Mobile communications device and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9893796-B2
Application number	US-201214376250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2012
Priority date	Feb 3, 2012
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

A mobile device ( 7 ) configured to provide relay capabilities in a communications system ( 1 ) by communicating network-level mobile device relaying capabilities and radio-level mobile device relaying capabilities from the mobile device ( 7 ) to a communications node ( 3 ) of the communications system ( 1 ) so that the mobile device ( 7 ) can relay communications between the communications node ( 3 ) and another mobile device ( 2 ). User subscription information related to relaying is also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A user equipment (UE) for use in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:
a transceiver; and
a controller configured to:
control the transceiver to transmit, to a base station, UE capability information regarding capability of the UE; and
control the transceiver to provide relay communication for another UE;

wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and
wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay, is transmitted in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message.

2. The UE according to claim 1 , wherein the UE capability information further includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and the another UE.

3. The UE according to claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to: control the transceiver to transmit the second capability information in a NAS message.

4. The UE according to claim 1 , wherein the UE capability information is transmitted to a Mobile Management Entity (MME) via the base station.

5. The UE according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to: control the transceiver to transmit the UE capability information in an attach request message or in a Tracking Area Update Request message.

6. A base station for use in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:
a transceiver; and
a controller configured to:
control the transceiver to receive, from a user equipment (UE), UE capability information regarding capability of the UE;

wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and
wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay, is transmitted in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message.

7. The base station according to claim 6 , wherein the UE capability information further includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and the another UE.

8. The base station according to claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the transceiver to transmit the second capability information in a NAS message.

9. The base station according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to: control the transceiver to transmit, to a Mobile Management Entity (MME), the UE capability information received from the UE.

10. The base station according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to: control the transceiver to receive the UE capability information in an attach request message or in a Tracking Area Update Request message.

11. A method for a user equipment (UE), including a transceiver and a controller, used in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
controlling the transceiver to transmit, to a base station, UE capability information regarding capability of the UE; and
controlling the transceiver to provide relay communication for another UE;
wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and
wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay, is transmitted in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the UE capability information includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and another UE.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
controlling the transceiver to transmit the second capability information in a NAS message.

14. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
transmitting the UE capability information to a Mobile Management Entity (MME) from the base station.

15. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
controlling the transceiver to transmit the UE capability information in an attach request message or in a Tracking Area Update Request message.

16. A method for a base station, including a transceiver and a controller, used in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
controlling the transceiver to receive, from a user equipment (UE), UE capability information regarding capability of the UE;
wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and
wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay, is transmitted in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the UE capability information includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and another UE.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:
controlling the transceiver to transmit the second capability information in a NAS message.

19. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
controlling the transceiver to transmit, to a Mobile Management Entity (MME), the UE capability information received from the UE.

20. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
controlling the transceiver to receive the UE capability information in an attach request message or in a Tracking Area Update Request message.

Assignees

• Rakotoharison Lanto
• Panaitopol Dorin
• Delsol Thomas
• Jactat Caroline
• Nec Corp

Inventors

• Rakotoharison Lanto
• Panaitopol Dorin
• Delsol Thomas
• Jactat Caroline

Classifications

• H04W60/00

  Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration · CPC title

• H04W88/04

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

• H04L41/0813

  characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings · CPC title

• H04W8/24

  Transfer of terminal data · CPC title

• H04B7/15 Primary

  Active relay systems · CPC title