Methods in a device-to-device, D2D, enabled user equipment, a D2D enabled user equipment, methods in a base station, a base station, computer programs and computer program products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9414428-B2
Application number	US-201114356828-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2011
Priority date	Nov 8, 2011
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to a method ( 20 ) in a device-to-device, D2D, enabled user equipment ( 12 ) of a communication system ( 10 ). The D2D enabled user equipment ( 12 ) supports D2D-communication with another D2D-enabled user equipment ( 15 ). The communication system ( 10 ) comprises a base station ( 15 ) serving one or more cellular user equipment ( 14 ) unable to support D2D communication. The D2D enabled user equipment ( 2, 15 ) and the cellular user equipment ( 14 ) share the same communication resources. The method ( 20 ) comprises: receiving ( 21 ), from the base station ( 13 ), configuration parameters comprising information on a reference signal pattern for use by the D2D enabled user equipment ( 12 ), and transmitting ( 22 ), based on the configuration parameters, cellular reference signals, enabling the cellular user equipment ( 14 ) to measure and report, to the base station ( 13 ), channel information on a channel from the D2D enabled user equipment ( 12 ) to the cellular user equipment ( 14 ). The invention also relates to D2D user equipment, methods in a base station, base station, computer programs and computer program products.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method in a device-to-device (D2D) enabled user equipment of a communication system, the D2D enabled user equipment supporting D2D communication with another D2D enabled user equipment, the communication system comprising a base station serving one or more cellular user equipment unable to support D2D communication, and wherein the D2D enabled user equipment and the cellular user equipment share the same communication resources, the method comprising:
receiving, from the base station, configuration parameters comprising information on a reference signal pattern for use by the D2D enabled user equipment; and
transmitting, based on the configuration parameters, cellular reference signals, enabling the cellular user equipment to measure and report, to the base station, channel information on a channel from the D2D enabled user equipment to the cellular user equipment;
wherein the configuration parameters comprise information on a reference signal pattern used by the base station, and wherein the D2D user equipment transmits the cellular reference signals in lieu of the base station.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cellular reference signals comprise channel state information reference signals, dedicated reference signals, or broadcast reference signals.

3. A device-to-device (D2D) enabled user equipment, the D2D enabled user equipment supporting D2D communication with another D2D enabled user equipment in a communication system comprising a base station serving one or more cellular user equipment unable to support D2D communication, and wherein the D2D enabled user equipment and the cellular user equipment share the same communication resources, the D2D enabled user equipment comprising:
a receiver arranged to receive, from the base station, configuration parameters comprising information on a reference signal pattern for use by the D2D enabled user equipment, and
a transmitter arranged to transmit, based on the configuration parameters, cellular reference signals, enabling the cellular user equipment to measure and report, to the base station, channel information on a channel from the D2D enabled user equipment to the cellular user equipment;
wherein the configuration parameters comprise information on a reference signal pattern used by the base station, and wherein the D2D user equipment transmits the cellular reference signals in lieu of the base station.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for a device-to-device (D2D) enabled user equipment, the D2D enabled user equipment supporting D2D communication with another D2D enabled user equipment, in a communication system comprising a base station serving one or more cellular user equipment unable to support D2D communication, and wherein the D2D enabled user equipment and the cellular user equipment share the same communication resources, the computer program comprising computer program code, which, when run on the D2D enabled user equipment, configures the D2D enabled user equipment to:
receive, from the base station, configuration parameters comprising information on a reference signal pattern for use by the D2D enabled user equipment; and
transmit, based on the configuration parameters, cellular reference signals, enabling the cellular user equipment to measure and report to the base station channel information on a channel from the D2D enabled user equipment to the cellular user equipment;
wherein the configuration parameters comprise information on a reference signal pattern used by the base station, and wherein the D2D user equipment transmits the cellular reference signals in lieu of the base station.

5. A method in a base station of a communication system, the communication system comprising a Device-to-Device (D2D) enabled user equipment supporting D2D communication with another D2D enabled user equipment, and one or more cellular user equipment unable to support D2D communication, and wherein the D2D enabled user equipment and the cellular user equipment share the same communication resources, the method comprising:
transmitting, to the D2D enabled user equipment, configuration parameters comprising information on a first reference signal pattern for use by the D2D enabled user equipment;
requesting, from the cellular user equipment, a measurement report based on cellular reference signals transmitted by the D2D enabled user equipment using the first reference signal pattern; and
receiving, from the cellular user equipment, measurement reports based on the cellular reference signals transmitted from the D2D enabled user equipment, the measurement report comprising channel information on channel from the D2D enabled user equipment to the cellular user equipment;
wherein the base station utilizes the first reference signal pattern, and
wherein the method comprises muting reference signal transmissions from the base station using the first reference signal pattern, when the D2D enabled user equipment transmits cellular reference signals using the first reference signal pattern.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , comprising:
transmitting, to the cellular user equipment reference signals using a second reference signal pattern;
requesting, from the cellular user equipment, a measurement report based on cellular reference signals from the second reference signal pattern; and
receiving, in response to the requesting, from the cellular user equipment measurement reports on channel from the base station to the cellular user equipment.

7. A base station for use in a communication system, the communication system comprising a Device-to-Device (D2D) enabled user equipment supporting D2D communication with another D2D enabled user equipment, and one or more cellular user equipment unable to support D2D communication, and wherein the D2D enabled user equipment and the cellular user equipment share the same communication resources, the base station comprising:
a transmitter arranged to transmit, to the D2D enabled user equipment, configuration parameters comprising information on a first reference signal pattern for use by the D2D enabled user equipment;
a processor arranged to request, from the cellular user equipment, a measurement report based on cellular reference signals transmitted by the D2D enabled user equipment using the first reference signal pattern; and
a receiver arranged to receive, from the cellular user equipment measurement reports based on the cellular reference signals transmitted from the D2D enabled user equipment, the measurement report comprising channel information on channel from the D2D enabled user equipment to the cellular user equipment;
wherein the base station is configured to utilize the first reference signal pattern, and
wherein the base station is configured to mute reference signal transmissions from the base station using the first reference signal pattern, when the D2D enabled user equipment transmits cellular reference signals using the first reference signal pattern.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for use in a base station of a communication system, the communication system comprising a D2D enabled user equipment supporting D2D communication with another D2D enabled user equipment, and one or more cellular user equipment unable to support D2D communication, and wherein the D2D enabled user equipment and the cellular user equipment share the same communication resources, and wherein the computer program comprising computer program code, which, when run on the base station, configures the base station to:
transmit, to the D2D enabled user equipment, configuration parameters comprising information on a first reference signal pattern for use

Assignees

• Lu Qianxi
• Hu Yang
• Miao Qingyu
• Song Xinghua
• ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M (publ)

Inventors

• Lu Qianxi
• Hu Yang
• Miao Qingyu
• Song Xinghua

Classifications

• H04W76/023

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L5/0051

  of dedicated pilots, i.e. pilots destined for a single user or terminal · CPC title

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title

• H04W24/10 Primary

  Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} · CPC title

• H04W76/043 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic