second UE include instructions for;

saving the pairing identifier and an identifier of the second UE into the support list of the first UE according to the synthesis request information;

setting the second UE as the current supporting UE of the downlink data;

sending synthesis establishment information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling, so that the second UE sets, according to the synthesis establishment information, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

sending, based on setting the second UE as the current supporting UE of the first UE, first synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, so that the first UE sets, according to the first synthesis update information, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

12. The access network device according to claim 10, wherein the instructions for identifying the second UE as the potential supporting UE and adding the pairing identifier associated with the first UE to the support list of the first UE include instructions for:

sending synthesis establishment information to the second UE by using higher layer signaling, so that the second UE sets, according to the synthesis establishment information, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE;

receiving, by using the higher layer signaling, synthesis establishment response information returned by the second UE, wherein the synthesis establishment response information comprises a pairing identifier, and the pairing identifier is a pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE;

based on the synthesis establishment response information that is returned by the second UE, saving the pairing identifier and an identifier of the second UE into the support list of the first UE and set the second UE as the current supporting UE of the downlink data; and

based on setting the second UE as the current supporting UE of the first UE, sending first synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, so that the first UE sets, according to the first synthesis update information, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

13. The access network device according to claim 12, wherein the instructions for deleting the added information from the support list of the first UE include instructions for:

receiving, by using the higher layer signaling, synthesis release request information sent by the second UE, wherein the synthesis release request information comprises the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE;

deleting, based on receipt of the synthesis release request information that is sent by the second UE, the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier from the support list of the first UE;

based on deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier from the support list of the first UE, sending synthesis release response information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling, so that the second UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

based on deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier from the support list of the first UE, sending second synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the second synthesis update information comprises the identifier of the second UE, so that the first UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

14. The access network device according to claim 12, wherein the instructions for deleting the added information from the support list of the first UE include instructions for:

deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE when it is determined that the second UE is inappropriate to serve as a supporting UE of the first UE;

sending synthesis deletion information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the synthesis deletion information comprises an identifier of the first UE, so that the second UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

sending second synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the second synthesis update information comprises the identifier of the second UE, so that the first UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

15. The access network device according to claim 14, wherein the instructions for deleting the added information from the support list of the first UE include instructions for, after it is determined that the second UE is inappropriate to serve as a supporting UE of the first UE, deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE when it is determined that a time during which the second UE is inappropriate to serve as the supporting UE of the first UE is greater than a preset time threshold.

26. The access network device according to claim 11, wherein the program includes further instructions for:

receiving, by using the higher layer signaling, synthesis release request information sent by the second UE, wherein the synthesis release request information comprises the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE;

deleting, based on receipt of the synthesis release request information that is sent by the second UE, the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier from the support list of the first UE;

based on deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier from the support list of the first UE, sending synthesis release response information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling, so that the second UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

based on deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier from the support list of the first UE, sending second synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the second synthesis update information comprises the identifier of the second UE, so that the first UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

27. The access network device according to claim 11, wherein the program includes further instructions for:

deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE when it is determined that the second UE is inappropriate to serve as a supporting UE of the first UE;

sending synthesis deletion information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the synthesis deletion information comprises an identifier of the first UE, so that the second UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

sending second synthesis update information to the first UE by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the second synthesis update information comprises the identifier of the second UE, so that the first UE deletes the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the second UE.

28. The access network device according to claim 27, wherein the program further includes instructions for, after it is determined that the second UE is inappropriate to serve as a supporting UE of the first UE, deleting the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE when it is determined that a time during which the second UE is inappropriate to serve as the supporting UE of the first UE is greater than a preset time threshold.

16. A user equipment, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, the program including instructions for;

sending a pairing identifier associated with the first user equipment (UE) to an access network device;

establishing a cooperative communication relationship with a first UE in response to a message from the access network device sent in response to the pairing identifier and information regarding channel quality between the first UE and the user equipment being received at the access network device, the message indicating that the access network device has received downlink data belonging to the first UE, the message further indicating that each supporting UE in a support list of the first UE stored at the network access device cannot serve as a current supporting UE of the downlink data due to a channel quality between the first UE and the respective supporting UE, the message further indicating that the network access device has determined the user equipment, which is not in the support list of the first UE during determining that each supporting UE in the support list of the first UE cannot serve as the current supporting UE of the downlink data, to be the current supporting UE of the first UE, the message further indicating the addition, to the support list of the first UE, in response to the determining the user equipment to be the current supporting UE of the first UE, of the pairing identifier associated with the first UE, an identifier of the user equipment and the information regarding the channel quality between the first UE and user equipment, wherein the cooperative communications relationship is established in response to the adding the pairing identifier associated with the first UE to the support list of the first UE;

receiving downlink data that belongs to the first UE and is sent by the access network device;

sending, to the first UE, the downlink data; and

deleting, according to synthesis deletion information that is sent by the access network device, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE, wherein the synthesis deletion information is synthesis deletion information that is sent to the user equipment after the access network device determines that the user equipment is inappropriate to serve as a supporting UE of the first UE in response to one of receiving a release request from the second UE or a report indicating a poor quality of the channel between the first UE and second UE and after the access network device deletes the added information from the support list of the first UE.

17. The user equipment according to claim 16, wherein the program includes further instructions for:

sending synthesis request information to the access network device by using higher layer signaling, wherein the higher layer signaling uses one of an Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol or an radio resource control (RRC) message, wherein the synthesis request information comprises a pairing identifier, and the pairing identifier is a pairing identifier between the first UE and the user equipment, so that the access network device saves the pairing identifier and an identifier of the user equipment into the support list of the first UE, sets the user equipment as the current supporting UE of the downlink data, and sends synthesis establishment information to the user equipment by using the higher layer signaling; and

setting, according to the synthesis establishment information that is sent by the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE.

18. The user equipment according to claim 16, wherein the program includes further instructions for:

receiving synthesis establishment information that is sent by the access network device by using higher layer signaling;

setting, according to the synthesis establishment information, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

returning synthesis establishment response information to the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the synthesis establishment response information comprises a pairing identifier, and the pairing identifier is a pairing identifier between the first UE and the user equipment, so that the access network device saves the pairing identifier and an identifier of the user equipment into the support list of the first UE and sets the user equipment as the current supporting UE of the downlink data.

19. The user equipment according to claim 18, wherein the instructions for deleting the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE include instructions for:

sending synthesis release request information to the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the synthesis release request information comprises the pairing identifier between the first UE and the user equipment, so that the access network device deletes the identifier of the user equipment and the pairing identifier from the support list of the first UE; and

deleting, according to a synthesis release response information that is returned by the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE.

20. The user equipment according to claim 19, wherein the program includes further instructions for deleting, according to synthesis deletion information that is sent by the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE, wherein the synthesis deletion information comprises an identifier of the first UE, and the synthesis deletion information is synthesis deletion information that is sent to the user equipment after the access network device determines that the user equipment is inappropriate to serve as a supporting UE of the first UE and deletes the identifier of the user equipment and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the user equipment from the support list of the first UE.

21. A method, comprising:

sending a pairing identifier associated with a first user equipment (UE) by a second UE to an access network device;

establishing, by the second UE, a cooperative communication relationship with the first UE in response to a message from the access network device sent in response to the pairing identifier and information regarding channel quality between the first UE and the user equipment being received at the access network device, the message indicating that the access network device has received downlink data belonging to the first UE, the message further indicating that each supporting UE in a support list of the first UE stored at the network access device cannot serve as a current supporting UE of the downlink data due to a channel quality between the first UE and the respective supporting UE, the message further indicating that the network access device has determined the second UE, which is not in the support list of the first UE during determining that each supporting UE in the support list of the first UE cannot serve as the current supporting UE of the downlink data, to be the current supporting UE of the first UE, the message further indicating the addition, to the support list of the first UE, in response to the determining the user equipment to be the current supporting UE of the first UE, of the pairing identifier associated with the first UE, an identifier of the user equipment and the information regarding the channel quality between the first UE and user equipment, wherein the cooperative communications relationship is established in response to the adding the pairing identifier associated with the first UE to the support list of the first UE;

receiving, by the second UIE, downlink data that belongs to the first UE and is sent by an access network device;

sending, by the second UE, the downlink data to the first UE; and

deleting, according to synthesis deletion information that is sent by the access network device, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE, wherein the synthesis deletion information is synthesis deletion information that is sent to the user equipment after the access network device determines that the user equipment is inappropriate to serve as a supporting UE of the first UE in response to one of receiving a release request from the second UE or a report indicating a poor quality of the channel between the first UE and second UE and after the access network device deletes the added information from the support list of the first UE.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

sending synthesis request information to the access network device by using higher layer signaling, wherein the higher layer signaling uses one of an Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol or an radio resource control (RRC) message, wherein the synthesis request information comprises a pairing identifier, and the pairing identifier is a pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE, so that the access network device saves the pairing identifier and an identifier of the second UE into the support list of the first UE, sets the second UE as the current supporting UE of the downlink data, and sends synthesis establishment information to the second UE by using the higher layer signaling; and

setting, according to the synthesis establishment information that is sent by the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving synthesis establishment information that is sent by the access network device by using higher layer signaling;

setting, according to the synthesis establishment information, a synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE; and

returning synthesis establishment response information to the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the synthesis establishment response information comprises a pairing identifier, and the pairing identifier is a pairing identifier between the first UE and the user equipment, so that the access network device saves the pairing identifier and an identifier of the second UE into the support list of the first UE and sets the second UE as the current supporting UE of the downlink data.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the deleting the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE includes:

sending synthesis release request information to the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, wherein the synthesis release request information comprises the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE, so that the access network device deletes the identifier of the second UE and the pairing identifier from the support list of the first UE; and

deleting, according to a synthesis release response information that is returned by the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the deleting the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE include deleting, according to synthesis deletion information that is sent by the access network device by using the higher layer signaling, the synthetic layer configuration corresponding to the first UE, wherein the synthesis deletion information comprises an identifier of the first UE, and the synthesis deletion information is synthesis deletion information that is sent to the second UE after the access network device determines that the second UE is inappropriate to serve as a supporting UE of the first UE and deletes the identifier of the user equipment and the pairing identifier between the first UE and the second UE from the support list of the first UE.