Cluster head assisted method for converting user terminal from D2D communication to cellular communication

• US 8,948,770 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2012
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shanghai Research Center For Wireless Communications
• Original Assignee: Shanghai Research Center For Wireless Communications
• Inventors: Du, Jinling, Zhou, Ting, Xu, Jing, Li, Zhenhong, Wang, Haifeng
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DINH
• Application Number:
  US14/234,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20140179330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370331-333, 455/62, 455/443, 455/444, 455/447, 455/448, 455/450, 455/452.2, 455/456.2, 455/464, 455/509
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/03 Reselecting a link using a direct mode connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

The present invention discloses a cluster head assisted method for converting a user terminal from device-to-device (D2D) communication to cellular communication. When quality of a D2D link between a user terminal and a cluster head is lower than a predetermined threshold, if the user terminal has to leave the cluster but still expects to continue an original the service, the user terminal performs cell search and random access, and establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a target base station of a cellular network. Switching from D2D communication to cellular communication is implemented with the assistance of the cluster head, and a communication manner after the switching is provided. The present invention implements mobile switching from D2D communication in distributed cluster communication to cellular communication, which can reduce route search delay and save wireless resources.

Claims

1. A cluster head assisted method for converting a user terminal from device-to-device (D2D) communication to cellular communication, comprising following steps:

Step 1;

determining of the quality of a D2D link between a user terminal and a cluster head is lower than a predetermined threshold, the user terminal performing cell search and a random access process to access a cellular network; and

Step 2;

the user terminal sending a switching request to the cluster head through a D2D link, wherein the switching request comprises an ID of a target base station to which the user terminal is going to access; and

the cluster head sending the switching request to a serving base station through a cellular link,

wherein the ID of the target base station to which the user terminal is going to access is the same as an ID of the serving base station where the cluster head belongs, indicating that the target base station to which the user terminal is going to access and the serving base station where the cluster head belongs are the same base station, the user terminal accesses the serving base station where the cluster head belongs, and establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection with the serving base station;

the serving base station replies a switching response message to the cluster head through the cellular link; and

the cluster head sends switching response information to the user terminal through the D2D link; and

determining of the ID of the target base station to which the user terminal is going to access is different from an ID of the serving base station where the cluster head belongs, the user terminal accesses the target base station, and establishes an RRC connection with the target base station;

the serving base station forwards the switching request of the user terminal to the target base station, and the target base station replies a switching response message to the serving base station.

2. The cluster head assisted method for converting a user terminal from D2D communication to cellular communication according to claim 1, wherein in Step 2, while sending the switching response information to the user terminal through the D2D link, the cluster head compares a modulation and coding scheme MCS.sub.UE1-eNodeB1 between the cluster head and the serving base station with a modulation and coding scheme MCS.sub.D2D between D2D links;

determining of MCS.sub.UE1-eNodeB1 is approximately equal to MCS.sub.D2D, the cluster head broadcasts data to a D2D cluster and the serving base station; and

determining of values of MCS.sub.UE1-eNodeB1 and MCS.sub.D2D are significantly different, the cluster head chooses parallel communication operations, that is, the cluster head performs D2D multicast in the D2D cluster, and performs cellular unicast with the serving base station.

3. The cluster head assisted method for converting a user terminal from D2D communication to cellular communication according to claim 2, wherein a specific process of the cluster head performing parallel communication operations when values of MCS.sub.UE1-eNodeB1 and MCS.sub.D2D are significantly different is:

first, the cluster head unicasting data to the serving base station through the cellular link; and

at the same time, the cluster head continuing to multicast data to other member terminals in the D2D cluster through D2D links; and

secondly, if the cluster head and the user terminal belong to the same serving base station, the serving base station forwarding data to the user terminal through the cellular link.

4. The cluster head assisted method for converting a user terminal from D2D communication to cellular communication according to claim 3, wherein a specific process of the cluster head broadcasting data to the D2D cluster and the serving base station when MCS.sub.UE1-eNodeB1 is approximately equal to MCS.sub.D2D is:

first, the cluster head multicasting data, and the serving base station and other member terminals in the D2D cluster receiving the data; and

secondly, if the cluster head and the user terminal belong to the same serving base station, the serving base station forwarding data to the user terminal through the cellular link.

5. The cluster head assisted method for converting a user terminal from D2D communication to cellular communication according to claim 1, wherein in Step 2, when the target base station that the user terminal is going to access is different from the serving base station, the serving base station forwards data to the target base station, and then the target base station forwards the data to the user terminal.

6. The cluster head assisted method for converting a user terminal from D2D communication to cellular communication according to claim 1, wherein preconditions for implementing the cluster head assisted method for converting a user terminal from D2D communication to cellular communication are as follows:

(a) at an initial stage, all intra-cluster user terminals are in the D2D cluster under distributed control of the cluster head, and the cluster head is in charge of managing and maintaining the cluster, and keeps a connection with the base station;

(b) D2D user terminals perform multicast data communication in the cluster; and

(c) D2D communication uses uplink cellular resources in an orthogonal manner.