Cluster Based Communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016014712-A1
Application number	US-201414775740-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of a wireless communication device comprised in a cluster of devices is disclosed. The devices of the cluster are associable with a cluster subscription identifier of a subscription providing communication between a network node and the cluster (based on a single identifier associated with the cluster) when one or more of the devices are in a cluster communication mode. The wireless communication device may have one of a cluster communication gateway role and a cluster internal communication role. The cluster communication gateway role comprises transmitting a cluster communication beacon signal, maintaining a communication link to the network node, and maintaining peer-to-peer communication links to the other devices of the cluster. The cluster internal communication role comprises maintaining at least a peer-to-peer communication link to a specific device having the cluster communication gateway role. A received signal is scanned for a beacon signal and (if the beacon signal is found) it is determined, based on the cluster subscription identifier, whether the beacon signal is associated with the subscription. If the beacon signal is associated with the subscription, the identity of the specific device is determined based on the beacon signal, a cluster communication attach request is transmitted to the specific device, and a cluster communication attach response is received from the specific device. If the cluster communication attach response comprises a cluster communication attach acknowledgement, the wireless communication device transfers to the cluster communication mode and assumes the cluster internal communication role.

First claim

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A method of a first wireless communication device, the first wireless communication device comprised in a cluster of wireless communication devices comprising the first wireless communication device and one or more second wireless communication devices;
wherein the wireless communication devices of the cluster are associable with a cluster subscription identifier of a subscription providing communication between a network node of a cellular communication network and the cluster of wireless communication devices when one or more of the wireless communication devices are in a cluster communication mode, the communication being based on a single identifier associated with the cluster of wireless communication devices by the network node; and wherein the first wireless communication device may have one of:
a cluster communication gateway role comprising:
transmitting a cluster communication beacon signal;
maintaining a communication link to the network node;
maintaining peer-to-peer communication links to the one or more second wireless communication devices;
forwarding communication from the network node to the one or more second wireless communication devices; and
forwarding communication from the one or more second wireless communication devices to the network node; and

a cluster internal communication role comprising:
maintaining at least a peer-to-peer communication link to a specific one of the one or more second wireless communication devices, the specific wireless communication device having the cluster communication gateway role;

the method comprising:
scanning a received signal for a cluster communication beacon signal;
in response to the cluster communication beacon signal being found, determining, based on the cluster subscription identifier, whether the cluster communication beacon signal is associated with the subscription;
in response to the cluster communication beacon signal being associated with the subscription:
determining, based on the cluster communication beacon signal, an identity of the specific wireless communication device;
transmitting, to the specific wireless communication device, a cluster communication attach request;
receiving, from the specific wireless communication device, a cluster communication attach response comprising a cluster communication attach acknowledgement or a cluster communication attach non-acknowledgement; and
in response to the cluster communication attach response comprising a cluster communication attach acknowledgement, transferring to the cluster communication mode and assuming the cluster internal communication role.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the single identifier is a Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI) of a Third Generation Partnership Program Universal Mobile Telecommunication Standard Long Term Evolution (3GPP UMTS LTE) standard.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising determining that a current geographical position of the first wireless communication device is in an ensemble of approved geographical positions associated with the subscription.

21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the cluster communication attach request comprises the cluster subscription identifier; the cluster communication attach acknowledgement comprises the single identifier.

22 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
in response to any of: the cluster communication beacon signal being not found; the cluster communication beacon signal being not associated with the subscription; and the cluster communication attach response comprising a cluster communication attach non-acknowledgement:
transmitting a cluster communication mode request to the network node;
receiving, from the network node, a cluster communication mode response comprising a cluster communication mode acknowledgement or a cluster communication mode non-acknowledgement; and
in response to the cluster communication mode response comprising a cluster communication mode acknowledgement, transferring to the cluster communication mode and assuming the cluster communication gateway role.

23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising, in response to the cluster communication mode response comprising a cluster communication mode non-acknowledgement, remaining in a cellular communication mode.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the cluster communication mode request comprises the cluster subscription identifier.

25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the cluster communication mode acknowledgement comprises the single identifier.

26 . A method of a network node of a cellular communication network, the method comprising:
receiving a cluster communication mode request from a first wireless communication device comprised in a cluster of wireless communication devices comprising the first wireless communication device and one or more second wireless communication devices, wherein the wireless communication devices of the cluster are associable with a cluster subscription identifier of a subscription providing communication between the network node and the cluster of wireless communication devices when one or more of the wireless communication devices are in a cluster communication mode, the communication being based on a single identifier associated with the cluster of wireless communication devices by the network node, and wherein the cluster communication mode request comprises the cluster subscription identifier; transmitting a cluster communication mode configuration request indicating the cluster subscription identifier to a core unit of the cellular communication network; receiving, from the core unit, a cluster communication mode configuration response comprising a cluster communication mode configuration acknowledgement or a cluster communication mode configuration non-acknowledgement; in response to the cluster communication mode configuration response comprising the cluster communication mode configuration acknowledgement:
transmitting, to the first wireless communication device, a cluster communication mode response comprising a cluster communication mode acknowledgement; and
maintaining a communication link to the first wireless communication device.

27 . A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for handling communications with a first wireless communication device, the first wireless communication device comprised in a cluster of wireless communication devices comprising the first wireless communication device and one or more second wireless communication devices;
wherein the wireless communication devices of the cluster are associable with a cluster subscription identifier of a subscription providing communication between a network node of a cellular communication network and the cluster of wireless communication devices when one or more of the wireless communication devices are in a cluster communication mode, the communication being based on a single identifier associated with the cluster of wireless communication devices by the network node; and wherein the first wireless communication device may have one of:
a cluster communication gateway role comprising:
transmitting a cluster communication beacon signal;
maintaining a communication link to the network node;
maintaining peer-to-peer communication links to the one or more second wireless communication devices;
forwarding communication from the network node to the one or more second wireless communication devices; and
forwarding communication from the one or more second wireless communication devices to the network node; and

a cluster internal communication role comprising:
maintaini

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Belleschi Marco
• Wang Hongwei
• Wilhelmsson Leif

Classifications

• H04W48/16

  Discovering, processing access restriction or access information · CPC title

• H04W76/045

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04W60/04 Primary

  using triggered events · CPC title

• H04W64/006

  with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination · CPC title

• H04W8/005 Primary

  Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals · CPC title