Mobile communications device and system

• US 9,893,796 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Rakotoharison, Lanto, Panaitopol, Dorin, Delsol, Thomas, Jactat, Caroline
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, ANDREW CHUNG CHEUNG
• Application Number:
  US14/376,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20150180565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 370254, 370255, 370310, 370315, 370331
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A mobile device (7) configured to provide relay capabilities in a communications system (1) by communicating network-level mobile device relaying capabilities and radio-level mobile device relaying capabilities from the mobile device (7) to a communications node (3) of the communications system (1) so that the mobile device (7) can relay communications between the communications node (3) and another mobile device (2). User subscription information related to relaying is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE) for use in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:

a transceiver; and

a controller configured to;

control the transceiver to transmit, to a base station, UE capability information regarding capability of the UE; and

control the transceiver to provide relay communication for another UE;

wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and

wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay, is transmitted in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message.

2. The UE according to claim 1, wherein the UE capability information further includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and the another UE.

3. The UE according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the transceiver to transmit the second capability information in a NAS message.

4. The UE according to claim 1, wherein the UE capability information is transmitted to a Mobile Management Entity (MME) via the base station.

5. The UE according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the transceiver to transmit the UE capability information in an attach request message or in a Tracking Area Update Request message.

6. A base station for use in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:

a transceiver; and

a controller configured to;

control the transceiver to receive, from a user equipment (UE), UE capability information regarding capability of the UE;

wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and

wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay, is transmitted in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message.

7. The base station according to claim 6, wherein the UE capability information further includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and the another UE.

8. The base station according to claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to control the transceiver to transmit the second capability information in a NAS message.

9. The base station according to claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the transceiver to transmit, to a Mobile Management Entity (MME), the UE capability information received from the UE.

10. The base station according to claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the transceiver to receive the UE capability information in an attach request message or in a Tracking Area Update Request message.

11. A method for a user equipment (UE), including a transceiver and a controller, used in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

controlling the transceiver to transmit, to a base station, UE capability information regarding capability of the UE; and

controlling the transceiver to provide relay communication for another UE;

wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and

wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay, is transmitted in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the UE capability information includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and another UE.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

controlling the transceiver to transmit the second capability information in a NAS message.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting the UE capability information to a Mobile Management Entity (MME) from the base station.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

controlling the transceiver to transmit the UE capability information in an attach request message or in a Tracking Area Update Request message.

16. A method for a base station, including a transceiver and a controller, used in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

controlling the transceiver to receive, from a user equipment (UE), UE capability information regarding capability of the UE;

wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and

wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay, is transmitted in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the UE capability information includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and another UE.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

controlling the transceiver to transmit the second capability information in a NAS message.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

controlling the transceiver to transmit, to a Mobile Management Entity (MME), the UE capability information received from the UE.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

controlling the transceiver to receive the UE capability information in an attach request message or in a Tracking Area Update Request message.