U.S. patent application number 15/202157 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-27 for efficient proximity service discovery resource report and allocation.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.. Invention is credited to Feng Chen, Na Wei.
Application Number | 20160316030 15/202157 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52996759 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160316030 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wei; Na ; et al. |
October 27, 2016 |
EFFICIENT PROXIMITY SERVICE DISCOVERY RESOURCE REPORT AND
ALLOCATION
Abstract
Effective proximity service discovery resource reporting and
allocation. Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for
enhancing proximity service (ProSe) device to device discovery
resource allocation, the method comprising: allocating, by a
network processing device, network resources to a plurality of user
devices including at least one user device in a connected mode and
at least one user device in an idle mode, the allocating
comprising: restricting network resources allocated to the user
device in the idle mode for proximity service discovery compared to
the network resources allocated to the user device in the connected
mode for proximity service discovery, such that the network
resources maintain reliable discovery services for the user device
in the connected mode as well as provide acceptable discovery
services for the user device in the idle mode.
Inventors: |
Wei; Na; (Beijing, CN)
; Chen; Feng; (Beijing, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sony Corporation
Sony Mobile Communications Inc. |
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
52996759 |
Appl. No.: |
15/202157 |
Filed: |
July 5, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14265786 |
Apr 30, 2014 |
9413679 |
|
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15202157 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/16 20130101;
H04L 47/72 20130101; H04W 8/005 20130101; H04L 47/10 20130101; H04L
47/70 20130101; H04W 72/048 20130101; H04W 4/023 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 29/08 20060101
H04L029/08; H04W 72/04 20060101 H04W072/04; H04W 8/00 20060101
H04W008/00; H04L 12/911 20060101 H04L012/911; H04W 4/02 20060101
H04W004/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 31, 2013 |
CN |
201310533172.0 |
Claims
1. A method for enhancing proximity service (ProSe) device to
device discovery resource allocation, the method comprising:
allocating, by a network processing device, network resources to a
plurality of user devices including at least one user device in a
connected mode and at least one user device in an idle mode, the
allocating comprising: restricting network resources allocated to
the user device in the idle mode for proximity service discovery
compared to the network resources allocated to the user device in
the connected mode for proximity service discovery, such that the
network resources maintain reliable discovery services for the user
device in the connected mode as well as provide acceptable
discovery services for the user device in the idle mode.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the restricting comprises:
allocating a first amount of network resources to the user device
in the connected mode; and allocating a second amount of network
resources to the user device in the idle mode, wherein the first
amount of network resources is greater than the second amount of
network resources.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first amount of network
resources comprises a specific portion used only for the user
device in the connected mode and a shared portion, and the second
amount of network resources also comprises the shared portion, such
that the shared portion is shared between the user device in the
connected mode and the user device in the idle mode.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein a first time slot corresponding
to the first amount of network resources is greater than a second
time slot corresponding to the second amount of network
resources.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a discovery
resource status report from a user device; wherein the restricting
further comprises adjusting, based on the received discovery
resource status report, network resources allocated to the user
device in the connected mode for proximity service discovery and
network resources allocated to the user device in the idle mode for
proximity service discovery, such that the network resources
maintain reliable discovery services for the user device in the
connected mode as well as provide acceptable discovery services for
the user device in the idle mode.
6. A method for proximity service (ProSe) device to device
discovery reporting, comprising: determining, by a processing
device of a user device, that a predefined condition has occurred;
generating, by the processing device of the user device, a
discovery resource status report comprising information indicating
that the predefined condition has occurred; and submitting, using
the processing device of the user device, the discovery resource
status report to a network.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: monitoring, by the
processing device of the user device, a network discovery
transmission for discovery activity; and the generating further
comprises generating by the processing device of the user device,
based on the monitoring result, a discovery resource status report
comprising at least one of information describing monitored and
utilized network resources and information describing a number of
monitored discovery sessions, wherein the processing device of the
user device executes the generating and/or the submitting
periodically or when it has been determined in the determining that
the predefined condition has occurred based on the monitoring
result that the predefined congestion condition has occurred on a
network discovery transmission.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the generating periodically
generates the discovery resource status report, and the submitting
periodically submits the discovery resource status report to the
network.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining determines that
network congestion has occurred for a predetermined time period;
and wherein the method further comprises switching, by the user
device, voluntarily from the idle mode to the connected mode in
response to the determined result that the network congestion has
occurred for the predetermined time period.
10. A network apparatus for proximity service (ProSe) device to
device discovery resource allocation, comprising: an allocation
module, for allocating network resources to a plurality of user
devices including at least one user device in a connected mode and
at least one user device in an idle mode, the allocating module
comprising: a restricting unit, for restricting network resources
allocated to the user device in the idle mode for proximity service
discovery compared to the network resources allocated to the user
device in the connected mode for proximity service discovery, such
that the network resources maintain reliable discovery services for
the user device in the connected mode as well as provide acceptable
discovery services for the user device in the idle mode.
11. The network apparatus of claim 10, wherein the restricting unit
comprises: a first providing subunit, for provisioning a first
amount of network resources to the user device in the connected
mode; and a second providing subunit, for provisioning a second
amount of network resources to the user device in the idle mode;
wherein the first amount of network resources is greater than the
second amount of network resources.
12. The network apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first amount of
network resources comprises a specific portion used only for the
user device in the connected mode and a shared portion, and the
second amount of network resources also comprises the shared
portion, such that the shared portion is shared between the user
device in the connected mode and the user device in the idle
mode.
13. The network apparatus of claim 11, wherein a first time slot
corresponding to the first amount of network resources is greater
than a second time slot corresponding to the second amount of
network resources.
14. The network apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a
receiving module, for receiving a discovery resource status report
from the user device; wherein the restricting unit further
comprises an adjusting portion for adjusting, based on the received
discovery resource status report, network resources allocated to
the user device in the connected mode for proximity service
discovery and network resources allocated to the user device in the
idle mode for proximity service discovery, such that the network
resources maintain reliable discovery services for the user device
in the connected mode as well as provide acceptable discovery
services for the user device in the idle mode.
15. A user device for proximity service (ProSe) device to device
discovery reporting, comprising: a determining module, for
determining that a predefined condition has occurred; a generating
module, for generating a discovery resource status report
comprising information indicating that the predefined condition has
occurred; and a submitting module, for submitting the discovery
resource status report to a network.
16. The user device of claim 15, further comprising: a monitoring
module, for monitoring a network discovery transmission for
discovery activity, wherein the generating module generates, based
on the monitoring result, a discovery resource status report
comprising at least one of information describing utilized network
resources and information describing a number of monitored
discovery sessions, and wherein the submitting module submits the
discovery resource status report to the network periodically or in
the case the determining module has determined that the predefined
condition has occurred based on the monitoring result that a
predefined congestion condition has occurred on a network discovery
transmission.
17. The user device of claim 15, wherein the generating module
periodically generates the discovery resource status report, and
the submitting module periodically reports the discovery resource
status report to the network.
18. The user device of claim 15, further comprising a switching
module for voluntarily switching the user device from an idle mode
to a connected mode, wherein the determining module determines
whether network congestion has occurred for a predetermined time
period, and the switching module voluntarily switches the user
device from the idle mode to the connected mode in response to the
determined result that the network congestion has occurred for the
predetermined time period.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This disclosure relates to proximity service discovery
resource status report and allocation.
BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) radio access
network (RAN) collaboration has addressed device to device (D2D)
proximity services (ProSe) or proximity based applications. A core
component of proximity services is discovery of user equipment
(UE), also referred to as user devices, apparatuses and the like.
ProSe discovery may involve two or more UEs in proximity to one
another. Identified use cases for proximity-based services include
public safety and non-public safety scenarios.
[0003] In some cases, a UE in an idle (non-network-connected) mode
may voluntarily initiate a ProSe D2D discovery session. This may
affect the stability of the discovery system performance as the UE
in the idle mode will use network resources for the discovery
session. In some cases, use of network resources by the UE in the
idle mode may hinder discovery sessions of the UE in a connection
mode, and in some cases, the discovery session of the UE in the
idle mode may fail due to insufficient resources or collision with
another discovery session.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems,
methods and computer program products for enhancing proximity
service (ProSe) device to device discovery between user devices.
According to embodiments of the invention, a method includes
provisioning, by a network processing device, network resources to
a plurality of user devices including at least one connected user
device and at least one idle user device, the provisioning
comprising restricting network resources provisioned to the at
least one idle user device compared to the network resources
provisioned to the at least one connected user device such that the
network resources maintain reliable discovery services for the at
least one connected user device as well as provide acceptable
discovery services for the at least one idle user device.
[0005] In some embodiments, restricting comprises provisioning a
first amount of network resources to each connected user device;
provisioning a second amount of network resources to each idle user
device, wherein the first amount of network resources is greater
than the second amount of network resources.
[0006] In some embodiments, restricting comprises provisioning a
first amount of network resources to each connected user device;
provisioning a second amount of network resources to each idle user
device; and wherein the first amount of network resources comprises
a connected user device specific portion and a shared portion, the
shared portion comprising the second amount of network resources
such that the shared portion is shared between the connected user
device and the idle user device.
[0007] In some embodiments, restricting comprises provisioning
network resources corresponding to at least one first time slot
within a time period to each connected user device; provisioning
network resources corresponding to at least one second time slot
within the time period to each idle user device; wherein the at
least one time slot is greater than the at least one second time
slot such that the connected user device has a greater discovery
transmission opportunity within the time period than the idle user
device.
[0008] In some embodiments, the method also includes determining
that there is an idle user device which has experienced discovery
transmission failure; setting an idle user device discovery offset
to be greater than a connected user device discovery offset for
subsequent discovery transmissions, thereby ensuring the connected
user device has greater discovery transmission opportunities than
the idle user device within a time period. In some such
embodiments, setting comprises randomly generating the connected
user device discovery offset from a first value (a) to a second
value (b); and randomly generating the idle user device discovery
offset from the first value (a) to a third value (c) that is
greater than (e.g., a multiple of) the second value (b).
[0009] According to embodiments of the invention, a method for
enhancing proximity service (ProSe) device to device discovery
between user devices configured to connect to a network includes
determining, by a processing device of a user device, that a
predefined condition has occurred; generating, using a processing
device of a connected user device, a discovery resource status
report comprising information indicating that the predefined
congestion condition has occurred; and submitting, using the
processing device of the connected user device, the discovery
resource status report to the network.
[0010] In some embodiments, the predefined condition is a
predefined congestion condition that has occurred on a network
discovery transmission.
[0011] In some embodiments, determining that a predefined condition
has occurred comprises determining that a predetermined time period
has elapsed; and generating a discovery resource status report
comprises monitoring, by a processing device of a connected user
device, a network discovery transmission for discovery activity;
and generating, by the processing device of the connected user
device, a discovery resource status report comprising information
describing, for the predetermined time period, network resources
utilized by connected user devices and network resources utilized
by idle user devices.
[0012] In some embodiments, the discovery resource status report
further comprises information describing a number of discovery
sessions monitored during the predetermined time period on the
network discovery transmission.
[0013] According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided
a network apparatus for enhancing proximity service (ProSe) device
to device discovery between user devices, the apparatus comprising
a memory; a processor; and a module stored in the memory,
executable by the processor, and configured to provision network
resources to a plurality of user devices including at least one
connected user device and at least one idle user device, the
provisioning comprising restricting network resources provisioned
to the at least one idle user device compared to the network
resources provisioned to the at least one connected user device
such that the network resources maintain reliable discovery
services for the at least one connected user device as well as
provide acceptable discovery services for the at least one idle
user device.
[0014] In some embodiments, restricting comprises provisioning a
first amount of network resources to each connected user device;
provisioning a second amount of network resources to each idle user
device; and wherein the first amount of network resources comprises
a connected user device specific portion and a shared portion, the
shared portion comprising the second amount of network resources
such that the shared portion is shared between the connected user
device and the idle user device.
[0015] In some embodiments, the module is further configured to
determine that an idle user device has experienced discovery
transmission failure; and set an idle user device discovery offset
to be greater than a connected user device discovery offset for
subsequent discovery transmissions, thereby ensuring that the
connected user device has greater discovery transmission
opportunities than the idle user device within a time period.
[0016] According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided
a connected apparatus for enhancing proximity service (ProSe)
device to device discovery between user devices, the apparatus
comprising a memory; a processor; and a module stored in the
memory, executable by the processor, and configured to determine
that a predefined condition has occurred; generate a discovery
resource status report comprising information indicating that a
predefined condition has occurred; and submit the discovery
resource status report to the network.
[0017] In some embodiments, the predefined condition is a
predefined congestion condition that has occurred on a network
discovery transmission.
[0018] In some embodiments, determining that a predefined condition
has occurred comprises determining that a predetermined time period
has elapsed; and generating a discovery resource status report
comprises monitoring, by a processing device of a connected user
device, a network discovery transmission for discovery activity;
and generating, by the processing device of the connected user
device, a discovery resource status report, the discovery resource
status report comprising information describing, for the
predetermined time period, network resources utilized by connected
user devices and network resources utilized by idle user
devices.
[0019] According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided
a computer program product for enhancing proximity services (ProSe)
device to device discovery between user devices, the computer
program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable
medium comprising a set of codes for causing a computer to
provision network resources to a plurality of user devices
including at least one connected user device and at least one idle
user device, the provisioning comprising restricting network
resources provisioned to the at least one idle user device compared
to the network resources provisioned to the at least one connected
user device such that the network resources maintain reliable
discovery services for the at least one connected user device as
well as provide acceptable discovery services for the at least one
idle user device.
[0020] In some embodiments, restricting comprises provisioning a
first amount of network resources to each connected user device;
provisioning a second amount of network resources to each idle user
device; and wherein the first amount of network resources comprises
a connected user device specific portion and a shared portion, the
shared portion comprising the second amount of network resources
such that the shared portion is shared between the connected user
device and the idle user device.
[0021] In some embodiments, the set of codes is further for causing
a computer to determine that an idle user device has experienced
discovery transmission failure; and set an idle user device
discovery offset to be greater than a connected user device
discovery offset for subsequent discovery transmissions, thereby
ensuring that the connected user device has greater discovery
transmission opportunities than the idle user device within a time
period.
[0022] According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided
a computer program product for enhancing proximity service (ProSe)
device to device discovery between user devices, the computer
program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable
medium comprising a set of codes for causing a computer to
determine that a predefined condition has occurred; generate a
discovery resource status report comprising information indicating
that a predefined condition has occurred; and submit the discovery
resource status report to the network.
[0023] In some embodiments, the predefined condition is a
predefined congestion condition that has occurred on a network
discovery transmission.
[0024] In some embodiments, determining that a predefined condition
has occurred comprises determining that a predetermined time period
has elapsed; generating a discovery resource status report
comprises monitoring, by a processing device of a connected user
device, a network discovery transmission for discovery activity;
and generating, by the processing device of the connected user
device, a discovery resource status report comprising information
describing, for the predetermined time period, network resources
utilized by connected user devices and network resources utilized
by idle user devices.
[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for enhancing proximity service (ProSe) device to
device discovery resource allocation, comprising: allocating, by a
network processing device, network resources to a plurality of user
devices including at least one user device in a connected mode and
at least one user device in an idle mode, the allocating
comprising: restricting network resources allocated to the user
device in the idle mode for proximity service discovery compared to
the network resources allocated to the user device in the connected
mode for proximity service discovery, such that the network
resources maintain reliable discovery services for the user device
in the connected mode as well as provide acceptable discovery
services for the user device in the idle mode.
[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method for proximity service (ProSe) device to device
discovery reporting, comprising: determining, by a processing
device of a user device, that a predefined condition has occurred;
generating, by the processing device of the user device, a
discovery resource status report comprising information indicating
that the predefined condition has occurred; and submitting, using
the processing device of the user device, the discovery resource
status report to a network.
[0027] According to still another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a network apparatus for proximity service (ProSe)
device to device discovery resource allocation, the apparatus
comprising: an allocating module, for allocating network resources
to a plurality of user devices including at least one user device
in a connected mode and at least one user device in an idle mode,
the allocating module comprising: a restricting unit, for
restricting network resources allocated to the user device in the
idle mode for proximity service discovery compared to the network
resources allocated to the user device in the connected mode for
proximity service discovery, such that the network resources
maintain reliable discovery services for the user device in the
connected mode as well as provide acceptable discovery services for
the user device in the idle mode.
[0028] According to yet another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a user device for proximity service (ProSe)
device to device discovery reporting, comprising: a determining
module, for determining that a predefined condition has occurred; a
generating module, for generating a discovery resource status
report comprising information indicating that the predefined
condition has occurred; and a submitting module, for submitting the
discovery resource status report to a network.
DRAWINGS ACCOMPANYING THE DESCRIPTION
[0029] Having thus described embodiments of the invention in
general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings, where:
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates various network coverage scenarios for
two proximate user equipment devices;
[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates an environment wherein user equipment
devices and network systems operate according to embodiments of the
invention;
[0032] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate diagrams of time allocation of
network resources according to embodiments of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 4A illustrates a flowchart of a method 400A for ProSe
device to device discovery resource allocation according to
embodiments of the invention;
[0034] FIG. 4B illustrates a flowchart of a method 400B including
optional sub-steps of method 400A according to embodiments of the
invention;
[0035] FIG. 4C illustrates a flowchart of a method 450 for ProSe
device to device discovery resource allocation according to
embodiments of the invention;
[0036] FIG. 4D illustrates a flowchart of a method 480 for ProSe
device to device discovery resource allocation according to
embodiments of the invention;
[0037] FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate exemplary block diagrams of a network
apparatus for ProSe device to device discovery resource allocation
according to embodiments of the invention;
[0038] FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate flowcharts of a method for ProSe
device to device discovery resource status reporting according to
embodiments of the invention;
[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method 500 for ProSe
device to device discovery resource status reporting according to
embodiments of the invention; and
[0040] FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate exemplary block diagrams of a user
device for ProSe device to device discovery resource status
reporting according to embodiments of the invention.
SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0041] Embodiments of the present invention may now be described
more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which some, but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown.
Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and
should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure may satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers
refer to like elements throughout.
[0042] In expected implementations, the network, such as network
eNB 120 will assign or allocate (or provide) common resources for
all D2D users (UEs in the connected mode (also referred to as
connected UEs) and UEs in the idle mode (also referred to as idle
UEs)) for use in discovery. Such allocation may provide resource
and signaling efficiency. In a case where only UEs in the connected
mode are allowed to initiate discovery, the network would be able
to make an accurate estimation on the need for resources and,
thereby, provide sufficient and efficient resource allocation to
those UEs in the connected mode. However, in a case where UEs in
the idle mode are allowed to initiate discovery, the network is
unaware of how many UEs in the idle mode are within a particular
cell or area. Moreover, the network is unaware of how many of such
UEs in the idle mode have discovery needs.
[0043] Accordingly, the network cannot effectively allocate network
resources for discovery for UEs in the idle mode. One problem is
that allocating too many resources for UEs in the idle mode is
wasteful and another problem is that allocating too few resources
for UEs in the idle mode may result in higher instances of
collision and thereby have an adverse impact on UEs in the
connected mode.
[0044] Embodiments of the invention are directed to system, methods
and computer program products for enhancing proximity services
(ProSe) discovery by resource allocation and/or resource
reporting.
[0045] In some embodiments, ProSe discovery is enhanced by
optimizing network control of resource allocation. For example, the
network may restrict discovery resource usage by UEs in the idle
mode (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). This may be accomplished by
provisioning different resources or time slots for UEs in the
connected mode and UEs in the idle mode and/or UEs in the idle mode
can be allocated only a subset of network resources allocated to
UEs in the connected mode. In another embodiment, when a UE in the
idle mode experiences a discovery transmission failure, such as by
a collision with another transmission, the network may set a
discovery offset of the UE in the idle mode differently than it
sets a discovery offset in the connected mode in subsequent
transmission sessions (see FIG. 4C).
[0046] In some embodiments, ProSe discovery is enhanced by enabling
a UE in the connected mode to submit a network resource report
regularly that indicates information regarding network resource
usage and/or enabling a UE in the idle mode to submit a network
resource report indicating that a predefined congestion condition
has occurred (see FIG. 5).
[0047] Referring now to FIG. 1, a network environment 100 is
illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, some UEs may be connected to
the network, such as UE 110A in the connected mode, whereas some
UEs may be idle with respect to the network, such as UE 110B in the
idle mode. As mentioned above, UEs in the idle mode may be
authorized to voluntarily initiate ProSe D2D discovery sessions
despite being idle with respect to the network. As shown by the
solid line, UE 100A in the connected mode is connected with the
network 120 through network eNB 120. As shown by the dotted line,
UE 11B in the idle mode is idle with respect to the network
120.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 2, a network environment 200 is
illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the network system 208 is
operatively coupled, via a network 201, to the user equipment 204
and/or 206. In this configuration, the network system 208 may send
information to and receive information from the user equipment 204
and/or 206. FIG. 2 illustrates only one example of an embodiment of
a network environment 200, and it will be appreciated that in other
embodiments one or more of the systems, devices, or servers may be
combined into a single system, device, or server, or be made up of
multiple systems, devices, or servers.
[0049] The network 201 may be a global area network (GAN), such as
the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network
(LAN), a telecommunication network or any other type of network or
combination of networks. The network 201 may provide for wired,
wireless, or a combination wired and wireless communication between
devices on the network 201.
[0050] In some embodiments, the users 202 and 205 are individuals
who maintain cellular products with one or more providers.
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the network system 208 generally
comprises a communication device 246, a processing device 248, and
a memory device 250. As used herein, the term "processing device"
generally includes circuitry used for implementing the
communication and/or logic functions of the particular system. For
example, a processing device may include a digital signal processor
device, a microprocessor device, and various analog-to-digital
converters, digital-to-analog converters, and other support
circuits and/or combinations of the foregoing. Control and signal
processing functions of the system are allocated between these
processing devices according to their respective capabilities. The
processing device may include functionality to operate one or more
software programs based on computer-readable instructions thereof,
which may be stored in a memory device.
[0052] The processing device 248 is operatively coupled to the
communication device 246 and the memory device 250. The processing
device 248 uses the communication device 246 to communicate with
the network 201 and other devices on the network 201. As such, the
communication device 246 generally comprises a modem, server, or
other device for communicating with other devices on the network
201.
[0053] As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the network system 208
comprises computer-readable instructions 254 stored in the memory
device 250, which in one embodiment includes the computer-readable
instructions 254 of an application 258. In some embodiments, the
memory device 250 includes data storage 252 for storing data
related to and/or used by the application 258.
[0054] In some embodiments, the application 258 may allow for
communications between the UEs 204 and 206 with or without
assistance from the network 201.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the user equipment 206 generally
comprises a communication device 236, a processing device 238, and
a memory device 240. The processing device 238 is operatively
coupled to the communication device 236 and the memory device 240.
In some embodiments, the processing device 238 may send or receive
data from the user equipment 204, and/or the network system 208 via
the communication device 236 over a network 201. As such, the
communication device 236 generally comprises a modem, server, or
other device for communicating with other devices on the network
201.
[0056] As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the user equipment 206
comprises computer-readable instructions 242 stored in the memory
device 240, which in one embodiment includes the computer-readable
instructions 242 of an application 244. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 2, the application 244 allows the user
equipment 206 to be linked to the network system 208 to
communicate, via a network 201. The application 244 may also allow
the user equipment 206 to connect directly (i.e., locally or device
to device) with the user equipment 204 for proximity services
(e.g., using either cellular based links or non-cellular based
links).
[0057] It should be understood that the servers, systems, and
devices described herein illustrate one embodiment of the
invention. It should be further understood that one or more of the
servers, systems, and devices can be combined in other embodiments
and still function in the same or similar way as the embodiments
described herein.
[0058] Referring now to FIG. 4A, a flowchart illustrates a method
400A for ProSe device to device discovery resource allocation
according to embodiments of the invention. As shown by block 410,
network resources are allocated to a plurality of user devices
(including at least one user device in the connected mode and at
least one user device in the idle mode). In various embodiments, as
represented by block 420, this allocating step includes restricting
network resources. The restriction is on the network resources
allocated to the user device in the idle mode for proximity service
discovery as compared to the network resources allocated to the
user device for proximity service discovery. The restriction is
implemented such that the network resources maintain reliable
discovery services for the user device in the connected mode as
well as provide acceptable discovery services for the user device
in the idle mode, whereby the user device in the idle mode has less
opportunity of performing discovery transmission than the user
device in the connected mode. Service quality of the acceptable
discovery services is inferior to service quality of the reliable
discovery service. Specifically, within one time window (or time
period), time slots allocated to the user device in the connected
mode are more than time slots allocated to the user device in the
idle mode--for instance, within a time window per second, one
opportunity is provisioned to the user device in the idle mode,
while ten opportunities are provisioned to the user device in the
connected mode within the same one second. Hence, the user device
in the connected mode has better service quality as compared with
the user device in the idle mode.
[0059] Referring now to FIG. 3A, an exemplary network resource
allocation 300a is illustrated on a time axis. As shown, the
network resource allocation 300a includes, in the embodiment shown,
specific resources 310a of the UE(s) in the connected mode, which
comprise the initial portion of the transmission, represented in
FIG. 3A by X milliseconds. The network resource allocation 300a
also includes, in the embodiment shown, shared resources 320a that
are shared between the UE(s) in the connected mode and the UE(s) in
the idle mode, which resources comprise the subsequent portion of
the transmission, as represented in FIG. 3A by Y milliseconds.
[0060] Referring now to FIG. 3B, an exemplary network resource
allocation 300b is illustrated on a time axis. As shown, the
network resource allocation 300b includes not only specific
resources 310b of the UE(s) in the connected mode and shared
resources 320b shared between the UE(s) in the connected mode and
the UE(s) in the idle mode, but also specific resources 330b of the
UE(s) in the idle mode represented by Z milliseconds.
[0061] Referring now to FIG. 3C, an exemplary network resource
allocation 300c is illustrated on a time axis. As shown, the
network resource allocation 300c only includes specific resources
310c of the UE(s) in the connected mode represented by X
milliseconds and specific resources 330c of the UE(s) in the idle
mode represented by Z milliseconds.
[0062] In the embodiments of the invention, the specific resources
of the UE(s) in the connected mode are greater than the specific
resources of the UE(s) in the idle mode, such that the UE(s) in the
connected mode has more opportunities than the UE(s) in the idle
mode for discovery transmission, especially so within a time
period, the UE(s) in the connected mode has more opportunities than
the UE(s) in the idle mode for discovery transmission, thereby
ensuring providing reliable discovery services to the UE(s) in the
connected mode, while providing acceptable discovery services to
the UE(s) in the idle mode.
[0063] Although network resource allocations are exemplified in the
above with the example of the time axis, it is similarly possible
to perform network resource allocation on a frequency axis, or to
perform network resource allocation on both the frequency axis and
the time axis, as long as a first amount of network resources
allocated to the UE(s) in the connected mode is greater than a
second amount of network resources allocated to the UE(s) in the
idle mode, whereby is realized to restrict network resources
allocated to the user device(s) in the idle mode for proximity
service discovery compared to the network resources allocated to
the user device(s) in the connected mode for proximity service
discovery. Optionally, network resource(s) allocated to each UE in
the connected mode is greater than network resource(s) allocated to
each UE in the idle mode. Through such network resource allocation
is made possible to maintain reliable discovery services for the
user device in the connected mode as well as provide acceptable
discovery services for the user device in the idle mode.
[0064] Referring now to FIG. 4B, a flowchart illustrates a method
400B including optional sub-steps of method 400A according to
embodiments of the invention. In various embodiments, restricting
the network resources, as referenced in block 420 of FIG. 4A,
includes allocating a first amount of network resources to user
device(s) in the connected mode, as represented by block 425. The
step, as represented by block 430, is allocating a second amount of
network resources to user device(s) in the idle mode, such that the
user device in the connected mode has a greater discovery
transmission opportunity or more discovery transmission
opportunities than the user device in the idle mode, e.g., within a
time period. For example, during a certain time period, the network
apparatus will assign one chance every one second for the UE(s) in
the idle mode whereas the network apparatus will assign ten chances
during the same one second for the UE(s) in the connected mode. In
some embodiments, the second amount of network resources allocated
for the user device in the idle mode is less than the first amount
of network resources allocated for the user device in the connected
mode. In some embodiments, network resources allocated to the user
device(s) in the connected mode and network resources allocated to
the user device(s) in the idle mode are in different time slots. In
some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the network resources
are shared by the user device(s) in the idle mode and the user
device(s) in the connected mode for a certain time period, and/or
the network resources allocated to the user device(s) in the idle
mode and the network resources allocated to the user device(s) in
the connected mode overlap for a period of time.
[0065] Referring now to FIG. 4C, a flowchart illustrates a method
400C for ProSe device to device discovery resource allocation
according to embodiments of the invention. The step shown by block
450 is to receive a discovery resource status report from a user
device. As an example, the user device that sends the discovery
resource status report to the network may be a user device in the
connected mode, and may also be a user device in the idle mode
switched to the connected mode merely for transmitting the
discovery resource status report; moreover, after transmitting the
resource report, the user device may either maintain the connected
mode or switch back to the idle mode. As an example, the discovery
resource status report from the user device may only report the
discovery resource status of the user device itself, and may also
report discovery resource statuses of other user devices, or may
report both the discovery resource status of the user device itself
and the discovery resource statuses of other user devices.
[0066] The step shown by block 455 is to determine that there is UE
in the idle mode which has experienced discovery transmission
failure based on the discovery resource status report. For
instance, the discovery resource status report comprises
information indicating the UE in the idle mode which has
experienced discovery transmission failure. Additionally, the
discovery resource status report may also comprise information
indicating that the discovery transmission failure was caused by
transmission collision or timeout.
[0067] The step shown by block 460 is to set a first discovery
offset for the user device(s) in the idle mode for proximity
service discovery to be greater than a second discovery offset for
the user device(s) in the connected mode for proximity service
discovery for subsequent discovery transmissions. The step shown by
block 460 is a sub-step of the restricting step shown by block 420
in FIG. 4A. This can also ensure that the user device(s) in the
connected mode has more discovery transmission opportunities than
the user device(s) in the idle mode within a predetermined time
period. Thus, the user device(s) in the connected mode usually has
better service quality than that of the user device(s) in the idle
mode. Under such circumstance, a UE in the idle mode that has
experienced a certain number (once, twice, or thrice, for instance)
of discovery transmission conflicts or other failures may select to
switch to the connected mode linking to the network, whereby the UE
can be allocated with resources as a UE in the connected mode, to
thereby shorten its discovery offset, and realize better service
quality.
[0068] In various embodiments, block 460 may include sub-steps such
as those represented by blocks 465 and 470. The sub-step 465 is to
randomly generate a random number in the range from a first value a
to a second value b as the second discovery offset of the user
device(s) in the connected mode. The sub-step 470 is to randomly
generate a random number in the range from the first value a to a
third value c as the first discovery offset of the user device(s)
in the idle mode, and the third value c is greater than the second
value b, is especially n times that of the second value b, where n
is an integer greater than 1. For example, in one embodiment, when
a discovery transmission collision occurs, a random number may be
randomly generated within a range of [0, X], as the second
discovery offset of the UE(s) in the connected mode. In this
example, a random number may be randomly generated within a range
of [0, 4X], as the first discovery offset of the UE(s) in the idle
mode--that is to say, the third value c is four times that of the
second value b. Accordingly, based on the first discovery offset
and the second discovery offset for discovery transmissions, the
opportunity for performing discovery transmission is reduced for
the UE(s) in the idle mode. This further ensures that the user
device(s) in the connected mode has more discovery transmission
opportunities than the user device(s) in the idle mode within a
predetermined time period. Thus, the user device(s) in the
connected mode usually has better service quality than the user
device(s) in the idle mode. Under such circumstance, a UE in the
idle mode that has experienced a certain number (once, twice, or
thrice, for instance) of discovery transmission conflicts or other
failures may select to switch to the connected mode linking to the
network, whereby the UE can be allocated with resources as a UE in
the connected mode, to thereby shorten its discovery offset, and
realize better service quality.
[0069] Although it is shown in FIG. 4C that the second discovery
offset is firstly generated, and the first discovery offset is then
generated, it can be understood by persons skilled in the art that
this sequence is not necessary, as it is also possible to firstly
generate the first discovery offset and to subsequently generate
the second discovery offset, or to generate the first and second
discovery offsets in parallel.
[0070] Referring now to FIG. 4D, a flowchart exemplarily
illustrates a method 480 for ProSe device to device discovery
resource allocation according to embodiments of the invention. The
step shown by block 485 is to receive a discovery resource status
report from a user device. This step 485 is the same as the step
450 shown in FIG. 4C, and is hence not described in detailed in
this context.
[0071] The step shown by block 490 is to adjust, based on the
received discovery resource status report, network resources
allocated to the user device(s) in the connected mode for proximity
service discovery and network resources allocated to the user
device(s) in the idle mode for proximity service discovery, such
that the network resources maintain reliable discovery services for
the user device(s) in the connected mode as well as provide
acceptable discovery services for the user device(s) in the idle
mode. As an example, when it is based on the received discovery
resource status report to have found that the amount of network
resources already utilized by the user device(s) in the connected
mode is great, or that transmission failure has occurred due to
congestion or timeout, the network resources allocated to the user
device(s) in the connected mode for proximity service discovery can
be increased, and the network resources allocated to the user
device(s) in the idle mode for proximity service discovery can be
decreased, so that reliable discovery services can be maintained
for the user device(s) in the connected mode and acceptable
discovery services can be provided for the user device(s) in the
idle mode.
[0072] As an example, when it is based on the received discovery
resource status report to have found that the user device(s) in the
idle mode has experienced discovery transmission failures due to
congestion or timeout for many times, but that the discovery
transmission status of the user device in the connected mode is
excellent (for example, the utilized network resources are less
than the network resources allocated to the user device(s) in the
connected mode for proximity service discovery), the network
resources allocated to the user device(s) in the connected mode for
proximity service discovery can be decreased, as long as it can be
ensured that the user device(s) in the connected mode has reliable
discovery services, and the network resources allocated to the user
device(s) in the idle mode for proximity service discovery can be
increased, so as to provide the user device(s) in the idle mode
with acceptable discovery services.
[0073] Referring now to FIG. 5A, an exemplary block diagram
illustrates a network apparatus 208 according to embodiments of the
invention. As shown in FIG. 5A, the network apparatus 208 comprises
an allocation module 2081 for allocating network resources to a
plurality of user devices, which include at least one user device
in a connected mode and at least one user device in an idle mode.
The user devices may utilize the allocated network resources to
perform proximity service discovery. The allocating module 2081
comprises a restricting unit 2082 for restricting network resources
allocated to the user device(s) in the idle mode for proximity
service discovery. The restriction is on the network resources
allocated to the user device(s) in the idle mode for proximity
service discovery as compared to the network resources allocated to
the user device(s) in the connected mode for proximity service
discovery, such that the network resources maintain reliable
discovery services for the user device(s) in the connected mode as
well as provide acceptable discovery services for the user
device(s) in the idle mode. Accordingly, the user device(s) in the
idle mode has less opportunity of performing discovery transmission
than the user device(s) in the connected mode, and hence the user
device(s) in the connected mode has better service quality as
compared with the user device in the idle mode.
[0074] FIG. 5B illustrates another exemplary block diagram of the
network apparatus 208 according to embodiments of the invention.
Specifically, the restricting unit 2082 exemplarily shown in FIG.
5B comprises a first providing subunit 2082a and a second providing
subunit 2082b. The first providing subunit 2082a provides a first
amount of network resources to the user device(s) in the connected
mode, and the second providing subunit 2082b provides a second
amount of network resources to the user device(s) in the idle mode,
wherein the first amount of network resources is greater than the
second amount of network resources, such that the user device(s) in
the connected mode has more opportunities than the user device(s)
in the idle mode for proximity service discovery, whereby it is
possible to maintain reliable discovery services for the user
device(s) in the connected mode and to provide acceptable discovery
services to the user device(s) in the idle mode. Thus, the user
device(s) in the connected mode has higher service quality, and
resource utilization rate is also enhanced. Refer to FIGS. 3A-3C
for exemplifications of network resource allocation.
[0075] FIG. 5C illustrates another exemplary block diagram of the
network apparatus 208 according to embodiments of the invention. As
shown in FIG. 5C, the network apparatus includes not only the
allocating module 2081, but also a receiving module 2083 and a
determining module 2085. The receiving module 2083 receives a
discovery resource status report sent from user device(s), and the
discovery resource status report may either be exemplified in the
methods described above, or described herein below. The determining
module 2085 bases on the discovery resource status report received
by the receiving module 2083 to determine whether there is the user
device in the idle mode which has experienced any discovery
transmission failure. The restricting unit 2082 includes a setting
portion 2082c for setting discovery offset with which user devices
perform discovery services. The setting portion 2082c sets a first
discovery offset for the user device(s) in the idle mode for
proximity service discovery to be greater than a second discovery
offset for the user device(s) in the connected mode for proximity
service discovery with respect to subsequent discovery
transmissions in the case the determining module 2085 has
determined that there is the user device in the idle mode which has
experienced discovery transmission failure. By setting the first
discovery offset to be greater than the second discovery offset, it
is possible to provide the user device(s) in the connected mode
with more discovery transmission opportunities. See for example as
described in the foregoing FIG. 4C.
[0076] FIG. 5D illustrates another exemplary block diagram of the
network apparatus 208 according to embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 5D differs from FIG. 5C mainly in the fact that the setting
portion 2082c includes a first offset generating subunit 2082c1 and
a second offset generating subunit 2082c2. The first offset
generating subunit 2082c1 randomly generates a random number within
the range from a first value a to a third value c as the first
discovery offset for the user device in the idle mode to perform
proximity service discovery. The second offset generating subunit
2082c2 randomly generates a random number within the range from the
first value a to a second value b as the second discovery offset
for the user device in the connected mode to perform proximity
service discovery. The third value c is greater than the second
value b, and is especially n times that of the second value b,
where n is an integer greater than 1. See as illustrated in FIG. 4C
for specific examples of the first and second discovery
offsets.
[0077] FIG. 5E illustrates another exemplary block diagram of the
network apparatus 208 according to embodiments of the invention.
The network apparatus 208 includes not only an allocating module
2081, but also a receiving module 2083. The receiving module 2083
receives a discovery resource status report sent from the user
device. The restricting unit 2082 further includes an adjusting
portion 2082d. The adjusting portion 2082d adjusts, based on the
discovery resource status report received by the receiving module
2083, network resources allocated to the user device(s) in the
connected mode for proximity service discovery and network
resources allocated to the user device(s) in the idle mode for
proximity service discovery, such that the network resources
maintain reliable discovery services for the user device(s) in the
connected mode as well as provide acceptable discovery services for
the user device(s) in the idle mode. See as illustrated in FIG. 4D
for specific exemplification thereof.
[0078] The various modules (such as the allocating module 2081, the
receiving module 2083 and the determining module 2085), various
units, subunits or parts (such as the setting portion or the
adjusting portion) of the network apparatus 208 may be realized by
hardware, software, or a combination thereof.
[0079] As examples, the aforementioned components may be realized
by a processing device of the network apparatus (such as a base
station, eNB) executing a software program to control a
communication device (such as a transceiver); alternatively, the
receiving module 2083 may be realized by a receiver that controls
the network apparatus through a processor executing a computer
program.
[0080] In order that the inventive concepts of the present
invention are not concealed, omitted in FIGS. 5A-5E are
conventional components, such as a communication interface, a
transceiver, and a display, usually included in a network
apparatus. These components are freely selectable by persons
skilled in the art as they are practically required.
[0081] Now referring to FIG. 6A, a flowchart illustrates a method
600 for ProSe device to device discovery resource status reporting
according to embodiments of the invention. At Step ST602, a user
device determines whether a predefined condition has occurred. As
examples, the predefined condition may be to have already reached a
predetermined time period, or may be a predefined congestion
condition, such as conflict or timeout, has occurred in the user
device(s) in the idle mode or the user device(s) in the connected
mode. As examples, the predefined condition may be any index
indicating that the network quality has deteriorated, a session
overload indication, or a predefined congestion condition. In the
case it is determined as "Not" in Step ST602, the process returns
to Step ST602 for continued judgment. In the case it is determined
as "Yes" in Step ST602, the process advances to Step ST604, by
which time the user device may be either in the idle mode or in the
connected mode.
[0082] At Step ST604, the user device generates a discovery
resource status report comprising information indicating that the
predefined condition has occurred. For instance, the discovery
resource status report may be generated based on the discovery
resource status of the user device itself and/or discovery resource
statuses of other user devices obtained via other methods. The user
device may be either in the connected mode or in the idle mode. In
other words, the discovery resource status report can be generated
by anyone of the user device in the idle mode and the user device
in the connected mode. As examples, in the case the user device in
the idle mode does not perform the discovery service for the
predetermined time period, the discovery resource status report may
include information indicating that the user device does not
perform the discovery service for the predetermined time period.
Optionally, the discovery resource status report may also include
information indicating the cause (such as conflict or timeout) of
discovery transmission failure.
[0083] At Step ST606, the user device submits the discovery
resource status report to a network. For the user device in the
connected mode, it is possible to directly submit the generated
discovery resource status report to the network side (such as the
network apparatus, eNB). However, for the user device in the idle
mode, it is needed to firstly switch to the connected mode and
thereafter to submit the generated discovery resource status report
to the network side. After the discovery resource status report has
been submitted, the user device originally in the idle mode may
switch back to the idle mode, and may as well remain in the
connected mode, so as to obtain more reliable discovery services.
As examples, the user device may periodically generate the
discovery resource status report, and submit the generated
discovery resource status report to the network side.
[0084] As examples, it is possible for only a few number of user
devices to submit the generated discovery resource status report to
the network side. As examples, it is possible for the network to
control which user devices should submit the generated discovery
resource status report. As examples, the user device may
voluntarily generate the discovery resource status report and
submit the discovery resource status report to the network side;
alternatively, the user device in the connected mode may generate
the discovery resource status report and submit it to the network
side when receiving a request or instruction from the network side.
Optionally, the user device in the connected mode may as well
voluntarily generate the discovery resource status report, but
submit the generated discovery resource status report when
receiving a request or an instruction from the network side.
[0085] FIG. 6B illustrates a flowchart of another exemplary method
for ProSe device to device discovery resource status reporting
according to embodiments of the invention. Steps identical with
those in FIG. 6A will be omitted or only briefly described in this
context, while steps different from those of the method shown in
FIG. 6A will be emphatically described. At Step ST601 in FIG. 6B, a
user device monitors a network discovery transmission for discovery
activity. As examples, the user device may be in the connected
mode, or in the idle mode, and in the process of discovery. As
examples, the user device may monitor the number of current
sessions or monitor the number of utilized resources. As examples,
the utilized resources may include resources utilized by the user
device in the connected mode and/or resources utilized by the user
device in the idle mode. As examples, the user device in the
connected mode may monitor the service quality of the network--for
instance, whether there is any discovery transmission failure due
to congestion or timeout. As examples, the user device in the
connected mode can not only voluntarily monitor the network
discovery transmission, but also base on a request or an
instruction from the network side to monitor the network discovery
transmission. Optionally, the user device may periodically monitor
the network discovery transmission, and may as well continuously
monitor the network discovery transmission.
[0086] Step ST602 is identical with Step ST602 shown in FIG. 6A, so
this step is not repetitively described in this context. Although
it is shown in FIG. 6B that the user device monitors the network
discovery transmission before it is determined whether the
predefined condition has occurred, it is also possible for the user
device to monitor the network discovery transmission after it is
determined whether the predefined condition has occurred. This may
differ according to difference in the predefined conditions. If it
is needed to determine whether the predefined condition has
occurred on the basis of the result of the network discovery
transmission, the monitoring step ST601 is executed prior to Step
ST602; otherwise there is no restriction on the executing sequence
of Steps ST601 and ST602. For instance, the user device may
determine that the predefined condition has occurred on the basis
of the monitoring result that a predefined congestion condition has
occurred on the network discovery transmission. Optionally, the
user device may determine that the predefined condition has
occurred in the case the time count of a timer has reached a
predetermined time period. Optionally, the user device in the idle
mode may determine that the predefined condition has occurred when
the discovery transmission failure has reached a predetermined time
period. Alternatively, the user device in the connected mode may
determine that the predefined condition has occurred on the basis
of the monitoring result that considers the discovery service
provided by the network has deteriorated in quality (for instance,
the quality is lower than a predetermined threshold value).
[0087] After determining that the predefined condition has occurred
at Step ST602, a discovery resource status report is generated on
the basis of the monitoring result, at Step ST604. As an example,
the discovery resource status report may comprise at least one of
information describing monitored and utilized network resources and
information describing a number of monitored discovery sessions. As
an example, the discovery resource status report may comprise at
least one of information describing utilized network resources
monitored within a predetermined time period and information
describing a number of monitored discovery sessions. As an example,
the utilized network resources may include network resources
utilized by the user device in the connected mode and/or network
resources utilized by the user device in the idle mode. The
utilized network resources may include network resources utilized
by the user device that has generated the discovery resource status
report, and may also include network resources utilized by other
user devices. As an example, the discovery resource status report
may be periodically generated, or the generation of the discovery
resource status report may be triggered on the basis of the
monitoring result of the network transmission--for instance, the
monitoring result shows that a predefined congestion condition
(such as conflict or timeout) has occurred.
[0088] At Step ST606, the user device submits the generated
discovery resource status report to the network. Besides the
circumstances identical with those described with reference to Step
ST606 in FIG. 6A, it is possible in this example to trigger the
submission of the discovery resource status report on the basis of
the monitoring result of the network transmission.
[0089] Now referring to FIG. 6C, a flowchart illustrates another
exemplary method for ProSe device to device discovery resource
status reporting according to embodiments of the invention. Steps
ST602, ST604 and ST606 can be identical with those described with
reference to FIG. 6A. At Step ST605, the user device switches from
the idle mode to the connected mode. As an example, the user device
in the idle mode may voluntarily switch from the idle mode to the
connected mode when it fails to obtain any discovery service for a
certain time period, so that this user device can be a user device
in the connected mode for being allocated with more network
resources for proximity service discovery, thereby having more
opportunity of the discovery transmission. As an example, the user
device in the idle mode may firstly voluntarily switch to the
connected mode, and then submit the discovery resource status
report. As an example, the user device may complain, to the
network, in the discovery resource status report that too few
network resources are allocated, and request for additional network
resources, so as to obtain better service quality. Optionally, the
user device in the idle mode may not submit any discovery resource
status report before or after autonomous switching to the connected
mode.
[0090] Although exemplary methods for ProSe device to device
discovery resource status reporting according to embodiments of the
invention are described above with reference to FIGS. 6A-6C by
certain step sequences, unless subsequent steps must depend on the
results of antecedent steps, executing sequences of these steps are
not particularly restricted. Moreover, some steps can be executed
in parallel.
[0091] Referring now to FIG. 7, a flowchart illustrates a method
500 for ProSe device to device discovery resource status reporting
according to embodiments of the invention. The step, represented by
block 510, is to determine that a predefined condition has
occurred. For example, a UE in the idle mode may determine that a
predefined congestion condition (such as a collision or timeout)
has occurred. Another example of a predefined condition is when a
UE in the connected mode that is tasked with monitoring discovery
activity determines that a lapse of a predetermined time period has
occurred, and therefore, the data it has collected may be
reported.
[0092] The step, represented by block 520, is to generate a
discovery resource status report including information indicating
that the predefined condition has occurred. As discussed above,
this step may include a scenario where a UE in the connected mode
is monitoring the network discovery activity, which is represented
by sub-steps 525 and 530. Sub-step 525 is monitoring, by a UE in
the connected mode, a network discovery transmission for discovery
activity during a predetermined time period. Next, sub-step 530 is
to generate a discovery resource status report. This report may
include, for example, information describing the utilized network
resources, such as network resources utilized by the UE in the
connected mode and/or network resources utilized by UE in the idle
mode during the predetermined time period.
[0093] Alternatively, or in collaboration, a UE in the idle mode
may recognize predefined congestion and proactively generate a
report, as represented by sub-steps 535 and 540. Sub-step 535 is to
determine, by a UE in the idle mode, the characteristics of the
predefined congestion condition such as a transmission collision or
network timeout. Sub-step 540 is to generate a discovery resources
status report including information describing the characteristics
of the predefined congestion condition, and in some cases,
requesting additional network resources.
[0094] The final step, represented by block 550, is to submit the
discovery resources status report including either the information
describing the network resources utilized by the UE in the
connected mode (in the case of a UE in the connected mode
monitoring the network) or information describing characteristics
of a predefined congestion condition (in the case of a UE in the
idle mode proactively or voluntarily reporting congestion).
[0095] FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a user
device 204. As shown in FIG. 8A, the user device 204 comprises a
determining module 2041, a generating module 2043 and a submitting
module 2045. The determining module 2041 determines that a
predefined condition has occurred. The generating module 2043
generates a discovery resource status report comprising information
indicating that the predefined condition has occurred. The
submitting module 2045 submits the discovery resource status report
to a network. A large number of examples are as described with
reference to FIG. 6A.
[0096] FIG. 8B illustrates another exemplary block diagram of the
user device 204. As shown in FIG. 8B, besides the determining
module 2041, the generating module 2043 and the submitting module
2045, the user device 204 comprises a monitoring module 2047. The
monitoring module 2047 monitors network discovery transmissions for
discovery activity. As described in Step ST601 with reference to
FIG. 6B, the monitoring module 2047 may monitor network discovery
transmissions for discovery activity periodically or when a request
or an instruction is received from the network side. As an example,
the determining module 2041 may determine that the predefined
condition has occurred on the basis of the monitoring result that a
predefined congestion condition has occurred on the network
discovery transmission. The generating module 2043 may generate the
discovery resource status report on the basis of the monitoring
result, the discovery resource status report comprising at least
one of information describing utilized network resources or
information describing a number of monitored sessions. As an
example, the generating module 2043 generates the discovery
resource status report on the basis of the monitoring result
periodically or when the determining unit 2041 has determined that
the predefined condition has occurred on the basis of the
monitoring result that a predefined congestion condition has
occurred on the network discovery transmission, the discovery
resource status report comprising at least one of information
describing utilized network resources or information describing a
number of monitored sessions. As an example, the submitting module
2045 submits the discovery resource status report to the network
periodically or when the determining unit has determined that the
predefined condition has occurred on the basis of the monitoring
result that a predefined congestion condition has occurred on the
network discovery transmission. A large number of examples are as
described with reference to FIG. 6B.
[0097] FIG. 8C illustrates another exemplary block diagram of the
user device 204. As compared with the user device 204 shown in FIG.
8B, a switching module 2049 is used to replace the monitoring
module 2047 in the user device 204 shown in FIG. 8C. The switching
module 2049 is used to voluntarily switch the user device 204 from
the idle mode to the connected mode, to obtain more discovery
transmission opportunities, and to thereby obtain better discovery
services. Optionally, the determining module 2041 determines
whether network congestion has occurred for a predetermined time
period, and the switching module 2049 switches the user device 204
from the idle mode to the connected mode in response to the
determination result that the network congestion has occurred for
the predetermined time period, so as to obtain more discovery
transmission opportunities, thereby obtaining more reliable
discovery services. Optionally, the generating module 2043 may
generate information indicating that network congestion has
occurred for a predetermined time period and/or a discovery
resource status report for requesting information of additional
resources, and the submitting module 2045 submits the discovery
resource status report to the network side. Many variations are as
described with reference to FIG. 6C.
[0098] The determining module 2041, generating module 2043,
submitting module 2045, monitoring module 2047 and switching module
2049 may be realized by hardware, software or combinations
thereof.
[0099] As examples, the aforementioned modules and units may be
realized by a processing device of the UE 204 executing a software
program to control a communication device (such as a transceiver);
alternatively, the submitting module may be realized by a receiver
that controls the UE by a processor executing a computer
program.
[0100] It should be noted that the scenarios described above with
reference to FIGS. 4A-4D, 5A-5E, 6A-6C, 7 and 8A-8C are meant only
for illustration. Numerous applications of the restricting resource
allocation and/or UE reporting may be implemented.
[0101] In some embodiments of the invention, the network may
provide the user device in the connected mode with more discovery
transmission opportunities than the user device in the idle mode by
provisioning resources, while maintain acceptable discovery
performance for the user device in the idle mode to restrict the
use of discovery resources.
[0102] In some embodiments of the invention, the network enables
the user device in the connected mode to periodically submit
network resource status reports representing information concerning
network resource utilization, and/or the network enables the user
device in the idle mode to submit a network resource status report
indicating that a predefined congestion condition has occurred.
[0103] Although many embodiments of the present invention have just
been described above, the present invention may be embodied in many
different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are
provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal
requirements. Also, it will be understood that, where possible, any
of the advantages, features, functions, devices, and/or operational
aspects of any of the embodiments of the present invention
described and/or contemplated herein may be included in any of the
other embodiments of the present invention described and/or
contemplated herein, and/or vice versa. In addition, where
possible, any terms expressed in the singular form herein are meant
to also include the plural form and/or vice versa, unless
explicitly stated otherwise. As used herein, "at least one" shall
mean "one or more" and these phrases are intended to be
interchangeable. Accordingly, the terms "a" and/or "an" shall mean
"at least one" or "one or more," even though the phrase "one or
more" or "at least one" is also used herein. Like numbers refer to
like elements throughout.
[0104] As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art
in view of this disclosure, the present invention may include
and/or be embodied as an apparatus (including, for example, a
system, machine, device, computer program product, and/or the
like), as a method (including, for example, a business method,
computer-implemented process, and/or the like), or as any
combination of the foregoing. Accordingly, embodiments of the
present invention may take the form of an entirely business method
embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware,
resident software, micro-code, stored procedures in a database,
etc.), an entirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining
business method, software, and hardware aspects that may generally
be referred to herein as a "system." Furthermore, embodiments of
the present invention may take the form of a computer program
product that includes a computer-readable storage medium having one
or more computer-executable program code portions stored therein.
As used herein, a processor, which may include one or more
processors, may be "configured to" perform a certain function in a
variety of ways, including, for example, by having one or more
general-purpose circuits perform the function by executing one or
more computer-executable program code portions embodied in a
computer-readable medium, and/or by having one or more
application-specific circuits perform the function.
[0105] It will be understood that any suitable computer-readable
medium may be utilized. The computer-readable medium may include,
but is not limited to, a non-transitory computer-readable medium,
such as a tangible electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,
infrared, and/or semiconductor system, device, and/or other
apparatus. For example, in some embodiments, the non-transitory
computer-readable medium includes a tangible medium such as a
portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory
(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only
memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a compact disc read-only memory
(CD-ROM), and/or some other tangible optical and/or magnetic
storage device. In other embodiments of the present invention,
however, the computer-readable medium may be transitory, such as,
for example, a propagation signal including computer-executable
program code portions embodied therein.
[0106] One or more computer-executable program code portions for
carrying out operations of the present invention may include
object-oriented, scripted, and/or unscripted programming languages,
such as, for example, Java, Perl, Smalltalk, C++, SAS, SQL, Python,
Objective C, JavaScript, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the
one or more computer-executable program code portions for carrying
out operations of embodiments of the present invention are written
in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C"
programming languages and/or similar programming languages. The
computer program code may alternatively or additionally be written
in one or more multi-paradigm programming languages, such as, for
example, F#.
[0107] Some embodiments of the present invention are described
herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams of apparatus and/or methods. It will be understood that
each block included in the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and/or combinations of blocks included in the flowchart
illustrations and/or block diagrams, may be implemented by one or
more computer-executable program code portions. These one or more
computer-executable program code portions may be provided to a
processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,
and/or some other programmable data processing apparatus in order
to produce a particular machine, such that the one or more
computer-executable program code portions, which execute via the
processor of the computer and/or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create mechanisms for implementing the steps and/or
functions represented by the flowchart(s) and/or block diagram
block(s).
[0108] The one or more computer-executable program code portions
may be stored in a transitory and/or non-transitory
computer-readable medium (e.g., a memory, etc.) that can direct,
instruct, and/or cause a computer and/or other programmable data
processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that
the computer-executable program code portions stored in the
computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture
including instruction mechanisms which implement the steps and/or
functions specified in the flowchart(s) and/or block diagram
block(s).
[0109] The one or more computer-executable program code portions
may also be loaded onto a computer and/or other programmable data
processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be
performed on the computer and/or other programmable apparatus. In
some embodiments, this produces a computer-implemented process such
that the one or more computer-executable program code portions
which execute on the computer and/or other programmable apparatus
provide operational steps to implement the steps specified in the
flowchart(s) and/or the functions specified in the block diagram
block(s). Alternatively, computer-implemented steps may be combined
with, and/or replaced with, operator- and/or human-implemented
steps in order to carry out an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0110] While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and
shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that
such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on
the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the
specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since
various other changes, combinations, omissions, modifications and
substitutions, in addition to those set forth in the above
paragraphs, are possible. Those skilled in the art will appreciate
that various adaptations, modifications, and combinations of the
just described embodiments can be configured without departing from
the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be
understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the
invention may be practiced other than as specifically described
herein.
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