DEVICE-TO-DEVICE COMMUNICATIONS APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20150327240A1
• Filed: 03/17/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: YAMADA, Shohei, SHENG, Jia, KOWALSKI, John Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,506,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• 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 8/24 Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless terminal (26₁) which is in wireless communications with a radio access node (22) over a radio interface (24) makes a determination regarding a type of radio resources that the wireless terminal may use for device-to-device (D2D) communications with another wireless terminal. Upon occurrence of a predetermined physical layer condition, the wireless terminal may use at least some wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources for device-to-device (D2D) communications with another wireless terminal (26₂) when the wireless terminal is in coverage of the radio access network. The wireless terminal providing the node with an indication of capability of the wireless terminal to support multi-channel communications comprising plural frequency bands; and the wireless terminal may use at least one of the plural frequency bands for device-to-device (D2D) communications.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless terminal which is in wireless communications with a radio access node over a radio interface, the method comprising:

the wireless terminal making a determination regarding a type of radio resources that the wireless terminal may use for device-to-device (D2D) communications with another wireless terminal, the determination comprising;

(1) making a first mode determination that the wireless terminal should use network-allocated radio resources in accordance with one or more of the following;

(1a) the wireless terminal is in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connected state and the wireless terminal is configured by the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

(1b) the wireless terminal is in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Idle state and camps on a cell;

(1c) the wireless terminal has a downlink signal strength higher than a predetermined threshold;

(1d) the wireless terminal is informed by dedicated information from the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

(1e) the wireless terminal is informed by broadcasted information from the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

(1f) the wireless terminal is not informed by dedicated information from the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources;

(1g) the wireless terminal is not informed by broadcasted information from the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources;

(2) making a second mode determination that the wireless terminal should use wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources in accordance with one or more of the following;

(2a) the wireless terminal is in a Radio Recourse Control (RRC) Idle state;

(2b) the wireless terminal cannot camp on any cell;

(2c) the wireless terminal has a downlink signal strength lower than a predetermined threshold;

(2d) the wireless terminal experiences a predetermined radio link problem;

(2e) the wireless terminal is informed by dedicated information from the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources;

(2f) the wireless terminal is informed by broadcasted information from the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources;

(2g) the wireless terminal is not informed by dedicated information from the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

(2h) the wireless terminal is not informed by broadcasted information from the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

using for the device-to-device (D2D) communications the radio resources according to either the first mode determination or the second mode determination.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting device-to-device (D2D) signals to another wireless terminal using the radio resources according to either the first mode determination or the second mode determination.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the wireless terminal making the first mode determination that the wireless terminal should use the network-allocated radio resources if the wireless terminal is in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connected state and the wireless terminal is permitted by the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

the wireless terminal making the second mode determination that the wireless terminal should use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources if the wireless terminal is either in a Radio Recourse Control (RRC) Idle state and the wireless terminal is permitted by the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources;

or in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connected state and the wireless terminal is permitted by the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless terminal making the second mode determination that the wireless terminal should use wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources when the wireless terminal experiences the predetermined radio link problem, and wherein the predetermined radio link failure comprises a RLF failure or repeated failure of a RRC connection request when a UE camps on a cell.

5. A wireless terminal which is in wireless communications with a radio access node over a radio interface, the wireless terminal comprising:

a transceiver configured for radio communications with the node and for device-to-device (D2D) communications with another wireless terminal;

a processor configured to make a determination regarding a type of radio resources that the wireless terminal may use for device-to-device (D2D) communications with another wireless terminal, wherein the processor is configured;

(1) to make a first mode determination that the wireless terminal should use network-allocated radio resources in accordance with one or more of the following;

(1a) the wireless terminal is in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connected state and the wireless terminal is configured by the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

(1b) the wireless terminal is in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Idle state and camps on a cell;

(1c) the wireless terminal has a downlink signal strength higher than a predetermined threshold;

(1d) the wireless terminal is informed by dedicated information from the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

(1e) the wireless terminal is informed by broadcasted information from the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

(1f) the wireless terminal is not informed by dedicated information from the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources;

(1g) the wireless terminal is not informed by broadcasted information from the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources;

(2) to make a second mode determination that the wireless terminal should use wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources in accordance with one or more of the following;

(2a) the wireless terminal is in a Radio Recourse Control (RRC) Idle state;

(2b) the wireless terminal cannot camp on any cell;

(2c) the wireless terminal has a downlink signal strength lower than a predetermined threshold;

(2d) the wireless terminal experiences a predetermined radio link problem;

(2e) the wireless terminal is informed by dedicated information from the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources;

(2f) the wireless terminal is informed by broadcasted information from the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources;

(2g) the wireless terminal is not informed by dedicated information from the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

(2h) the wireless terminal is not informed by broadcasted information from the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

wherein the transceiver is configured to use for the device-to-device (D2D) communications the radio resources according to either the first mode determination or the second mode determination.

6. The wireless terminal of claim 5, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit device-to-device (D2D) signals to another wireless terminal using the radio resources according to either the first mode determination or the second mode determination.

7. The wireless terminal of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured:

to make the first mode determination that the wireless terminal should use the network-allocated radio resources if the wireless terminal is in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connected state and the wireless terminal is permitted by the node to use the network-allocated radio resources;

to make the second mode determination that the wireless terminal should use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources if the wireless terminal is either in a Radio Recourse Control (RRC) Idle state and the wireless terminal is permitted by the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources;

or in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connected state and the wireless terminal is permitted by the node to use the wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources.

8. The wireless terminal of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to make the second mode determination that the wireless terminal should use wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources when the wireless terminal experiences the predetermined radio link problem, and wherein the predetermined radio link failure comprises a RLF failure or repeated failure of a RRC connection request when a UE camps on a cell.

9. A method in a wireless terminal which is in wireless communications with a radio access node over a radio interface, the method comprising:

upon occurrence of a predetermined physical layer condition, the wireless terminal using at least some wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources for device-to-device (D2D) communications with another wireless terminal when the wireless terminal is in coverage of the radio access network.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the wireless terminal transmitting device-to-device (D2D) signals to the another wireless terminal using at least some wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources when the wireless terminal is in coverage of the radio access network.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the wireless terminal obtaining the at least some wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources from a pre-configured pool of radio resources stored in a memory of the wireless terminal.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the wireless terminal using the at least some wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources for device-to-device (D2D) communications with the another wireless terminal until the wireless terminal when in a RRC Connected state receives a subsequent instruction to use different radio resources.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined physical layer condition comprises a radio link failure.

14. A wireless terminal which is in wireless communications with a radio access node over a radio interface, the wireless terminal comprising:

a transmitter configured for device-to-device (D2D) communications with another wireless terminal;

a processor configured, upon occurrence of a predetermined physical layer condition, to use at least some wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources for the device-to-device (D2D) communications with another wireless terminal when the wireless terminal is in coverage of the radio access network.

15. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit device-to-device (D2D) signals to the another wireless terminal using at least some wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources when the wireless terminal is in coverage of the radio access network.

16. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the at least some wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources from a pre-configured pool of radio resources stored in a memory of the wireless terminal.

17. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to use the at least some wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources for device-to-device (D2D) communications with the another wireless terminal until the wireless terminal when receives a subsequent instruction to use different radio resources.

18. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein the predetermined physical layer condition comprises a radio link failure.

19. A method in a wireless terminal which is in wireless communications with a radio access node over a radio interface, the method comprising:

the wireless terminal providing the node with an indication of capability of the wireless terminal to support multi-channel communications comprising plural frequency bands;

the wireless terminal using at least one of the plural frequency bands for device-to-device (D2D) communications.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wireless terminal sends to the node wireless terminal capability information related to support transmission of D2D communications for combinations of the plural frequency bands.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the indication of capability comprises identification of one or more resource allocations techniques that the wireless terminal is eligible to employ for the multi-band frequencies.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the wireless terminal make a determination whether the wireless terminal is to use only wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources to transmit a device-to-device (D2D) signal in a second carrier frequency to another D2D-capable wireless terminal when the wireless terminal is either (1) in RRC_IDLE mode and camping on a first carrier frequency or (2) in RRC_CONNECTED mode and served by a serving cell in a first carrier frequency.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the plural frequency bands comprise a first frequency carrier and a second frequency carrier, and wherein the method further comprises the wireless terminal making a determination of one or more resource allocation techniques that the wireless terminal is eligible to employ for the multi-band frequencies, and wherein making the determination of the one or more resource allocation techniques is based on one or more of the following:

(1) a radio resource control state of the wireless terminal;

(2) a type of radio resources allocated to a first frequency carrier.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the indication of capability comprises identification of the one or more resource allocations techniques that the wireless terminal is eligible to employ for the multi-band frequencies.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the type of radio resources allocated to the first frequency carrier is network-allocated radio resources, and one or more resource allocation techniques that the wireless terminal is eligible to employ for the multi-band frequencies are characterized by ability of the wireless terminal to use wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources of the second carrier frequency for the device-to-device (D2D) communications.

26. A wireless terminal which is in wireless communications with a radio access node over a radio interface, the wireless terminal comprising:

a processor which is configured to generate an indication of capability of the wireless terminal to support multi-channel communications comprising plural frequency bands;

a transceiver which sends the indication to the node and which uses at least one of the plural frequency bands for device-to-device (D2D) communications.

27. The wireless terminal of claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to generate capability information related to support transmission of D2D communications for combinations of the plural frequency bands, and wherein the transceiver sends the capability information to the node.

28. The wireless terminal of claim 26, wherein the indication of capability comprises identification of one or more resource allocations techniques that the wireless terminal is eligible to employ for the multi-band frequencies.

29. The wireless terminal of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to make a determination whether the wireless terminal is to use only wireless terminal autonomous selected device-to-device (D2D) radio resources to transmit a device-to-device (D2D) signal in a second carrier frequency to another D2D-capable wireless terminal when the wireless terminal is either (1) in RRC_IDLE mode and camping on a first carrier frequency or (2) in RRC_CONNECTED mode and served by a serving cell in a first carrier frequency.

30. The wireless terminal of claim 26, wherein the plural frequency bands comprise a first frequency carrier and a second frequency carrier, and wherein the processor is further configured to make a determination of one or more resource allocation techniques that the wireless terminal is eligible to employ for the multi-band frequencies, and wherein the processor is configured to make the determination of the one or more resource allocation techniques is based on one or more of the following:

a radio resource control state of the wireless terminal;

a type of radio resources allocated to a first frequency carrier.

31. The wireless terminal of claim 30, wherein the indication of capability comprises identification of the one or more resource allocations techniques that the wireless terminal is eligible to employ for the multi-band frequencies.

32. The wireless terminal of claim 30, wherein the type of radio resources allocated to the first frequency carrier is network-allocated radio resources, and one or more resource allocation techniques that the wireless terminal is eligible to employ for the multi-band frequencies are characterized by ability of the wireless terminal to use wireless terminal autonomous selected radio resources of the second carrier frequency for the device-to-device (D2D) communications.