Power efficient discovery of lte-direct relay for out-of-coverage devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015038136-A1
Application number	US-201313954397-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 30, 2013
Priority date	Jul 30, 2013
Publication date	Feb 5, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing wireless communications. In one method, a mobile device may determine to transition to a relay status. The relay status may indicate a capability of the mobile device to function as a relay device between at least one other mobile device and a base station. A peer discovery signal that indicates the relay status may then be transmitted. In another method, a mobile device may broadcast an out-of-coverage status indicator in a first peer discovery signal. A second peer discovery signal may be received from at least one other mobile device. The second peer discovery signal may indicate a capability of the at least one other mobile device to function as a relay device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for managing wireless communications, comprising:
determining, by a mobile device, to transition to a relay status, the relay status indicating a capability of the mobile device to function as a relay device between at least one other mobile device and a base station; and transmitting a peer discovery signal that indicates the relay status.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether an available operating power of the mobile device exceeds a threshold; and determining to transition to the relay status upon determining that the available operating power of the mobile device exceeds the threshold.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether an available transmission bandwidth of the mobile device exceeds a threshold; and determining to transition to the relay status upon determining that the available transmission bandwidth of the mobile device exceeds the threshold.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an out-of-coverage status indicator or a request for relaying service from one of the at least one other mobile device.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
establishing a direct link with the one of the at least one other mobile device.

6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
determining whether a service required by the one of the at least one other mobile device is provided by the base station; and establishing a direct link with the one of the at least one other mobile device upon determining that the service required by the one of the at least one other mobile device is provided by the base station.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a transmission from the base station; and retransmitting the transmission to one of the at least one other mobile device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a transmission from one of the at least one other mobile device; and retransmitting the transmission to the base station.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving data from the base station; and retransmitting the data to one of the at least one other mobile device.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
operating in a coverage area of the base station, wherein the at least one other mobile device operates out of the coverage area of the base station.

11 . A mobile device for managing wireless communications, comprising:
means for determining to transition to a relay status, the relay status indicating a capability of the mobile device to function as a relay device between at least one other mobile device and a base station; and means for transmitting a peer discovery signal that indicates the relay status.

12 . The mobile device of claim 11 , further comprising:
means for determining whether an available operating power of the mobile device exceeds a threshold; and means for determining to transition to the relay status upon determining that the available operating power of the mobile device exceeds the threshold.

13 . The mobile device of claim 11 , further comprising:
means for determining whether an available transmission bandwidth of the mobile device exceeds a threshold; and means for determining to transition to the relay status upon determining that the available transmission bandwidth of the mobile device exceeds the threshold.

14 . The mobile device of claim 11 , further comprising:
means for receiving an out-of-coverage status indicator or a request for relaying service from one of the at least one other mobile device.

15 . The mobile device of claim 14 , further comprising:
means for establishing a direct link with the one of the at least one other mobile device.

16 . The mobile device of claim 14 , further comprising:
means for determining whether a service required by the one of the at least one other mobile device is provided by the base station; and means for establishing a direct link with the one of the at least one other mobile device upon determining that the service required by the one of the at least one other mobile device is provided by the base station.

17 . The mobile device of claim 11 , further comprising:
means for receiving a transmission from the base station; and means for retransmitting the transmission to one of the at least one other mobile device.

18 . The mobile device of claim 11 , further comprising:
means for receiving a transmission from one of the at least one other mobile device; and means for retransmitting the transmission to the base station.

19 . The mobile device of claim 11 , further comprising:
means for receiving data from the base station; and means for retransmitting the data to one of the at least one other mobile device.

20 . The mobile device of claim 11 , further comprising:
means for operating in a coverage area of the base station, wherein the at least one other mobile device operates out of the coverage area of the base station.

21 . A mobile device for managing wireless communications, comprising:
a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to: determine to transition to a relay status, the relay status indicating a capability of the mobile device to function as a relay device between at least one other mobile device and a base station; and transmit a peer discovery signal that indicates the relay status.

22 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
determine whether an available operating power of the mobile device exceeds a threshold; and determine to transition to the relay status upon determining that the available operating power of the mobile device exceeds the threshold.

23 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
determine whether an available transmission bandwidth of the mobile device exceeds a threshold; and determine to transition to the relay status upon determining that the available transmission bandwidth of the mobile device exceeds the threshold.

24 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
receive an out-of-coverage status indicator or a request for relaying service from one of the at least one other mobile device.

25 . The mobile device of claim 24 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
establish a direct link with the one of the at least one other mobile device.

26 . The mobile device of claim 24 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
determine whether a service required by the one of the at least one other mobile device is provided by the base station; and establish a direct link with the one of the at least one other mobile device upon determining that the service required by the one of the at least one other mobile device is provided by the base station.

27 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
receive data from the base station; and retransmit the data to one of the at least one other mobile device.

28 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein the instructions are executa

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Wu Zhibin
• Park Vincent D
• Li Junyi

Classifications

• H04W88/04 Primary

  adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user · CPC title

• H04W48/08 Primary

  Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery (signalling during connection H04W76/00) · CPC title

• Y02D30/70

  in wireless communication networks · CPC title