Communication system, network node, communication device, methods and computer programs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016262155-A1
Application number	US-201514648732-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 11, 2015
Priority date	May 16, 2014
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosure relates to aspects of a communication system comprising a cellular communication network and at least a communication device interacting with the cellular communication network. The cellular communication network comprises at least a network node configured to receive, from the communication device, signalling about carrier aggregation communication capabilities suitable for D2D and carrier aggregation communication of the communication device; determine a configuration for the communication device regarding D2D communication and carrier aggregation based on at least the received signalling; and transmit the configuration to the communication device. The communication device is capable of D2D communication within a cellular communication system framework and capable of carrier aggregation for cellular communication, and is configured to determine carrier aggregation communication capabilities suitable for D2D communication and carrier aggregation; and signal the carrier aggregation communication capabilities to the network node.

First claim

1 . A communication system comprising:
a cellular communication network; and at least a communication device interacting with the cellular communication network; the cellular communication network comprising:
at least a network node configured to:
receive, from the communication device, signalling about carrier aggregation communication capabilities suitable for D2D and carrier aggregation communication of the communication device;
determine a configuration for the communication device regarding device-to-device, D2D, communication and carrier aggregation based on at least the received signalling; and
transmit the configuration to the communication device; and

the communication device being configured:
for D2D communication within a cellular communication system framework;
for carrier aggregation for cellular communication;
to determine carrier aggregation communication capabilities suitable for D2D communication and carrier aggregation; and
to signal the carrier aggregation communication capabilities to the network node.

2 . A communication device configured:
for device-to-device, D2D, communication within a cellular communication system framework for carrier aggregation for cellular communication; to determine carrier aggregation communication capabilities suitable for D2D communication and carrier aggregation; and to signal the determined carrier aggregation communication capabilities to a network node of the cellular communication system.

3 . The communication device of claim 2 , wherein the device is configured to determine the carrier aggregation communication capabilities by determining all the carrier aggregation communication capabilities and determining whether D2D communication is intended, wherein the signalled carrier aggregation communication capabilities comprise information about all carrier aggregation communication capabilities and the intention to allocate some of the carrier aggregation communication capabilities for D2D communication on at least one carrier.

4 . The communication device of claim 3 , wherein the information about the intention to allocate some of the carrier aggregation communication capabilities for D2D communication comprises at least one of:
public land mobile network identity for D2D communication; type of application; frequency; and priority index.

5 . The communication device of claim 3 , wherein the intention to allocate some of the carrier aggregation communication capabilities for D2D communication is based on at least one of a communication scenario and a coverage state of the communication device.

6 . The communication device of claim 5 , wherein the intention to allocate some of the carrier aggregation communication capabilities for D2D communication is based on whether the communication device is one of camping on and served by one of a visitor public land mobile network and a home public land mobile network.

7 . The communication device of claim 3 , further configured to receive signalling from the network node, which network node knows carrier aggregation communication capabilities from the signalling of the communication device's carrier aggregation communication capabilities, about a configuration for allocating the carrier aggregation communication capabilities.

8 . The communication device of claim 2 , further configured to determine the carrier aggregation communication capabilities by determining all capabilities and determining whether D2D communication is intended, wherein the signalled carrier aggregation communication capabilities comprises information about carrier aggregation communication capabilities excluding carrier aggregation communication capabilities intended to be allocated for D2D communication.

9 . The communication device of claim 8 , wherein the excluding of carrier aggregation communication capabilities in the information about carrier aggregation communication capabilities is based on at least one of signal propagation environment, a communication scenario and a coverage state of the communication device.

10 . The communication device of claim 9 , wherein the excluding of carrier aggregation communication capabilities in the information about carrier aggregation communication capabilities is based on whether the communication device is one of camping on and served by one of a visitor public land mobile network and a home public land mobile network.

11 . A network node for a cellular communication network, the network node being configured to:
if the network node is configured to support device-to-device, D2D, communication within a cellular communication system framework and configured to support carrier aggregation for cellular communication;
receive, from a communication device operating in the cellular communication network, signalling about carrier aggregation communication capabilities suitable for D2D communication and carrier aggregation of the communication device;
determine a configuration for the communication device regarding D2D communication and carrier aggregation based on at least the received signalling; and
transmit information about the configuration to the communication device, and
if the network node is not configured to support D2D communication within a cellular communication system framework;
transmit information to the communication device about at least one of other public land mobile networks and other carriers that are suitable for D2D communication.

12 . The network node of claim 11 , wherein the information comprises carriers to be included in at least one of:
carrier aggregation; and at least one carrier to be included in D2D communication.

13 . A method of a communication system, the communication system having a cellular communication network and at least a communication device interacting with the cellular communication network, the cellular communication network having at least a network node, and the communication device being configured for device-to-device, D2D, communication within a cellular communication system framework and for carrier aggregation for cellular communication, the method comprising:
the network node:
receiving, from the communication device, signalling about carrier aggregation communication capabilities suitable for D2D communication and carrier aggregation of the communication device;
determining a configuration for the communication device regarding D2D communication and carrier aggregation based on at least the received signalling; and
transmitting the configuration to the communication device; and the communication device:
determining carrier aggregation communication capabilities suitable for D2D communication and carrier aggregation; and
signalling the carrier aggregation communication capabilities to the network node.

14 . A method of a communication device configured to support device-to-device, D2D, communication within a cellular communication system framework and configured to support carrier aggregation for cellular communication, the method comprising:
determining carrier aggregation communication capabilities suitable for D2D communication and carrier aggregation; and signalling the carrier aggregation communication capabilities to a network node of the cellular communication system.

15 . The method of claim 14 , comprising determining the carrier aggregation communication capabilities by;
determining all the carrier aggregation communication capabilities; and determining whether D2D communication is intended, wherein the signalled carrier aggregation communication capabilities comprises information abo

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Lindoff Bengt
• Sorrentino Stefano

Classifications

• H04W72/51

  based on terminal or device properties · CPC title

• H04W8/005

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

• H04W76/14

  Direct-mode setup · CPC title

• H04W72/0453 Primary

  Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA · CPC title

• H04W28/0215

  based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices (services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51) · CPC title