METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING DEVICE-TO-DEVICE COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20160219394A1
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: VAN PHAN, Vinh, YU, Ling, HORNEMAN, Kari Veikko, LI, Zexian, SHU, Kodo
• Granted Patent: US 10,091,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus can be configured to update status information on channel resources. The channel resources are configured for device-to-device communication by a cluster-wise manner. The method can also include transmitting the status information by using broadcasting resources.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

updating, by a cluster head or a cluster manager, status information on channel resources, wherein the channel resources are configured for device-to-device communication by a cluster-wise manner; and

transmitting, by the cluster head or the cluster manager, the status information by using broadcasting resources.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the updating comprises monitoring free or occupied channel resources within the cluster in charge of the cluster head considering other interfering clusters.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a limited set of free channel resources to be included in the updated status information based on monitoring free or occupied channel resources within the cluster, and a capability and a condition of the cluster head.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a request message from a cluster member enabled to perform device-to-device communication, wherein the request message requests that the cluster member be authorized to occupy at least one channel of the channel resources.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting channel information, the channel information comprising at least one of the following;

information about channel configuration, transmission mode, resource allocation, scheduling information, radio service or service profile thereof, and Quality of Service parameters.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

allocating at least one signaling channel for signaling with cluster members, in which the signaling channel may be used for the transmitting alongside with the broadcasting resources or exclusively.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to

update status information on channel resources, wherein the channel resources are configured for device-to-device communication by a cluster-wise manner; and

transmit the status information by using broadcasting resources.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the updating comprises monitoring free or occupied channel resources within the cluster in charge of the cluster head considering other interfering clusters.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to determine a limited set of free channel resources to be included in the updated status information based on monitoring free or occupied channel resources within the cluster, and a capability and a condition of the cluster head.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to receive a request message from a cluster member enabled to perform device-to-device communication, wherein the request message requests that the cluster member be authorized to occupy at least one channel of the channel resources.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to transmit channel information, the channel information comprising at least one of the following:

information about channel configuration, transmission mode, resource allocation, scheduling information, radio service or service profile thereof, and Quality of Service parameters.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to allocate at least one signaling channel for signaling with cluster members, in which the signaling channel may be used for the transmitting alongside with the broadcasting resources or exclusively.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is a cluster head or cluster manager.

14. (canceled)

15. A method, comprising:

transmitting, by a cluster member enabled to perform device-to-device communications, a request message to a cluster head of a device-to-device cluster, wherein the request message comprises a request to occupy at least one channel;

monitoring, by the cluster member, the latest updated status information on channel resources for obtaining information whether the at least one channel is occupyable by the cluster member.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein transmitting the request message comprises transmitting an identity of the cluster member or a reason for the request.

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

if, in the status information, the at least one channel is informed to be occupied, transmitting on the at least one channel; and

if, in the status information, the at least one channel is informed free,

transmitting a request message to the cluster head of the device-to-device cluster, wherein the request message comprises a request to occupy at least one other channel.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring broadcasting resources.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring the latest updated status information on the channel resources for obtaining information whether an occupied channel can be occupied by the cluster member.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to

transmit a request message to a cluster head of a device-to-device cluster, wherein the request message comprises a request to occupy at least one channel;

monitor the latest updated status information on channel resources for obtaining information whether the at least one channel is occupyable by the apparatus.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein

transmitting the request message comprises transmitting an identity of the apparatus or a reason for the request.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein if, in the status information, the at least one channel is informed to be occupied,

the apparatus is caused to transmit on the at least one channel;

and

if, in the status information, the at least one channel is informed free,

the apparatus is caused to transmit a request message to the cluster head of the device-to-device cluster, wherein the request message comprises a request to occupy at least one other channel.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring broadcasting resources.

24. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring the latest updated status information on the channel resources for obtaining information whether an occupied channel can be occupied by the apparatus.

25. (canceled)