Resource Allocation For Direct Terminal-To-Terminal Communication In A Cellular System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016007338-A1
Application number	US-201514852946-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 14, 2015
Priority date	Mar 23, 2010
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

There are provided measures for resource allocation for direct terminal-to-terminal communication in a cellular system, said measures exemplarily comprising configuration of common resources for supporting direct communication between terminals across a predefined registration area comprising one or more cells of a cellular system, and control of an allocation of common resources for enabling direct communication between terminals across the predefined registration area. Said measures may exemplarily be applied for establishing terminal-to-terminal communication in LTE or LTE-Advanced cellular networks.

First claim

1 .- 18 . (canceled)

19 . A method comprising:
configuring common resources for supporting direct communication between terminals across a predefined registration area comprising one or more cells of a cellular system; and controlling an allocation of common resources for enabling direct communication between terminals across the predefined registration area.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , said configuring comprising:
negotiating the common resources with one or more base stations of cells comprised in the predefined registration area; and/or renegotiating the common resources upon reconfiguration of the predefined registration area by activation or deactivation of one or more base stations of cells comprised in the predefined registration area.

21 . The method according to claim 19 , said controlling comprising:
determining and assigning the allocation of common resources and the configuration thereof to a terminal being registered to the predefined registration area; and/or determining and assigning the allocation of common resources as a common direct access channel to a cell comprised in the predefined registration area or the predefined registration area.

22 . The method according to claim 19 , said controlling comprising:
coordinating the allocation of common resources for enabling spatial reuse of common resources within the predefined registration area and/or between the predefined registration area and one or more overlapping and/or neighboring registration areas.

23 . The method according to claim 19 , said controlling comprising:
updating and/or reconfiguring the allocation of common resources upon request by one or more terminals and/or system-based initiation.

24 . The method according to claim 19 , the allocation of common resource comprising one or more of:
one or more reference signals, reference sequences, and/or beacons; one or more physical channels for transmitting reference signals, reference sequences, and/or beacons; transmit power for transmitting reference signals, reference sequences, and/or beacons; and schedule for transmitting reference signals, reference sequences, and/or beacons.

25 . The method according to claim 19 , the allocation of common resource being based on one or more of:
terminal profile characteristics and/or status of one or more terminals; mobility contexts of one or more terminals and/or one or more cells; characteristics and/or load level of common resources; and availability of resources and/or interference status in the predefined registration area.

26 . 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 to perform at least the following: configure common resources for supporting direct communication between terminals across a predefined registration area comprising one or more cells of a cellular system; and control an allocation of common resources for enabling direct communication between terminals across the predefined registration area.

27 . The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
negotiate the common resources with one or more base stations of cells comprised in the predefined registration area; and/or renegotiate the common resources upon reconfiguration of the predefined registration area by activation or deactivation of one or more base stations of cells comprised in the predefined registration area.

28 . The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
determine and assign the allocation of common resources and the configuration thereof to a terminal being registered to the predefined registration area; and/or determine and assign the allocation of common resources as a common direct access channel to a cell comprised in the predefined registration area or the predefined registration area.

29 . The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
coordinate the allocation of common resources for enabling spatial reuse of common resources within the predefined registration area and/or between the predefined registration area and one or more overlapping and/or neighboring registration areas.

30 . The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
update and/or reconfigure the allocation of common resources upon request by one or more terminals and/or system-based initiation.

31 . The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to control the allocation of common resource comprising one or more of:
one or more reference signals, reference sequences, and/or beacons; one or more physical channels for transmitting reference signals, reference sequences, and/or beacons; transmit power for transmitting reference signals, reference sequences, and/or beacons; and schedule for transmitting reference signals, reference sequences, and/or beacons.

32 . The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to control the allocation of common resource based on one or more of:
terminal profile characteristics and/or status of one or more terminals; mobility contexts of one or more terminals and/or one or more cells; characteristics and/or load level of common resources; and availability of resources and/or interference status in the predefined registration area.

33 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising code for performing the method of claim 19 .

Assignees

• Nokia Solutions & Networks Oy

Inventors

• Van Phan Vinh
• Yu Ling
• Horneman Kari

Classifications

• H04W72/51 Primary

  based on terminal or device properties · CPC title

• H04W92/18

  between terminal devices · CPC title

• H04W60/005

  Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming · CPC title

• H04W88/04

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

• H04W72/04 Primary

  Wireless resource allocation · CPC title