Methods and apparatus for supporting group communications utilizing device identifiers
24 claims: 21 independent, 3 dependent
- 1第1の通信デバイスを操作する方法において、前記方法は、 前記第1の通信デバイスが属するグループのメンバーを示すグループメンバーシップ情報を記憶することと、 前記第1の通信デバイスに対応するグループ送信リクエスト資源上で、第1の期間の間に、前記グループのメンバーに送信する意図を示すために使用される送信リクエストを送信することと、 前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において、送信リクエスト・レスポンスを検出するために監視することを 含み、 前記第1の通信デバイスに対応する前記グループ送信リクエスト資源は、一セットの送信リクエスト資源の一部であって、前記一セットの送信リクエスト資源は、二つの通信デバイス間のピアツーピア・コネクションに対応する送信リクエスト資源をも含んでいる方 法。
- 2第1の通信デバイスを操作する方法において、前記方法は、 前記第1の通信デバイスが属するグループのメンバーを示すグループメンバーシップ情報を記憶することと、 第2のデバイスとのピアツーピア通信コネクションを示すピアツーピア・コネクション情報を記憶することと、 前記第1の通信デバイスに対応するグループ送信リクエスト資源上で、第1の期間の間に、前記グループのメンバーに送信する意図を示すために使用される送信リクエストを送信することと、 前記ピアツーピア・コネクションの上で前記第2のデバイスへデータを送信するためのリクエストを、前記ピアツーピア・コネクションに対応する送信リクエスト資源において、第2の期間の間に送信することと、 前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において、送信リクエスト・レスポンスを検出するために監視することを含む方法。
- 3前記第1の期間に先立って、送信リクエスト資源を取得することと、 前記取得された送信リクエスト資源が前記グループに対応する送信リクエスト資源として前記第1の通信デバイスにより使用されるべきことを示す情報を、前記グループの他のメンバーへ通信することを更に含む請求項 1または2に 記載の方法。
- 4前記取得された送信リクエスト資源は、複数の送信リクエスト期間の各々のための単一の送信リクエスト資源である請求項3に記載の方法。
- 5前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において送信リクエスト・レスポンスを監視するのに先立って、前記グループの他のメンバーから、送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源が前記グループの当該他のメンバーにより送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源として使用されるべきことを示す情報を受信することを更に含む請求項3に記載の方法。
- 6前記送信リクエスト・レスポンスの監視による少なくとも一つのレスポンスの検出に続いて、前記送信されたグループ送信リクエストに対応するトラフィック資源を使用してトラフィック・データを送信する請求項 1または2に 記載の方法。
- 7前記グループの他のメンバーからのグループ送信リクエストを、当該他のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト資源上で、第2の期間の間に、受信することと、 グループ送信リクエスト・レスポンスを、前記通信デバイスに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において送信することを更に含む請求項3に記載の方法。
- 8前記第2のデバイスは、前記グループのメンバーであり、 前記第1の通信デバイスは、前記グループのメンバーであり、同時に、前記第2のデバイスとの前記ピアツーピア・コネクションを維持するものである請求項 2 に記載の方法。
- 9第1の通信デバイスにおいて、 前記第1の通信デバイスが属するグループのメンバーを示すグループメンバーシップ情報を記憶するように構成されたグループ情報記憶モジュールと、 無線送信機モジュールと、 前記第1の通信デバイスに対応するグループ送信リクエスト資源上で、第1の期間の間に、前記グループのメンバーに送信する意図を示すために使用される送信リクエストを送信するように前記無線送信機モジュールを制御するように構成されたグループ送信リクエスト制御モジュールと、 信号を受信するように構成された無線受信機モジュールと、 前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において、送信リクエスト・レスポンスを検出するために監視するように構成されたグループ・リクエスト・レスポンス監視モジュールとを 含み、 前記第1の通信デバイスに対応する前記グループ送信リクエスト資源は、一セットの送信リクエスト資源の一部であって、前記一セットの送信リクエスト資源は、二つの通信デバイス間のピアツーピア・コネクションに対応する送信リクエスト資源をも含んでいる第 1の通信デバイス。
- 10第1の通信デバイスにおいて、 前記第1の通信デバイスが属するグループのメンバーを示すグループメンバーシップ情報を記憶するように構成されたグループ情報記憶モジュールと、 第2のデバイスとのピアツーピア通信コネクションを示すピアツーピア・コネクション情報を記憶するように構成されたピアツーピア情報記憶モジュールと、 無線送信機モジュールと、 前記第1の通信デバイスに対応するグループ送信リクエスト資源上で、第1の期間の間に、前記グループのメンバーに送信する意図を示すために使用される送信リクエストを送信するように前記無線送信機モジュールを制御するように構成されたグループ送信リクエスト制御モジュールと、 前記ピアツーピア・コネクションの上で前記第2のデバイスへデータを送信するためのリクエストを、前記ピアツーピア・コネクションに対応する送信リクエスト資源において、第2の期間の間に送信するように前記無線送信機モジュールを制御するように構成されたピアツーピア送信リクエスト制御モジュールと、 信号を受信するように構成された無線受信機モジュールと、 前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において、送信リクエスト・レスポンスを検出するために監視するように構成されたグループ・リクエスト・レスポンス監視モジュールとを含む第1の通信デバイス。
- 11前記第1の期間に先立って、送信リクエスト資源を取得する資源取得モジュールと、 前記取得された送信リクエスト資源が前記グループに対応するように構成された送信リクエスト資源として前記第1の通信デバイスにより使用されるべきことを示す情報を、前記グループの他のメンバーへ通信するように構成された資源通信モジュールとを更に含む請求 項9または10に 記載の第1の通信デバイス。
- 12前記取得された送信リクエスト資源は、複数の送信リクエスト期間の各々のための単一の送信リクエスト資源である請求項 11 に記載の第1の通信デバイス。
- 13前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において送信リクエスト・レスポンスを監視するのに先立って、前記グループの他のメンバーから、送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源が前記グループの当該他のメンバーにより送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源として使用されるべきことを示す情報を受信するように構成されたグループ資源検出モジュールことを更に含む請求項 11 に記載の第1の通信デバイス。
- 14前記グループ・リクエスト・レスポンス監視モジュールによる少なくとも一つのレスポンスの検出に続いて、前記送信されたグループ送信リクエストに対応するトラフィック資源を使用してトラフィック・データを送信するように構成されたグループ・トラフィック・シグナリング制御モジュールを更に含む請求 項9または10に 記載の第1の通信デバイス。
- 15前記グループの他のメンバーからの受信信号からのグループ送信リクエストを、当該他のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト資源上で、第2の期間の間に、受信するように構成されたグループ・リクエスト監視モジュールと、 グループ送信リクエスト・レスポンスを、前記通信デバイスに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において送信するように前記無線送信機モジュールを制御するように構成されたグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス制御モジュールを更に含む請求項 11 に記載の第1の通信デバイス。
- 16前記第2のデバイスは、前記グループのメンバーであり、 前記第1の通信デバイスは、前記グループのメンバーであり、同時に、前記第2のデバイスとの前記ピアツーピア・コネクションを維持するものである請求項 10 に記載の第1の通信デバイス。
- 17第1の通信デバイスにおいて、 前記第1の通信デバイスが属するグループのメンバーを示すグループメンバーシップ情報を記憶するためのグループ情報記憶手段と、 無線送信機手段と、 前記第1の通信デバイスに対応するグループ送信リクエスト資源上で、第1の期間の間に、前記グループのメンバーに送信する意図を示すために使用される送信リクエストを送信するように前記無線送信機手段を制御するためのグループ送信リクエスト制御手段と、 信号を受信するための無線受信機手段と、 前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において、送信リクエスト・レスポンスを検出するために監視するためのグループ・リクエスト・レスポンス監視手段とを 含み、 前記第1の通信デバイスに対応する前記グループ送信リクエスト資源は、一セットの送信リクエスト資源の一部であって、前記一セットの送信リクエスト資源は、二つの通信デバイス間のピアツーピア・コネクションに対応する送信リクエスト資源をも含んでいる第 1の通信デバイス。
- 18第1の通信デバイスにおいて、 前記第1の通信デバイスが属するグループのメンバーを示すグループメンバーシップ情報を記憶するためのグループ情報記憶手段と、 第2のデバイスとのピアツーピア通信コネクションを示すピアツーピア・コネクション情報を記憶するように構成されたピアツーピア情報記憶手段と、 無線送信機手段と、 前記第1の通信デバイスに対応するグループ送信リクエスト資源上で、第1の期間の間に、前記グループのメンバーに送信する意図を示すために使用される送信リクエストを送信するように前記無線送信機手段を制御するためのグループ送信リクエスト制御手段と、 前記ピアツーピア・コネクションの上で前記第2のデバイスへデータを送信するためのリクエストを、前記ピアツーピア・コネクションに対応する送信リクエスト資源において、第2の期間の間に送信するように前記無線送信機手段を制御するように構成されたピアツーピア送信リクエスト制御手段と、 信号を受信するための無線受信機手段と、 前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において、送信リクエスト・レスポンスを検出するために監視するためのグループ・リクエスト・レスポンス監視手段とを含む第1の通信デバイス。
- 19前記第1の期間に先立って、送信リクエスト資源を取得する資源取得モジュールと、 前記取得された送信リクエスト資源が前記グループに対応するように構成された送信リクエスト資源として前記第1の通信デバイスにより使用されるべきことを示す情報を、前記グループの他のメンバーへ通信するように構成された資源通信モジュールとを更に含む請求 項17または18に 記載の第1の通信デバイス。
- 20前記取得された送信リクエスト資源は、複数の送信リクエスト期間の各々のための単一の送信リクエスト資源である請求項 19 に記載の第1の通信デバイス。
- 21前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において送信リクエスト・レスポンスを監視するのに先立って、前記グループの他のメンバーから、送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源が前記グループの当該他のメンバーにより送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源として使用されるべきことを示す情報を受信するように構成されたグループ資源検出モジュールことを更に含む請求項 19 に記載の第1の通信デバイス。
- 22通信デバイスに用いられるコンピュー タ読み取り可能な記憶媒体に おいて、前記コンピュー タ読み取り可能な記憶媒体は 、 コンピュータに、前記通信デバイスが属するグループのメンバーを示すグループメンバーシップ情報を記憶させるためのコードと、 コンピュータに、前記通信デバイスに対応するグループ送信リクエスト資源上で、第1の期間の間に、前記グループのメンバーに送信する意図を示すために使用される送信リクエストを送信させるためのコードと、 コンピュータに、前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において、送信リクエスト・レスポンスを検出するために監視させるためのコードと を含み、 前記通信デバイスに対応する前記グループ送信リクエスト資源は、一セットの送信リクエスト資源の一部であって、前記一セットの送信リクエスト資源は、二つの通信デバイス間のピアツーピア・コネクションに対応する送信リクエスト資源をも含んでいるコ ンピュータ読み取り可能 な記憶媒体。
- 23通信デバイスに用いられるコンピュー タ読み取り可能な記憶媒体に おいて、前記コンピュー タ読み取り可能な記憶媒体は 、 コンピュータに、前記通信デバイスが属するグループのメンバーを示すグループメンバーシップ情報を記憶させるためのコードと、 コンピュータに、第2のデバイスとのピアツーピア通信コネクションを示すピアツーピア・コネクション情報を記憶させるためのコードと、 コンピュータに、前記通信デバイスに対応するグループ送信リクエスト資源上で、第1の期間の間に、前記グループのメンバーに送信する意図を示すために使用される送信リクエストを送信させるためのコードと、 コンピュータに、前記ピアツーピア・コネクションの上で前記第2のデバイスへデータを送信するためのリクエストを、前記ピアツーピア・コネクションに対応する送信リクエスト資源において、第2の期間の間に送信させるためのコードと、 コンピュータに、前記グループの個々のメンバーに対応するグループ送信リクエスト・レスポンス資源において、送信リクエスト・レスポンスを検出するために監視させるためのコードとを含 むコ ンピュータ読み取り可能 な記憶媒体。
- 24前記コンピュータ読み取り可能 な記憶媒 体は、 コンピュータに、送信リクエスト資源を取得させるためのコードと、 コンピュータに、前記取得された送信リクエスト資源が前記グループに対応する送信リクエスト資源として前記第1の通信デバイスにより使用されるべきことを示す情報を、前記グループの他のメンバーへ通信ためのコードとを更に含む請求 項22または23に 記載のコンピュー タ読み取り可能な記憶媒体。
Independent claims24
196 paragraphs, as filed
(Related application) This application was filed on July 10, 2007 and was assigned to the assignee of the present application. US provisional application No. 60 entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SENDING BROADCAST / MULTICAST MESSAGES IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK". Claim the interests of / 948,968. The whole is then expressly incorporated herein by reference.
(Technical field) Various embodiments relate to wireless communication, and more specifically to methods and devices related to supporting group communication.
In wireless communication systems, there is generally a certain amount of airlink resources available for use by wireless communication devices for combined control and traffic signaling. Scheduling traffic airlink resources is a daunting task in wireless communication systems that lack centralized control (eg, ad hoc peer-to-peer networks).
Occasionally, a single device in a peer-to-peer network may want to send the same data to multiple other devices in the network. It would be beneficial if new methods and devices were developed to support group communication, thus allowing the same traffic signal to be efficiently transmitted to multiple other group members.
As the number of members of a group increases, the number of possible connections between the members of that group increases rapidly. When control resources for traffic signaling are allocated for group communication on a per-connection basis, and as the group size increases, the amount of resources allocated to that group tends to increase rapidly. is there. Given the above, it would be beneficial if new methods and devices were developed that would support large groups and would not consume excessive amounts of control signaling resources.
Methods and devices related to group communication in wireless communication systems (eg, peer-to-peer wireless communication systems) will be described. Methods and devices directed to a closed group (eg, the number of group members is fixed at a given time and is known to one or more members of that group) are described. Various embodiments are well suited for decentralized peer-to-peer wireless networks that include multiple individual traffic resources (eg, traffic slots and / or traffic segments) that can be independently scheduled in a decentralized manner. There is.
Various features and / or embodiments are directed towards associating a group transmit request resource and / or request response resource with a device identifier, as opposed to associating a group transmit request resource and / or request response resource with a connection identifier. Be done. This approach is well suited for large groups of N members (where the number of connections between the members of that group is approximately N).<sup>2</sup>Is). Therefore, this approach, in embodiments, provides more efficient resource utilization that supports group traffic signaling. In some embodiments, the transmit request resource and / or request response resource for non-group connection peer-to-peer traffic signaling corresponds to the connection identifier, but the transmit request for group traffic signaling. Resources and / or request / response resources correspond to device identifiers.
An exemplary method of operating a first communication device, according to some embodiments, is to store group membership information indicating members of the group to which the first communication device belongs, and the first. Sending a send request on the group send request resource corresponding to the communication device, which is used to indicate the intent to send to the members of the group during the first period, and to the individual members of the group. Includes monitoring to detect send request responses in the corresponding group send request response resource.
An exemplary first communication device, according to some embodiments, comprises a group information storage module configured to store group membership information indicating members of the group to which the first communication device belongs. On the radio transmitter module and the group transmit request resource corresponding to the first communication device, during the first period, transmit a transmit request used to indicate the intention to transmit to the members of the group. A group transmission request control module configured to control the wireless transmitter module is included. In some such embodiments, the exemplary device transmits in a radio receiver module configured to receive a signal and in a group transmit request response resource corresponding to an individual member of said group. It also includes a group request response monitoring module that is configured to monitor to detect request responses.
Although various embodiments have been described in the above overview, not all embodiments include the same features, and some of the features described above are not necessarily required and in some embodiments. It should be recognized that it may be desirable. Numerous additional features, embodiments and advantages of the various embodiments will be described in the detailed description that follows.
<figref num="1">FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary peer-to-peer network (eg, an ad hoc communication network) according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="2">FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first peer-to-peer communication device to implement group communication.</figref><figref num="3">FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless terminal (eg, a peer-to-peer mobile node that supports group communication) according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="4">FIG. 4 (FIG. 4 consists of a combination of FIGS. 4A and 4B) is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a peer-to-peer communication device to implement group communication.</figref><figref num="4A">FIG. 4 (FIG. 4 consists of a combination of FIGS. 4A and 4B) is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a peer-to-peer communication device to implement group communication.</figref><figref num="4B">FIG. 4 (FIG. 4 consists of a combination of FIGS. 4A and 4B) is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a peer-to-peer communication device to implement group communication.</figref><figref num="5">FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary communication device (eg, a mobile peer-to-peer communication device that supports group communication) according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="6">FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an exemplary timing structure and an exemplary air link resource in an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="7">FIG. 7 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless communication network (eg, an ad hoc peer-to-peer communication network that supports peer-to-peer communication and group traffic signaling).</figref><figref num="8">FIG. 8 shows the same radio terminal of FIG. 7 and further information used to show an example of group traffic signaling, according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="9">Figure 9 shows an exemplary set of airlink resources in a repeating peer-to-peer timing structure associated with a traffic segment, priority information associated with at least some of those resources, and connection identifiers associated with at least some of those resources. Show information.</figref><figref num="10">FIG. 10 shows exemplary signaling that can be communicated using the resources of FIG. 9 in one exemplary scenario corresponding to FIG.</figref><figref num="11">Figure 11 shows an exemplary set of airlink resources in a repeating peer-to-peer timing structure associated with a traffic segment, priority information associated with at least some of those resources, and connection identifiers associated with at least some of those resources. Show information.</figref><figref num="12">FIG. 12 shows exemplary signaling that can be communicated using the resources of FIG. 11 in other exemplary scenarios corresponding to FIG.</figref><figref num="13">FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a peer-to-peer communication device to implement group communication.</figref><figref num="14">FIG. 14 is a diagram of an exemplary communication device (eg, peer-to-peer mobile node) that supports group communication according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="15">FIG. 15 is a diagram of an exemplary communication device in the communication network in which the group was established.</figref><figref num="16">FIG. 16 shows exemplary airlink resources in an exemplary repeating timing structure and exemplary signaling carried by those airlink resources.</figref><figref num="17">FIG. 17 (consisting of a combination of FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C) is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="17A">FIG. 17 (consisting of a combination of FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C) is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="17B">FIG. 17 (consisting of a combination of FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C) is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="17C">FIG. 17 (consisting of a combination of FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C) is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="18">FIG. 18 is a diagram of an exemplary communication device (eg, peer-to-peer mobile node) that supports group communication according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="19">FIG. 19 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless communication network that supports group communication and peer-to-peer communication.</figref><figref num="20">FIG. 20 shows exemplary resource allocation and exemplary signaling corresponding to the example of FIG. 19 with respect to traffic slots in a repeating timing / frequency structure according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="21">FIG. 21 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless communication network that supports group communication and peer-to-peer communication.</figref><figref num="22">FIG. 22 shows exemplary resource allocation and exemplary signaling corresponding to the example of FIG. 21 for traffic slots in a repeating timing / frequency structure according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref>
Detailed explanation
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary peer-to-peer network 100 (eg, an ad hoc communication network) according to an exemplary embodiment. An exemplary network supports the establishment of a group and the transmission of group traffic signaling. An exemplary peer-to-peer network 100 is a plurality of wireless devices that support peer-to-peer traffic signaling and group traffic signaling (peer-to-peer communication device 1 102, peer-to-peer communication device 2 104, peer-to-peer communication device 3 106, peer-to-peer communication device 4). 108, ..., including peer-to-peer communication device N 110). In some embodiments, the network 100 includes a reference signal transmitter 116 (eg, a beacon transmitter).
The wireless devices (102,104,106,108, ..., 110) in the communication network 100 can establish a connection with each other and can form a group. There is a recurring timing structure used in network 100. In some embodiments, the reference signal (eg, the OFDM beacon signal from the reference signal transmitter 116) is used by the wireless device to synchronize with the timing structure. Alternatively, the signal used to synchronize with the timing structure may be sourced from another device (eg, GPS transmitter, base station or other peer-to-peer device). The timing structure used in this network includes a plurality of individual traffic slots.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of Flowchart 200 of an exemplary method of operating a first peer-to-peer communication device to implement group communication. The operation of the exemplary method begins at step 202. Here, the first device is powered up and initialized. Then, the process proceeds to step 204.
In step 204, the first device transmits a plurality of transmit requests corresponding to the plurality of connections (the plurality of transmit requests correspond to a data transmission block, and each of the plurality of connections is individually displayed. Between the first peer-to-peer communication device and another peer-to-peer communication device in the communication group). In some embodiments, the plurality of transmit requests are transmitted in the transmit request block. The operation proceeds from step 204 to step 206.
In step 206, the first device determines whether to transmit in the data transmission block based on the signal received from the non-group member peer-to-peer device or the lack thereof. In various embodiments, step 206 comprises one or more substeps 208 and 210. In substep 208, the first device is a function of the received power level of any transmit request response corresponding to a non-group member connection with a higher priority than the highest priority connection among the plurality of connections. To determine whether or not to transmit in the data transmission block. In substep 210, the first device determines whether to transmit in the data transmission block as a function of the number of responses received from the group members.
The operation proceeds from step 206 to step 212. In step 212, the first device proceeds differently depending on the determination in step 206. If the above decision is to transmit in the data transmission block, the operation proceeds from step 212 to step 214. However, if the decision is not to send, the operation proceeds from step 212 to step 216.
Returning to step 214, in step 214, the first device transmits a pilot signal. Then, in step 218, the first device receives a plurality of channel quality feedback signals from a plurality of different members of the group. The operation proceeds from step 218 to step 220.
In step 220, the first device determines from the plurality of channel quality feedback signals the data rate used for transmitting data in the data transmission block. In some embodiments, step 220 includes sub-step 222. In substep 222, the first device selects a data transmission rate that can be supported by the connection with the worst channel state indicated by the received channel quality feedback signal.
The operation proceeds from step 220 to step 224. In step 224, the first device transmits data to the other peer-to-peer communication device in the data transmission block. The operation proceeds from step 224 to connection node A 226.
Returning to step 216, in step 216, the first device suppresses transmission of data to the other peer-to-peer communication device in the data transmission block. The operation proceeds from step 216 to connection node A 226.
The operation proceeds from connection node A 226 to step 204, where the first device sends multiple transmit requests corresponding to multiple connections corresponding to other transmit blocks.
Consider some exemplary paths through the flow chart. For the first path, consider the data transmission block (see step 204) to be the first data transmission block. At least some non-groups in which the first communication device corresponds to a connection with a higher priority than the connection with the highest priority among multiple connections between the first device and other devices in its group. It is considered that the transmission request / response corresponding to the member has been received. Further consider that the received power level of the received transmit request response corresponding to the higher priority connection of the non-group member is below the threshold; in step 206, the first device is due to its data transmission. It is determined that transmission may be performed in the first transmission block, as it is expected that the interference will be acceptable in terms of the connection of the higher priority non-group members. The operation proceeds along the path of steps 214,218,220 and 224, resulting in transmitting data to other peer-to-peer communication devices in the group in the first data transmission block.
Next, consider an exemplary second path through the flow chart. For the second path, consider the data transmission block (see step 204) to be the second data transmission block. At least some non-groups in which the first communication device corresponds to a connection with a higher priority than the connection with the highest priority among multiple connections between the first device and other devices in its group. It is considered that the transmission request / response corresponding to the member has been received. Further consider that the received power level of the received transmit request response corresponding to the higher priority connection of the non-group member exceeds the threshold; in step 206, the first device is due to its data transmission. Transmitter because we expect interference to be unacceptable in terms of connections for non-group members with higher priority. Yield) to decide not to send in the second send block. The operation proceeds to step 216, where the first device is controlled to suppress transmission of data to other peer-to-peer devices in the second data transmission block.
Now consider an exemplary third path through the flow chart. For the third path, consider the data transmission block (see step 204) to be the third data transmission block. The first communication device is at least some non-group that corresponds to a connection with a higher priority than the highest priority connection among the multiple connections between the first device and other devices in its group. It is considered that the transmission request / response corresponding to the member was not received. Further, it is considered that the first device has sent a send request to the first number of group members (eg, 10 members) in step 204, and the first device is the second number of group members. Consider that you have detected a request response (eg, positive acknowledgments) from (eg, 8 members). In this case, the first device proceeded because a large number and / or a high percentage of the group member's requested devices responded positively. Decide to with). The operation proceeds along a path that includes steps 214,218,220 and 224, resulting in the transmission of data by the first device in the third data transmission block.
Next, consider an exemplary fourth path through the flow chart. For the fourth path, consider the data transmission block (see step 204) to be the fourth data transmission block. The first communication device is at least some non-group that corresponds to a connection with a higher priority than the highest priority connection among the multiple connections between the first device and other devices in its group. It is considered that the transmission request / response corresponding to the member was not received. However, the first communication device has detected one or more request responses corresponding to lower priority connections. Further, it is considered that the first device has sent a send request to the first number of group members (eg, nine members) in step 204, and the first device is the second number of group members. Consider that you have detected a request response (eg, positive approval) from (eg, 2 members). In this case, the first device decides not to initiate transmission because a small number and / or a low percentage of the group member's requested devices responded positively. The operation proceeds along a path that includes step 216, resulting in the suppression of the first device transmitting data in the fourth data transmission block.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless terminal (eg, a peer-to-peer mobile node that supports group communication) according to an exemplary embodiment. The wireless terminal 300 includes a wireless receiver module 302, a wireless transmitter module 304, a user input / output device 308, a processor 306 and a memory 310 in which various elements are connected to each other by a bus 312 capable of exchanging data and information. including. In some embodiments, the wireless terminal 300 also includes a network interface 307 that connects the wireless terminal to a network node and / or the Internet (eg, via a backhaul network).
Memory 310 includes routines 318 and data / information 320. Processor 306 (eg, CPU) executes routines 318 to control the operation of wireless terminal 300 and perform methods (eg, method in flowchart 200 of FIG. 2) and also data in memory 310 / Use information 320.
The radio receiver module 302 (eg, OFDM and / or CDMA receiver) is connected to receive antenna 314. The wireless terminal 300 receives a signal from another wireless terminal via the receiving antenna 314. The received signals may be, for example, a request / response signal from a group member peer-to-peer wireless terminal to which the wireless terminal 300 has transmitted a request, a request / response signal from a non-group member peer-to-peer wireless terminal, and a transmitted pilot signal. Includes channel quality feedback signals from peer-to-peer devices of responding group members.
The radio transmitter module 304 (eg, OFDM and / or CDMA transmitter) is connected to transmit antenna 316. The wireless terminal 300 transmits a signal to other peer-to-peer devices (eg, to members of that group) via the transmit antenna 316. The transmitted signals are individual request signals directed to individual members of the group, pilot signals transmitted as broadcast signals intended to be received and measured by members of the group, and members of the group. Includes traffic signals directed to. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for the transmitter and receiver.
The user input / output device 308 includes, for example, a microphone, a speaker, a keyboard, a keypad, a camera, a switch, a display, and the like. The user input / output device 308 allows the operator of the wireless terminal 300 to input data / information, access and output the data / information, and control at least some functions of the wireless terminal 300.
The routine group 318 includes a communication routine 322 and a wireless terminal control routine group 324. The communication routine 322 implements various communication protocols used by the wireless terminal 300. The control routine group 324 includes a transmission request control module 326, a data transmission control module 328, a transmission decision module 330, a received power level determination module 332, a priority module 334, and a group member. It includes an identification module 336, a pilot signal transmission control module 338, a transmission rate determination module 340, and a response number counting module 342. The data / information 320 includes timing structure information 344, information identifying transmission request resources for group. members) 360, generated request signal 362, received signal 364, power measurement information 366, information identifying which received signals are from group members and which are from non-group members) 368, priority information 370, pilot signal information 372, received channel quality information 374, rate information 376, transmission decision criterion information 378, traffic decision 380, and group cast -Includes traffic signal 382.
The timing structure information 344 includes information corresponding to a plurality of intervals in the repeated peer-to-peer timing structure (information 346, .... in interval 1, information 348 in interval N). The information 346 in interval 1 includes transmission request / airlink resource information 350, transmission request / response / airlink resource information 352, pilot signaling / airlink resource information 354, rate signaling / airlink resource information 356, and traffic. -Includes Airlink resource information 358. The transmit request airlink resource information 350 includes information that identifies the first traffic transmit request block (several individual transmit units associated with different connection identifiers in the block and information associated with different priority levels). )including. The transmit request response airlink resource information 352 is information that identifies the first traffic transmit request response block (related to multiple individual transmit units associated with different connection identifiers in the block and different priority levels. Includes information to be used). Pilot signaling airlink resource information 354 includes information that identifies the resource used to carry the pilot signal, including multiple individual resources associated with different connection identifiers. The rate signaling airlink resource information 356 contains information that identifies the individual resource associated with the connection identifier that should be used to carry channel feedback information in response to the received pilot signal. The traffic airlink resource information 358 contains information that identifies a data transmission block (eg, a traffic segment) that should be used to carry a traffic signal, including a groupcast traffic signal.
The transmission request control module 326 controls the wireless transmitter module 304 so as to transmit a plurality of transmission requests corresponding to a plurality of connections (the plurality of transmission requests correspond to a data transmission block and are of a plurality of connections. Individuals exist between the peer-to-peer communication device 300 and other peer-to-peer communication devices in the communication group). Multiple transmit requests are transmitted in a transmit request block (eg, a transmit request block identified by information 350 corresponding to interval 1). For example, consider the request to use the traffic transmission block identified by information 358. The transmit request control module 326 wirelessly transmits the generated request signal 362 to its group members using the transmit units identified by information 360, which is a subset of the transmit units identified by information 350. Controls the transmitter module 304.
The data transmission control module 328 controls the wireless transmitter module 304 so as to transmit data to other peer-to-peer communication devices in the data transmission block. For example, the data transmission control module 328 may send the groupcast traffic signal 382 using the traffic transmission block identified by information 358 in response to a positive decision to send in interval 1. , Control the wireless transmitter module 304. The data transmission control module 328 that responds to the transmission decision module 330 wirelessly transmits so as to suppress transmission of data in the data transmission block when the transmission determination module 330 decides not to transmit in the data transmission block. Controls the machine module 304.
The transmission decision module 330 determines whether to transmit in the data transmission block based on the signal received from the non-group member peer-to-peer device or the lack thereof. For example, in some embodiments, a request / response signal above a threshold level detected from a non-group member signal corresponding to a connection with a higher priority than the connection with the highest group member results in a decision not to transmit. .. The traffic determination 380 is the output of the transmission determination module 330 and is used as an input by the data transmission control module 328.
The received power level determination module 332 determines the received power level of the request / response signal from another peer-to-peer wireless terminal. The reception signal 364 includes a request / response signal (for example, an RX echo signal) indicating that the wireless terminal that has received the transmission request consents to start transmission. The received request / response signal may be supplied from the wireless terminal to which the wireless terminal 300 has transmitted the request and from another wireless terminal corresponding to the connection to which the wireless terminal 300 is not a member. The power measurement information 366 includes output information from the received power level determination module 332 and includes information used as an input by the transmission determination module 330.
The priority module 353 determines the transmission priority related to the connection of the group to which the request is transmitted by the wireless terminal 300 and the transmission priority related to other connections not related to the group. The priority information 370 is the output of the priority module 334 and is used as an input by the transmission decision module 330 (for example, in determining transmission yielding).
The group membership identification module 336 identifies which of the received request / response signals in the received signal 364 is from a group member and which of the received signals is from a non-group member. Information 368 is the output of group membership identification module 336 and is used by transmission decision module 330. In some embodiments, individual transmit units within a transmit request response airlink resource (eg, transmit request response block identified by information 352) are associated with different connection identifiers and are also associated with different connection identifiers. , The information is used by the group membership identification module 336.
Occasionally, the transmit decision module 330 transmits for non-group member connections that have been received and have a higher priority than the highest priority connection among the multiple connections in the group to which the wireless terminal 300 belongs. As a function of the received power level of the request / response, it is determined whether or not to transmit in the data transmission block.
The pilot signal transmission control module 338 controls the transmitter module 304 so as to transmit a pilot signal following the transmission of a plurality of transmission requests. Pilot signal information 372 includes information that specifies the characteristics of the pilot signal (eg, transmission power level, signature and / or information of the pilot signal). In some embodiments, the request signal is an OFDM signal, while the pilot signal is a CDMA signal. In this embodiment, a single pilot signal is controlled to be broadcast with the intention of being detected by multiple group members. Here, the individual transmission request signals are transmitted to the individual group members. The pilot signal information 372 is also within the pilot signaling airlink resource information 356 corresponding to one of the connections in the group (eg, the information that identifies the airlink resource used to carry the pilot signal. One transmission unit or a plurality of transmission units).
The receiver module 302 receives a plurality of channel quality feedback signals from different members of the group to which the wireless terminal 300 has transmitted the transmission request prior to transmission of the data by the transmitter module 304 in the data transmission block. The received channel quality information 374 includes information transmitted by those signals (eg, information identifying channel quality estimates, received power levels and / or data rates supported by the channel). The channel quality information communicated to the terminal 300 responds based on the pilot signal previously transmitted by the wireless terminal 300.
The transmission rate determination module 340 determines the data transmission rate used for data transmission in the data transmission block based on the plurality of received channel quality feedback signals. In some embodiments, the transmission rate determination module 340 transmits data by selecting a data transmission rate that can be supported by the connection with the worst channel state indicated by the received channel quality feedback signal. Determine the rate. In other embodiments, different criteria are used to select the data transmission rate. For example, in one embodiment, a data transmission rate that meets a fixed number or percentage of responding wireless terminals is selected. In other embodiments, one or more outlier rate points that deviate from the mean or median are removed in consideration of rate determination.
The response count module 342 counts some responses received in response to a plurality of transmission requests transmitted by the wireless terminal 300 in the request transmission block as part of the group request. In some embodiments, the transmission decision module 330 determines whether to transmit data in the data transmission block based on the number of responses received from the group members. In some embodiments, if the minimum number or minimum percentage of wireless terminals to which the request is sent does not respond positively, then the transmission decision module 330 is from the response count module 342. Based on the count, it is decided not to transmit in the data transmission block. For example, consider that a wireless terminal transmitted a transmission request signal to eight group members, but received only one request / response signal. In this case, in some embodiments, the transmission decision module 330 may decide to suppress transmission in the data transmission block.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart 400 of an exemplary method of operating a peer-to-peer communication device to implement group communication. The operation of the exemplary method begins at step 402. Here, the communication device receives the first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to the communication group and at least one transmission request corresponding to the non-group connection (the first plurality of transmission requests and the non-group connection). At least one send request corresponding to corresponds to the first data send block). In some embodiments, the first plurality of transmit requests corresponding to the connections corresponding to the communication group are received from the first transmit request block. In some such embodiments, the first plurality of transmit requests corresponding to the connection corresponding to the communication group and at least one transmit request corresponding to the non-group connection are from the first transmit request block. Received. In some embodiments, the priority is communicated by the position of the request in the first transmit request block. The operation proceeds from step 404 to step 405.
In step 405, the communication device identifies a transmission request received from another member of the group from the first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to the connection corresponding to the communication group. In some embodiments, identifying a send request received from the other member of the group is a send request received from among the first plurality of send requests having the highest priority. Includes identifying. In some embodiments, identifying a send request received from the other member of the group is the highest priority received send request among the first plurality of send requests. Is included as a received transmission request from the other member of the group.
In step 406, the communication device does not take into account the send requests from the remaining members of the group as to whether to send the send request response to other members of the group for which the send request was received. , As a function of the priority of the connection between the communication device and other members of the group and the priority corresponding to the non-group connection. Step 406 includes substeps 408,410,414,416,418,424,426 and 428. Step 406 may include substep 412, and sometimes includes it.
In substep 408, the communication device determines the priority of the transmission request received from the other group member. In substep 410, the communication device determines the priority of the received transmit request corresponding to the non-group member. In substep 412, the communication device determines the priority of the received send request corresponding to other non-group members. Substep 412 may be repeated multiple times (eg, depending on the number of outgoing requests received from non-group members) corresponding to different received requests from non-group members, and sometimes It repeats like that.
The operation proceeds from substeps 408 and 410 and 412 (if executed) to substep 414. In substep 414, the communication device has a higher priority of the received send request from the other group member of substep 408 than each priority of the received send request corresponding to the non-group member. Judge whether or not. If the priority of the send request received from the other group members above is higher than the priority of the send request received from the non-group members, then the operation proceeds from substep 414 to substep 426, and so on. If not, the operation proceeds from substep 414 to substep 416.
In substep 414, the communication device calculates the received signal quality value as a function of the received power of the transmit request from the other members of the group and the request from the higher priority non-group member request. If there are multiple received transmit requests corresponding to higher priority non-group members, the calculation of the received signal quality value in step 416 also, in some embodiments, is another of the higher priorities. Calculated as a function of the received power of non-group members. The operation proceeds from substep 416 to substep 418. At substep 418, the communication device compares the calculated signal quality value of substep 416 with the threshold. The operation proceeds from substep 418 to substep 424.
There may be multiple received requests corresponding to non-group member connections with higher priority than requests from other group members, and sometimes they are. For example, consider that there are five received send requests corresponding to non-group members, and three of the five have higher priority than received send requests from other group members. In such an example, the communication device may determine the priority corresponding to each of the five received requests from non-group members. Then, in substep 416, the communication device receives the received power from the transmit request from the other member of the group and the received power of the three requests from the request of the higher priority non-group member. As a function, the above reception quality value may be calculated.
Returning to step 424, in step 424, the communication device determines whether the calculated value of substep 416 is less than or equal to the threshold. If the calculated value of step 416 is less than or equal to the threshold applied to the comparison of step 418, the operation proceeds from step 424 to step 428, where the communication device goes to the other member of the group. Decide not to send a traffic send request. Otherwise, the operation proceeds from step 424 to step 426. The decision in step 428 of not sending the traffic transmission request to the other group members is a receiver yielding decision to yield the traffic transmission resource. Returning to step 426, in step 426, the communication device decides to send the traffic transmission request to the other member of the above group.
The operation proceeds from step 406 to step 432 via connection node A 430. If the decision in step 406 is to send the request response to the other group members mentioned above for which the request was received, then the operation proceeds from step 432 to step 434, otherwise the operation is step. Proceed from 432 to Connection Node B 444.
At step 434, the communication device generates a transmit request response signal. Then, in step 436, the communication device transmits the generated transmit request / response signal to the other member of the group. The operation proceeds from steps 436 to 438, where the communication device receives a group traffic signal from the other member of the group on the traffic transmission resource corresponding to the received transmit request. The operation proceeds from step 438 to step 440, where the communication device approves in response to the successful recovery of the group traffic data communicated in the group traffic signal by the communication device. Generate an acknowledged gment signal. Then, in step 442, the communication device transmits the generated approval signal to the other member of the group. The operation starts from step 442, connection node B Proceed to 444. In some embodiments, the authorization signaling corresponding to group traffic signaling is not used and steps 440 and 442 are not included. In such an embodiment, the operation proceeds from step 438 to connection node B 444.
The operation proceeds from connection node B 444 to the input of step 404, where the communication device receives a second plurality of transmit requests corresponding to the second data transmit block.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary communication device 500 (eg, a mobile peer-to-peer communication device that supports group communication) according to an exemplary embodiment. An exemplary communication device 500 is a wireless receiver module 502, a wireless transmitter module 504, a processor 506, a user I / O device 508, in which various elements are connected to each other by a bus 512 capable of exchanging data and information. And memory 510. In some embodiments, the communication device 500 also includes a network interface 507 that is similarly connected to bus 512. The network interface 507 allows the communication device 500 to be connected to a network node and / or the Internet via a backhaul network.
Memory 510 includes routine group 518 and data / information 520. Processor 506 (eg, CPU) executes routines 518 to control the operation of communication device 500 and perform methods (eg, the method of flowchart 400 in FIG. 4) and also data in memory 510 / Use information 520.
The radio receiver module 502 (eg, an OFDM and / or CDMA receiver) is connected to the receiving antenna 514. The communication device 500 receives a signal from another communication device (for example, the device 300 in FIG. 3) via the receiving antenna 514. Received signals include, for example, group establishment signals, traffic transmission requests from group members, traffic transmission requests from non-group members, group traffic signals, and peer-to-peer traffic signals. The radio receiver module 502 includes a first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to the connection corresponding to the communication group and at least one transmission request corresponding to the non-group connection (the first plurality of transmission requests and the non-group connection). At least one transmission request corresponding to corresponds to the first data transmission block.) May be received, and sometimes they are received.
The radio transmitter module 504 (eg, an OFDM and / or CDMA transmitter) is connected to the transmit antenna 516. The communication device 500 transmits a signal to another communication device (for example, the device 300 in FIG. 3) via the transmission antenna 516. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for the transmitter and receiver. The transmitted signals include, for example, a group establishment signal, a traffic transmission request / response signal, a group traffic approval signal, and a peer-to-peer, traffic approval signal.
The user input / output device 508 includes, for example, a microphone, a keyboard, a keypad, a camera, a switch, a speaker, a display, and the like. The user input / output device 508 allows the operator of the communication device 500 to input data / information, access and output the data / information, and control at least some functions of the communication device 500.
Routine group 518 includes communication routine 522 and controls routine group 524. The communication routine 522522 implements various communication protocols used by the communication device 500. The control routine group 524 includes a transmission request detection module 526, a group request / response determination module 528, a priority comparison module 530, a received signal quality calculation module 532, a receiver yielding module 534, and a transmission request / response control module 540. It includes a request priority determination module 542, a group transmission request identification module 544, and a group traffic signal module 548. The receiver yielding module 534 includes a threshold comparison submodule 536 and an yielding determination submodule 538. The group transmit request identification module 544 includes the highest priority group transmit request identification module 546.
The data / information 520 includes timing / frequency structure information 550, group member identification information 552, received group member send request 554, received non-group member peer-to-peer send request 556, determined priority information 558, Identified group member request for which to consider request response decision 560, identified non-member with higher priority than identified group member request Identified non-member transmission requests having higher priority than the identified group member request) 562, calculated signal quality value 564, threshold information 566, request response determination 568, generated send request response signal 570, received group traffic signal 572, and generated group traffic approval Includes signal 574.
The transmission request detection module 526 detects the transmission request signal received by the wireless receiver module 502. Detected send requests can include one or more send requests corresponding to group members and one or more send requests corresponding to non-group members, and sometimes include them. Occasionally, the transmit request detection module 526 corresponds to the first data transmit block and corresponds to at least one transmit corresponding to the first plurality of transmit requests and non-group connections corresponding to the communication group of which device 500 is a member. Detect the request. The first plurality of transmit requests are received from the first transmit request block in some embodiments. In some such embodiments, at least one transmit request corresponding to a non-group connection is also received from the same first transmit request block. For example, the first transmit request block corresponds to the first data transmit block, and the first transmit request block transmits a traffic signal in the first data transmit block (eg, traffic segment). Used to carry traffic transmission requests that request.
The group request / response determination module 528 determines whether or not to send a send request / response to another member of the communication group (the communication group to which the device 500 is a member and has received the send request). Determined as a function of the priority of the connection between the communication device 500 and the other member of the group and the priority corresponding to the non-group connection, without taking into account the send requests received from the remaining members. To do. The group request response determination module 528 may, and sometimes does, make that determination as a function of priority corresponding to multiple non-member connection requests received. The group request response determination module 528 has a lower priority than each of the received send requests from the non-group member corresponding to the connection than the received send request from the other member of the group. In some cases, it may decide to send a send request response to the other member of the group, and from time to time.
The priority comparison module 530 determines whether the priority corresponding to the non-group member for which the transmission request is received is higher than the priority corresponding to the transmission request from other members of the group. The priority comparison module 530 may, and sometimes does, perform multiple comparisons corresponding to multiple non-member received send requests for the same send request block. The received signal quality calculation module 532 receives a received signal quality value as a function of the received power of the received transmission request from other members of the group and the received power of the received non-group member of the higher priority received non-group member. To calculate. The receive signal quality calculation module 532 receives as a function of the received power of received transmission requests from other members of the group and the received power from received transmission requests of multiple non-group members of higher priority. Signal quality values may be calculated, and sometimes so.
The receiver yielding module 534 compares the calculated received signal quality value with the threshold value, and if the received signal quality value is less than or equal to the threshold value, the group (group member request is received from it and the calculation is performed). It is determined not to send the transmit request response to the other member of the received signal quality value applied to it). The threshold comparison submodule 536 performs a comparison between the calculated received signal quality value and the threshold. The yielding determination submodule 538 determines whether or not to implement receiver yielding based on the threshold comparison determination. The output of the yielding decision submodule 538 is used for input to the group request response decision module 528.
The transmit request / response control module 540 controls the wireless transmitter module 504 to execute the determination of the group request / response determination module 528. For example, a radio transmitter to transmit the generated transmit request / response signal if the decision is to transmit, or to suppress transmission if the decision is not to transmit. Control 504. In the transmission request / response control module 540, when the group request / response determination module 528 decides to transmit the transmission request / response to the other members of the above group, the wireless transmitter module 504 determines the transmission request / response. Control so that the response is sent to the other member of the above group. In this exemplary embodiment, the request response signal transmitted in response to a group transmission request from another member of the communication group is a positive approval for the transmission request from that other member of the group. Is.
The request priority determination module 542 determines the request priority corresponding to the group member transmission request and the non-group member transmission request. The determined priority information 558 includes output information from the request priority determination module 542. In some embodiments, the request priority is associated with the position of the request in the transmit request block (eg, according to timing / frequency structure information 550).
The group transmission request identification module 544 determines a transmission request from a plurality of transmission requests corresponding to the connection corresponding to the communication group corresponding to the data transmission block to which the group request response determination is executed. The highest priority group transmit request identification module 546 identifies the highest priority request from a plurality of transmit requests corresponding to the connection corresponding to the communication group corresponding to the data transmission block. In some embodiments, the determined highest priority group transmit request determined by module 546 is the identified request of module 544.
The group traffic signaling module 548 receives the group traffic signal 572 by the radio receiver module 502, recovers the group traffic data from the received group traffic signal 572, and generates the group traffic approval signal 574. , And control the transmission of the generated group traffic approval signal 574.
In a repetitive timing structure, the timing / frequency structure information 550 includes information related to a plurality of traffic slot air link resources (eg, traffic slot intervals). In some embodiments, the individual traffic slot airlink resources are transmit request airlink resources, transmit request response airlink resources, pilot signaling airlink resources, rate signaling air. Contains information that identifies the link resource, the traffic signaling airlink resource, and the traffic authorization airlink resource. In some embodiments, the transmit request airlink resource comprises a transmit request block that includes a plurality of individual transmit units (eg, OFDM tone symbols), where the individual transmit units make a transmit request. Designated to carry. In some embodiments, the traffic signaling airlink resource contains information that identifies a data transmission block (eg, a traffic segment associated with a transmission request block).
The information 552 that identifies the group member includes information that identifies a member of the communication group to which the communication device 500 belongs. The received group member send request 554 and the received non-group member peer-to-peer send request 556 represent the received send request detected by the send request detection module 528. The determined priority information 558 contains the information output by the request priority determination module 542, which is the priority comparison module 530, the received signal quality calculation module 532, and / or the highest priority group. Used as input by send request identification module 546. Identified group member request for which to consider request response decision) 560 is the output of the group send request identification module 544. Identified non-member transmission requests having higher priority than the identified group member request) 562 is the output of the priority comparison module 530. The calculated signal quality value 564 (eg, SINR value or SNR value) is the output of the received signal quality calculation module 532, and the threshold information 566 (eg, a device that allows the requested traffic transmission to start). Used for input by the threshold comparison submodule 536, along with a predetermined or dynamically determined value used to determine the minimum level of acceptable expected traffic signal reception quality at 500). The request / response determination 568 is an output of the group request / response determination module 528, and is also used as an input by the transmission request / response control module 540.
In some embodiments, some modules or submodules shown in the example of FIG. 5 are included as submodules in other modules. For example, in some embodiments, the request priority determination module 542, the receiver yielding module 534, the priority comparison module 530, and the received signal quality calculation module 532 are of the group request response determination module 528. It is a submodule.
FIG. 6 is FIG. 600 showing an exemplary timing structure and an exemplary air link resource in an exemplary embodiment. The vertical axis 602 represents frequency (eg, OFDM tones), while the horizontal axis 604 represents time. An exemplary timing / frequency repeating structure involves multiple sets of airlink resources associated with traffic. An exemplary set of traffic-related airlink resources includes connection scheduling airlink resource 606, rate scheduling airlink resource 608, data traffic airlink resource 610, and traffic authorization air. Includes link resource 612. An exemplary nth set of traffic-related airlink resources is the connection scheduling airlink resource 614, rate scheduling airlink resource 616, data traffic airlink resource 618, and traffic authorization air. Includes link resource 620. The connection scheduling airlink resource 606 includes a traffic transmission request resource 622 and a traffic transmission request response resource 624. Rate scheduling airlink resource 608 includes pilot signaling resource 626 and channel quality feedback resource 628. Data traffic airlink resource 610 includes traffic segment 630. Traffic Approval Airlink Resource 612 includes Traffic Approval Segment 632.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless communication network 700 (eg, an ad hoc peer-to-peer communication network that supports peer-to-peer communication and group traffic signaling). An exemplary wireless communication network 700 is a plurality of peer-to-peer wireless communication devices (wireless terminal A 702, wireless terminal B 704, wireless terminal C 706, wireless terminal D 708, wireless terminal E 710, wireless terminal F 712, wireless terminal G 714. , Includes wireless terminal H 716). An exemplary wireless network 700 uses a repeating peer-to-peer timing structure (eg, such as that shown in FIG. 6).
In the exemplary explanatory diagram of FIG. 7, various wireless terminals in this system have pre-established peer-to-peer connections, for example by communication exchange. Moreover, some of the wireless terminals have established groups, for example by communication exchange. In this example, WT A 702, WT B 704, WT C 706 and WT D 708 are members of one group. Each wireless terminal in the group has a connection with other members of the group. WT A 702 has its respective connection (718,720,722) with (WT B 704, WT C 706, WT D 708). Moreover, WT B 704 has a connection (724,726) with (WT C 706, WT D 708) respectively, and WT C 706 has a connection 728 with WT D 708. In addition to the group connections described above, the WT E 710 has a peer-to-peer connection 730 with the WT F 712 and the WT G 714 has a peer-to-peer connection with the WT H 716.
WT A 702 is currently located near WT F 712. However, WT G 714 and WT H are located far from other WTs (702,704,706,708,710,712).
FIG. 800 of FIG. 8 shows the same radio terminal of FIG. 7 and further information used to show an example of group traffic signaling, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 800 shows exemplary one-way, traffic flow directions, connections and corresponding related connection identifiers. The wireless terminal A 702 has a connection (818, 820, 822) directed to (WT B 704, WT C 706, WT D 708) associated with a connection identifier (CID 1 819, CID 3 821, CID 2 823), respectively. ) Each. The wireless terminal E 710 has a one-way traffic flow connection 830 associated with connection identifier 4 (CID 4 831). The wireless terminal G 714 has a one-way traffic flow connection 832 associated with connection identifier 5 (CID 5 833).
In the example of Figure 8, suppose WT A wants to send a group traffic signal to WT B 704, WT C 706 and WT D 708. Similarly, WT E supposes that it wants to send a peer-to-peer traffic signal to WT F 712, and WT G 714 wants to send a peer-to-peer traffic signal to WT H 716. Figure 9 shows an exemplary set of airlink resources in a peer-to-peer timing structure related to a traffic segment, priority information related to at least some of those resources, and connection identifier information related to at least some of those resources. Shown. FIG. 10 shows exemplary signaling that can be communicated using the resources of FIG. 9 in one exemplary scenario corresponding to FIG.
Figure 901 of FIG. 9 shows the transmit request airlink resource 902, the transmit request response airlink resource 904, the pilot signaling airlink resource 906, the channel quality feedback airlink resource 908, and the traffic airlink resource. Shows 910. FIG. 903 of FIG. 9 shows that various airlink resources (902,904,906,908,910) contain multiple transmit units (eg, OFDM tone symbols). FIG. 903 also shows that the priority is associated with the transmit unit of the transmit request airlink resource 902 and the transmit request response airlink resource 904. In particular, in this example, in the transmit request airlink resource 902, there are 16 transmit units associated with different priorities P1 to P16, respectively. Here, the lowest priority number represents the highest priority. For example, P1 represents the highest priority, P16 is the lowest priority, P1 has a higher priority than P2, and so on. Similarly, in the transmit request response airlink resource 904, there are 16 transmit units associated with different priorities P1 to P16.
Figure 905 shows that the different connection identifiers (C1, C2, .., .C16) are the transmit request airlink resource 902, the transmit request response airlink resource 904, the pilot signal airlink resource 906 and the channel quality feedback air. Indicates that the link resource 908 is associated with a different transmit unit. Figures 903 and 905 (think in combination) show the connections between different connection identifiers and different priorities that correspond to this exemplary traffic slot.
Now, consider the combination of FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. The connection connecting from WT A 702 to WT B 704 has a connection identifier 1 (C1) and a priority level P6. The connection connecting from WT A 702 to WT C 706 has connection identifier 3 (C3) and priority level P16. The connection connecting from WT A 702 to WT D 708 has connection identifier 2 (C2) and priority level P11. The connection connecting from WT E 710 to WT F 712 has connection identifier 4 (C4) and priority level P4. The connection connecting from WT G 714 to WT H 716 has connection identifier 5 (C5) and priority level P2.
Figure 901 of FIG. 10 shows the transmit request airlink resource 902, the transmit request response airlink resource 904, the pilot signaling airlink resource 906, the channel quality feedback airlink resource 908, and the traffic airlink resource. Shows 910. FIG. 1001 of FIG. 10 shows exemplary signaling transmitted by those airlink resources.
The traffic transmit request signal is carried by the transmit unit of transmit request airlink resource 902. As indicated by block 1002, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C1 with priority P6 carries the traffic transmit request signal from WT A 702 to WT B 704. As indicated by block 1004, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C3 with priority P16 carries the traffic transmit request signal from WT A 702 to WT C 706. As indicated by block 1006, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C2 with priority P11 carries the traffic transmit request signal from WT A 702 to WT D 708. As indicated by block 1008, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C4 with priority P4 carries the traffic transmit request signal from WT E 710 to WT F 712. As shown by block 1010, the transmit units corresponding to connection C5 with priority P2 are WT G 714 to WT H. Carry a traffic transmission request signal to 716.
The traffic transmit request response signal (eg, the RX echo signal indicating a positive response to the received traffic transmit request) is carried by the transmit unit of the transmit request response airlink resource 904. As shown by block 1012, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C1 with priority P6 carries the traffic transmit request response signal from WT B 704 to WT A 702. As indicated by block 1014, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C3 with priority P16 carries the traffic transmit request response signal from WT C 706 to WT A 702. As indicated by block 1016, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C2 with priority P11 carries the traffic transmit request response signal from WT D 708 to WT A 702. As shown by block 1018, the transmit units corresponding to connection C4 with priority P4 are WT F 712 to WT E. Carry a traffic transmission request / response signal to the 710. As indicated by block 1020, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C5 with priority P2 carries the traffic transmit request response signal from WTH 716 to WT G 714.
The wireless terminal A 702 received the request response signal from the WT B 704, WT C 706 and WT D 708 to which it sent the request signal. The WT A 702 also receives a request response signal from the WT F 712, which happens to be very close to the WT A 702. The WT A 702 may receive a very weak request-response signal from the WT H 716, which happens to be very far from the WT A 702, or may not detect the request-response signal from the WT H 716. .. The connection 4 corresponding to the WT E-> WT F connection has a priority P4 which is higher than any of the priorities of the connections 1, 2 or 3 corresponding to the WT A 702. The WT A 702 measures the signal strength of the request / response signal from the WT F 712 and determines the transmitter yielding as a function of the measured value. In this example, if the measurement is determined to be above the yielding threshold level, WTA 702 decides to confer traffic transmission resources and suppress transmission in this traffic transmission segment.
Continuing the above example, the WT E 710 decides to receive the request response signal from the WT F 712 and start transmitting its traffic. Similarly, the W T G 714 decides to receive the request response signal from the W T H 712 and initiate its traffic transmission. As indicated by block 1022, the WT E 710 generates a pilot signal and transmits it using the resources of the pilot signal airlink resource 906. As indicated by block 1024, WTG 714 generates a pilot signal and sends it using the resources of the pilot signal airlink resource 906. As indicated by block 1026, the WT F 712 receives and measures the pilot signal from the WT E 710, such as channel quality feedback information (eg, information indicating the maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling). The information that characterizes the channel between WT E 710 and WT F 712) is generated, and the channel quality feedback information is transmitted to WT E 710. WT H, as indicated by block 1028 The 716 receives and measures pilot signals from the WTG 714 and measures with the WTG 714 and WTH 716, such as channel quality feedback information (eg, information indicating the maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling). (Information that characterizes the channel between) is generated, and the channel quality feedback information is transmitted to WTG 714.
The WT E 710 receives and processes channel quality feedback information from the WT F 712, determines the data rate for traffic signaling, generates traffic signals, and traffic airlink resources 910 (eg, traffic 710). Use segment) to send peer-to-peer traffic signals to WTF 712. The WT G 714 receives and processes channel quality feedback information from the WT H 716, determines the data rate for traffic signaling, generates a traffic signal, and has a traffic airlink resource 910 (eg, traffic 714). Use segment) to send peer-to-peer traffic signals to WTH 716.
Figure 11 shows an exemplary set of airlink resources in a peer-to-peer timing structure related to a traffic segment, priority information related to at least some of those resources, and connection identifier information related to at least some of those resources. Shown. Illustrative signaling that can be communicated using the resources of FIG. 11 is shown in other exemplary scenarios corresponding to FIGS. 12 and 8.
Figure 1101 in FIG. 11 shows the transmit request airlink resource 1102, the transmit request response airlink resource 1104, the pilot signaling airlink resource 1106, the channel quality feedback airlink resource 1108, and the traffic airlink resource. Shows 1110. FIG. 1103 of FIG. 11 shows that various airlink resources (1102,1104,1106,1108,1110) include multiple transmit units (eg, OFDM tone symbols). FIG. 1103 also shows that the priority is associated with the transmit unit of transmit request airlink resource 1102 and transmit request response airlink resource 1104. In particular, in this example, in the transmission request airlink resource 1102, there are 16 transmission units associated with different priorities P1 to P16, respectively. Here, the lowest priority number represents the highest priority. For example, P1 represents the highest priority, P16 is the lowest priority, P1 has a higher priority than P2, and so on. Similarly, in the transmit request response airlink resource 1104, there are 16 transmit units associated with different priorities P1 to P16, respectively.
In Figure 1105, different connection identifiers (C1, C2, .., .C16) have different connection identifiers: transmit request airlink resource 1102, transmit request response airlink resource 1104, pilot signal airlink resource 1106, and channel quality feedback air. Indicates that it is associated with a different transmit unit of link resource 1108. Figures 1103 and 1105 (think in combination) show the connections between different connection identifiers and different priorities that correspond to this exemplary traffic slot.
Next, consider the combination of FIGS. 8, 11 and 12. The connection connecting from WT A 702 to WT B 704 has a connection identifier 1 (C1) and a priority level P6. The connection connecting from WT A 702 to WT C 706 has connection identifier 3 (C3) and priority level P16. The connection connecting from WT A 702 to WT D 708 has connection identifier 2 (C2) and priority level P11. The connection connecting from WT E 710 to WT F 712 has connection identifier 4 (C4) and priority level P15. The connection connecting from WT G 714 to WT H 716 has connection identifier 5 (C5) and priority level P2.
Figure 1101 of FIG. 12 shows the transmit request airlink resource 1102, the transmit request response airlink resource 1104, the pilot signaling airlink resource 1106, the channel quality feedback and link resource 1108, and the traffic airlink resource 1110. Is shown. Figure 1201 of FIG. 12 shows exemplary signaling carried by those airlink resources.
The traffic transmission request signal is carried by the transmission unit of the transmission request airlink resource 1102. As indicated by block 1202, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C1 with priority P6 carries the traffic transmit request signal from WT A 702 to WT B 704. As indicated by block 1204, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C3 with priority P16 carries the traffic transmit request signal from WT A 702 to WT C 706. As indicated by block 1206, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C2 with priority P11 carries the traffic transmit request signal from WT A 702 to WT D 708. As indicated by block 1208, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C15 with priority P4 carries the traffic transmit request signal from WT E 710 to WT F 712. As shown by block 1210, the transmit units corresponding to connection C5 with priority P2 are WT G 714 to WT H. Carry a traffic transmission request signal to 716.
The traffic transmit request response signal (eg, the RX echo signal indicating a positive response to the received traffic transmit request) is carried by the transmit unit of the transmit request response airlink resource 1104. As indicated by block 1212, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C1 with priority P6 carries the traffic transmit request response signal from WT B 704 to WT A 702. As indicated by block 1214, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C3 with priority P16 carries the traffic transmit request response signal from WT C 706 to WT A 702. As indicated by block 1216, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C2 with priority P11 carries the traffic transmit request response signal from WT D 708 to WT A 702. As shown by block 1218, the transmit units corresponding to connection C15 with priority P4 are WT F 712 to WT E. Carry a traffic transmission request / response signal to the 710. As indicated by block 1220, the transmit unit corresponding to connection C5 with priority P2 carries the traffic transmit request response signal from WTH 716 to WT G 714.
The wireless terminal A 702 received the request response signal from the WT B 704, WT C 706 and WT D 708 to which it sent the request signal. The WT A 702 also receives a request response signal from the WT F 712, which happens to be very close to the WT A 702. The WT A 702 may receive a very weak request-response signal from the WT H 716, which happens to be very far from the WT A 702, or may not detect the request-response signal from the WT H 716. .. Connection 4, which corresponds to a WT E-> WT F connection, has a higher priority than the highest priority connection in the set of groups corresponding to WT A 702 (for example, connection 1 has priority P6). It has a low priority P15. Therefore, the WT A 702 will not yield to the lower priority Connection 4. But WT G 714 and WT H Connection 5 with 716 has priority P2, which is a higher priority than connection 1, which is P6. Therefore, if the WT A 702 can detect the signal strength of the request / response signal from the WT F 712, it measures it and determines the transmitter yielding as a function of the measured value. .. In this example, if the measurement is determined to be below the yielding threshold level, the WTA 702 determines to initiate the traffic transmission resource and transmit in this traffic transmission segment.
Suppose WT A 702 and WT G 714 decide to start sending traffic. As indicated by block 1222, the WT A 710 generates a pilot signal and transmits it using the resources of the pilot signal airlink resource 1208. It should be noted that in this exemplary embodiment, the WT A 702 only transmits one pilot signal intended to be utilized by its members. In this example, the pilot signal is transmitted using the portion of the pilot signal airlink resource associated with the connection with the highest priority in the group. As indicated by block 1224, the WTG 714 generates a pilot signal and transmits it using the resources of the pilot signal airlink resource 908. As indicated by block 1226, the WT B 704 receives and measures the pilot signal from the WT A 702, such as channel quality feedback information (eg, information indicating the maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling). WT A 702 and WT B Generates information that characterizes the channel to and from the 704) and sends the channel quality feedback information to the WT A 702. As indicated by block 1228, the WT C 706 receives and measures pilot signals from the WT A 702, such as channel quality feedback information (eg, information indicating the maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling). The information that characterizes the channel between WT A 702 and WT C 706) is generated, and the channel quality feedback information is transmitted to WT A 702. As indicated by block 1230, the WT D 708 receives and measures pilot signals from the WT A 702, such as channel quality feedback information (eg, information indicating the maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling). The information that characterizes the channel between WT A 702 and WT D 708) is generated, and the channel quality feedback information is transmitted to WT A 702. As indicated by block 1232, WT H 716 is a WT G. Receives and measures a pilot signal from the 714 and measures the channel between WTG 714 and WTH 716, such as channel quality feedback information (eg, information indicating the maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling). (Characteristic information) is generated and the channel quality feedback information is transmitted to WTG 714.
The WT A 702 receives and processes channel quality feedback information from the WT B 704, WT C 706 and WT D 708 and processes the data rate for traffic (eg, the most of the three reported and supported rates). WT B 704, WT, using the traffic airlink resource 1110 (eg, traffic segment), which determines (lower), generates a group traffic signal that carries traffic data according to a fixed rate. Sends group traffic signals destined for C 706 and WTD 708. The WT G 714 receives and processes channel quality feedback information from the WT H 716, determines the data rate for traffic signaling, generates a traffic signal, and traffic airlink resource 1110 (eg, traffic 714). Use segment) to send peer-to-peer traffic signals to WTH 716.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart 1300 of an exemplary method of operating a peer-to-peer communication device to implement group communication. The operation begins at step 1302, where the peer-to-peer communication device is powered up and initialized. Then, the process proceeds to step 1304. In step 1304, the peer-to-peer communication device performs a communication exchange with a potential group member to establish membership in the group. The group is, for example, a group of peer-to-peer communication devices. The operation proceeds from step 1304 to step 1306. In step 1306, the peer-to-peer communication device determines a set of communication resources to be used by group communication, including a set of connection identifiers corresponding to connections between different members of the group. The operation proceeds from step 1306 to step.
In step 1308, the peer-to-peer communication device transmits data to members of the group in a first signal directed to the group. Sending data to a member of the group in the first signal involves sending the first signal using the communication resources corresponding to the communication connection. Data transmission resources are common to multiple connections in a group. For example, a traffic segment carries a group cast traffic signal intended for reception by group members. In some embodiments, the first signal is communicated using a set of OFDM tone symbols in the data traffic interval. In various embodiments, transmitting data to members of the group is performed at a data rate determined by the information corresponding to each member of the group.
Then, in step 1310, the peer-to-peer communication device monitors approval from members of the group indicating that the data has been received. In some embodiments, monitoring the approval is dedicated to a plurality of individual communication resources, each of which is dedicated to one of the group members intended to transmit the approval. Includes monitoring. The operation proceeds from step 1310 to step 1312.
At step 1312, the peer-to-peer communication device determines whether acknowledgments indicating successful communication of the data in the first signal have been received from each of the members of the group. If approval is received from each of the members of the group, the operation proceeds to step 1320, otherwise the operation proceeds from step 1312 to step 1314.
In step 1314, the peer-to-peer communication device retransmits data on a second signal directed to a subset of the group (the subset contains members of the group for which approval has not been received and at least for which approval has been received. Excludes members of one group). Retransmitting data to a member of a subset group in the second signal involves transmitting the second signal using the communication resources corresponding to the subset's communication connections. In some embodiments, retransmitting data is performed at a data rate determined by the information corresponding to the members of a subset of the group. In some such embodiments, the information corresponding to the members of the subset is the link quality feedback information.
Then, in step 1316, the peer-to-peer communication device monitors the approval of successful communication of the above data from a second signal from a member of a subset of the group. In some embodiments, monitoring approval for successful communication of the data from the second signal does not require monitoring approval from members of the group that are not members of the subset.
The operation proceeds from step 1316 to step 1320. At step 1320, the peer-to-peer communication device determines if there is more data to send to the members of the group. If it has no more data to send, the operation proceeds to step 1322. However, if the peer-to-peer communication device has more data to communicate with, the operation proceeds from step 1320 to the input of step 1308.
FIG. 14 is a diagram of an exemplary communication device 1400 (eg, peer-to-peer mobile node) that supports group communication according to an exemplary embodiment. The communication device 1400 includes a wireless receiver module 1402, a wireless transmitter module 1404, a user input / output device 1408, a processor 1406 and a memory 1410, in which various elements are connected to each other by a bus 1412 capable of exchanging data and information. including. In some embodiments, the communication device 1400 also includes a network interface 1407 that connects the communication device 1400 to a network node and / or the Internet (eg, through a backhaul network).
Memory 1410 contains routines 1418 and data / information 1420. Processor 1406 (eg, CPU) executes routines 1418 and also data in memory 1410 to control the operation of communication device 1400 and perform methods (eg, method in flowchart 1300 of FIG. 13). / Use information 1420.
The radio receiver module 1402 (eg, an OFDM and / or CDMA receiver) is connected to the receiving antenna 1414. The communication device 1400 receives a signal from another communication device via the receiving antenna 1414. Received signals include, for example, a group membership establishment signal, a channel quality feedback signal, an approval signal in response to an initial group traffic data signal, and an approval signal in response to a retransmitted traffic data signal.
The radio transmitter module 1404 (eg, OFDM and / or CDMA transmitter) is connected to transmit antenna 1416. The communication device 1400 goes through the transmit antenna 1416 to other communication devices (eg, to other peer-to-peer devices that are members of the group to which it belongs and / or to other communication devices that are potential members of the group. ) Send a signal. The transmitted signal includes, for example, a group membership establishment signal, an initial group traffic signal directed to a member of the group to which the device 1400 belongs, and a retransmission traffic signal directed to a subset of the members of the group to which it belongs. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for the transmitter and receiver.
The user input / output device 1408 includes, for example, a microphone, a speaker, a keyboard, a keypad, a camera, a switch, a display, and the like. The user input / output device 1408 enables the operator of the wireless terminal 1400 to input data / information, access and output the data / information, and control at least some functions of the wireless terminal 1400.
Routine group 1418 includes communication routine 1422 and control routine group 1424. Communication routine 1422 implements various communication protocols used by communication device 1400. The control routine group 1424 includes a group signaling control module 1426, an approval monitoring module 1428, a retransmission control module 1430, a retransmission approval module 1432, a retransmission subset identification module 1434, and an initial transmission data rate determination module. ) 1436, re-transmission data rate determination module 1438, group establishment module 1440, and resource determination module 1442.
The data / information 1420 includes timing structure information 1444, traffic data to be transmitted 1461, first signal information 1462, second signal information 1464, group membership information 1466, group subset information 1468, determined initial. data rate 1470, re-transmission data rate 1472 is determined, the group resource information 1474, approval was detected for the first signal (detected acknowledgments to the first signal) 1476, search for the second signal approval issued (detected the acknowledgments to the second signal) 1478, group channel quality feedback information 1480, and group subset channel quality feedback information 1482.
Includes information for interval N 1448). Interval 1 information 1446 includes transmit request airlink resource information 1450, transmit request response airlink resource information 1452, pilot signaling airlink resource information 1454, rate signaling airlink resource information 1456, and traffic air. Includes link resource information 1458 and traffic approval air link resource information 1460. The transmit request airlink resource information 1450 includes information that identifies the first traffic transmit request block (several individual transmit units associated with different connection identifiers in the block and information associated with different priority levels). )including. Send Request Response Airlink Resource Information 1452, information that identifies the first traffic send request response block (related to multiple individual send units associated with different connection identifiers in the block and different priority levels). Includes information). Pilot signaling airlink resource information 1454 includes information that identifies the resource used to carry the pilot signal, including multiple individual resources associated with different connection identifiers. Rate signaling airlink resource information 1456 contains information that identifies individual resources associated with connection identifiers that should be used to carry channel feedback information in response to received pilot signals. Traffic Airlink Resource Information 1458 contains information that identifies a data transmission block (eg, a traffic segment) that should be used to carry a traffic signal. The traffic airlink resource identified by information 1458 is used to carry an initial group traffic signal (eg, a first signal) directed to each of the other members of the group to which the communication device 1400 belongs. Can be, and sometimes it is used. Information identified by 1458 Raffic airlink resources can be used to carry retransmitted traffic data (eg, a second signal) directed to a subset of the members of the group to which the communication device 1400 belongs, and sometimes It is used. Traffic Approval Airlink Resource Information 1460 identifies the segment used to carry traffic approval from the group member to whom the traffic signal in the corresponding airlink resource of Information 1458 is directed. In some embodiments, a dedicated approval segment is associated with a connection identifier and / or device identifier (eg, according to stored timing and / or frequency structure information). In some other embodiments, the traffic approval segment is a shared resource and the communication device transmitting the approval contains information used to identify the source of the approval. In some embodiments, the information used to identify the source of approval allows for probabilistic identification of the source (eg, some identifiers are carried in the approval signal). .. In some embodiments, the information used to identify the source of approval allows for probabilistic identification of the source (eg, some identifiers are carried in the approval signal). .. In some embodiments, the information used to identify the source of approval allows for probabilistic identification of the source (eg, some identifiers are carried in the approval signal).
The group signaling control module 1426 controls the radio transmitter module 1404 to transmit data to members of the group in the first signal directed to the group. For example, the data to be transmitted is the traffic data to be transmitted 1461, which is carried by the first signal corresponding to the first signal information 1462, the first signal being group membership. Directed to the communication device identified by information 1466.
The approval monitoring module 1428 monitors approvals from members of the group indicating that data has been received. For example, the authorization monitoring module 1428 is identified by group membership information 1466 after transmitting a first signal, which is the initial group data traffic signal intended for members of the group to which device 1400 belongs. Monitor traffic approval signals from communication devices. Therefore, the first signal is transmitted as a signal directed to and intended to be recovered by multiple communication devices, while the approved monitoring module 1428 is the subject to which the first signal is directed. Attempts to regain individual approval from each of a group member. This approach contrasts with typical multicast implementations where the device sending the multicast does not monitor the approval response or expect the approval response to recover. The detected approval 1476 for the first signal is the output of the approval monitoring module 1428.
In some embodiments, the approval monitoring module 1428 is dedicated to a plurality of individual communication resources, each of which is dedicated to one of the group members intended to transmit the approval. ) Monitor approvals from. In another embodiment, the communication resource used to transmit the approval is a shared resource, and the device transmitting the traffic approval uses one of the shared resources to signal the approval. The approval signal to be transmitted contains some device identification information. In some such embodiments, the device identification provides information for making a probabilistic identification, but does not provide sufficient information to perform a certain identification. For example, a truncated identifier is communicated in the approval signal.
Retransmission control module 1430 is directed to a subset of groups, the subset of which includes members of the group for which approval has not been received and excludes at least one member of the group for which approval has been received. Control the wireless transmitter module 1404 to retransmit data at signal 2. For example, consider that the first signal carrying traffic data 1461 was positively approved by some of the members of the group identified by information 1466. Group subset information 1468 identifies group members who did not communicate a positive approval of the first signal. Therefore, the retransmission control module 1430 controls a second signal identified by information 1464, which also conveys the traffic data 1461 to be transmitted. Here, the second signal is directed to the members of that subset.
In some embodiments, the first signal is communicated using a set of OFDM tone symbols in the first data traffic interval and the second signal is in the second data traffic interval. Communicate using a set of OFDM tone symbols in.
The retransmission approval module 1432 monitors the approval of successful communication of data from a second signal from a member of a subset of the group. For example, the retransmission approval module monitors approval for the second signal from the members identified by group subset information 1468. The detected approval 1478 for the second signal is the output of the retransmission approval module 1432.
The retransmission subset identification module 1434 identifies a member of a subset of the group (the identified member receives a positive approval in response to a first signal (eg, a group data signal) by the communication device 1400. Not a member). The detected authorization 1476 and group membership information 1466 for the first signal is the input to the retransmission subset identification module 1434, while the group subset information 1468 is the output of the identification module 1434. In some embodiments, the retransmission approval module 1432 limits its monitoring to members from the above subset.
The initial transmission data rate determination module 1436 determines the data rate used to transmit data to a member of the group as a function of information corresponding to each of the members of the group. The information corresponding to each member of the group is, for example, link quality feedback information corresponding to a plurality of links between the communication device 1400 and each of the other members of the group. For example, group channel quality feedback information 1480, including feedback reports from each of the other members of the group (eg, information communicating the maximum traffic data rate supported on the link), is the initial transmission data. Used for input to rate determination module 1436, while the determined initial data rate 1470 is the output of module 1436. In some embodiments, the initial transmit data rate determination module 1436 links the data rate used for the first signal (eg, the initial group data transmit signal), which is the lowest quality within the group. To support.).
Retransmit data rate determination module 1438 determines the data rate used for data to be retransmitted to members of an identified subset of a group as a function of information corresponding to the members of that subset of the group. .. The information corresponding to the members of the subset of the group is, for example, link quality feedback information corresponding to the plurality of links between the communication device 1400 and each of the members of the subset of the group. The group subset channel quality information 1482, which includes feedback reports from each member of the subset of the group (eg, information communicating the highest traffic data rate supported on the link), is the retransmission data. Used for input to the rate determination module, while the determined retransmission data rate is the output of module 1438. In some embodiments, the retransmission data rate determination module 1438 communicates a second signal (eg, a retransmission signal that is previously transmitted but not approved by members of the subset, that communicates at least some traffic data. ) To determine the data rate to use (it supports links with the lowest quality among the members of a subset of the group).
In some embodiments, the link quality information is updated between a first signal (eg, a group data signal) and a second signal (eg, a retransmission data signal). For example, prior to transmitting the first signal, the communication device 1400 transmitted the first pilot signal and received the first set of feedback reports. Also, prior to transmitting the transmission of the second signal, the communication device 1400 transmitted a second pilot signal and received a second set of feedback reports.
In some embodiments, different determined data rates are associated with different transmit power levels. In some embodiments, different defined data rates are associated with different coding levels, rates and / or schemes.
Group establishment module 1440 participates in communication exchanges with potential group members to establish group membership. Group membership information 1466 includes information generated by the establishment of a group (eg, a list of group members who are allowed to join the group).
The resource determination joule 1442 determines a set of communication resources to be used by group communication. In some embodiments, a defined set of communication resources includes a set of connection identifiers that correspond to connections between different members of the group of which the communication device 1400 is a member. The group resource information 1474 is the output of the resource establishment module 1442, and the resource information related to the group (for example, connection identifier, transmission request segment, transmission request response segment, pilot signaling segment, channel quality feedback). -Includes segments, traffic segments and traffic approval segments). For example, a dedicated send request segment in information 1450, a dedicated send request in information 1452, corresponding to a particular interval in the timing structure and a particular connection identifier corresponding to the connection between device 1400 and other group members. There is a response segment, a dedicated pilot signaling segment in information 1454, a dedicated channel quality feedback segment in information 1456, and a dedicated traffic authorization segment in information 1460 (which corresponds to the traffic segment in information 1458). ..
FIG. 15 is FIG. 1500 of an exemplary communication device in the communication network in which the group was established. An exemplary communication device (wireless terminal A 1502, wireless terminal B 1504, wireless terminal C 1506, WT D 1508) is, for example, a mobile peer-to-peer communication device that supports group communication. A wireless terminal (1502,1504,1506,1508) is, for example, a wireless terminal such as a wireless terminal implemented to perform the method of exemplary wireless terminal 1400 in FIG. 14 and / or flowchart 1300 in FIG. .. The connection was established for the purpose of transmitting traffic data signals. The connection is the connection 1510 between WT A 1502 and WT B 1504 related to connection identifier 1 1516, the connection 1512 between wireless terminal A 1502 and WT C 1506 related to connection identifier 3 1518, and the connection identifier. 2 Includes a connection 1514 between the wireless terminal A 1502 and WT D 1508 associated with the 1520. In this example, wireless terminal A 1502 is each of the other members of the group (WT B 1504, WT. As a group data signal to C 1506, WT D 1508), suppose it has the traffic data you want to send.
FIG. 16 includes FIG. 1600 showing exemplary airlink resources in an exemplary repeating timing structure and FIG. 1650 showing exemplary signaling carried by those airlink resources. FIG. 1600 includes a vertical axis 1602 representing frequency and a horizontal axis 1603 representing time. Illustrative airlink resources are the pilot signal airlink resource 1604 for slot 1, channel quality feedback airlink resource 1606 for slot 1, traffic airlink resource 1608 for slot 1, for slot 1. Traffic Approval Airlink Resource 1610, Pilot Signal for Slot 2 Airlink Resource 1612, Channel Quality Feedback Airlink Resource 1614 for Slot 2, Traffic Airlink Resource 1616 for Slot 2, For Slot 2 Includes traffic-approved airlink resource 1618. Other airlink resources are included in the timing structure, for example, traffic transmit request airlink resources and traffic transmit request response airlink resources. In some embodiments, the transmit unit in at least some of the airlink resources is dedicated to be used for a particular connection associated with a particular connection identifier.
It is assumed that the radio terminal A 1502 wants to send the same traffic data to other members of the pre-established group, including WT A 1502, WT B 1504, WT C 1506 and WT D 1508. It is assumed that WT A 1502 has transmitted a transmission request signal to WT B 1504, WT C 1506 and WT D 1508. Furthermore, it is assumed that WT B 1504, WT C 1506 and WT D 1508 sent a positive send request response signal to WT A 1502, and WT A 1502 sent group data in traffic slot 1. Suppose you decide to start.
Radio terminal A generates a pilot signal 1652 and transmits it by airlink in a segment in the pilot signal airlink resource 1604. The pilot signal 1652 is intended to be received and measured by WT B 1504, WT C 1506 and WT D 1508. Radio terminals (WT B 1504, WT C 1506, WT D 1508) receive and measure pilot signals, and they signal using a segment of channel quality feedback airlink resource 1606 (1654, 1656). , 1658) to generate a channel quality feedback report that is transmitted to the original WT A 1502, respectively. The WT A 1502 receives rate reports from the WT B 1504, WT C 1506 and WT C 1508. For example, a rate report from W T B shows that the link between W T A and W T B supports data rate level 3, while a rate report from W T C shows W A and W T C. Indicates that the link with and supports data rate level 1, while WT The rate report from D shows that the link between WT A and WT D supports data rate level 2. Here, data rate level 1 is a data rate lower than data rate level 2, and here, data rate level 2 is a data rate lower than data rate level 3.
The wireless terminal A 1502 determines to transmit the group data signal at the data rate supported by each of the links, so that the wireless terminal A 1502 communicates the traffic data at the data rate level 1. Decides to generate and transmit the traffic data signal 1660. Group data traffic signal 1660 is transmitted using the transmit segment of traffic airlink resource 1608.
Now, it is assumed that the WT B 1504 and WT C 1506 successfully receive the signal 1660 and successfully recover the communicated data. The WT B 1504 generates the traffic approval signal 1662 and sends it to the WT A 1502 using the segment of the traffic approval airlink resource 1610. The WT C 1506 generates a traffic approval signal 1664 and sends it to the WT A 1502 using a segment of the traffic approval airlink resource 1610.
However, the radio terminal D 1608 is due, for example, to the repositioning of the receiving antenna direction of the WT D 1508 due to the interference in the communication path during the time period of transmission of the group traffic signal 1660. And / or due to local interference surging during the time of transmission of group traffic signal 1660, reception of signal 1660 fails and / or data being communicated on signal 1660. Suppose that recovery fails. Therefore, WT D 1508 does not send an authorization signal on the traffic authorization airlink resource 1610.
The WT A 1502 monitors traffic authorization from each of the other members of the group to which it directs the group traffic signal 1660. Since it does not receive a positive approval from WT D 1508, WT A decides to retransmit the traffic data. The WT A 1502 transmits the pilot signal 1666 at the pilot signal airlink resource 1612. Radio terminal D 1508 responds with rate report 1668 on channel quality feedback airlink resource 1614. The WT A 1504 determines the data rate to use for the traffic retransmission signal as a function of the information in the received rate report signal 1668. The WT A 1504 produces a traffic signal 1670 and uses the traffic airlink resource 1616 as a group subset (the group subset contains WT D 1508 but not group members WT B 1604 and WT C 1606). Send to. In this slot, the WT D 1508 successfully receives and recovers the traffic data being communicated. WT D The 1508 generates an approval signal 1672 and sends it to WT A 1618 using the traffic approval airlink resource 1618. The WT A 1502 monitors and detects the approval signal from the WT D 1508 confirming successful communication of traffic data to the WT D 1508. The traffic data is now successfully communicated to each member of the group to which it is directed.
FIG. 17 (consisting of a combination of FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C) is a flowchart 1700 of an exemplary method of operating a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment. Operation of the exemplary method begins at step 1702. Here, the first communication device is powered on and initialized. Then, the process proceeds to step 1704 and step 1706. In step 1704, which is continuously performed, the first communication device determines whether it wants to join and / or form a group. If it desires to join and / or form a group, the operation proceeds from step 1704 to step 1708. Otherwise, the operation returns from step 1704 to the input of step 1704.
In step 1708, the first communication device stores group membership information indicating the members of the group to which the first communication device belongs. The operation proceeds from step 1708 to step 1710, where the first communication device acquires the transmit request resource. In some embodiments, the acquired transmit request resource has a plurality of transmit request periods (time). Contains a single transmit request resource for each of the period) (eg, a single OFDM tone symbol for each of the multiple transmit request periods). Then, in step 1712, the first communication device provides information of the group indicating that the acquired transmission request resource should be used by the first communication device as the transmission request resource corresponding to the group. Communicate with other members. The operation proceeds from step 1712 to step 1713. In step 1713, the first communication device receives information from the other members of the group indicating a transmit request / response resource that should be used by the other members of the group as the group transmit request / response resources. The operation proceeds from step 1713 to connection node A 1718.
Returning to step 1706, in step 1706 (which is performed continuously), the first communication device determines whether the first communication device wants to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the second communication device. To do. If the first communication device wants to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the second communication device, the operation proceeds from step 1706 to step 1714, otherwise the operation is from the output of step 1706 to the input of step 1706. Proceed to.
In step 1714, the first communication device stores peer-to-peer connection information indicating a peer-to-peer communication connection with the second device. In some embodiments, the second communication device may, and sometimes is, a member of the group. The first communication device is also a member of the group and at the same time maintains a peer-to-peer connection with the second device. Then, in step 1716, the first communication device acquires the transmission request resource and the transmission request / response resource corresponding to the connection. The operation proceeds from step 1716 to connection node A 1718.
From connection node A 1718, the operation proceeds to step 1720. In step 1720, the first communication device determines whether it wants to send data to and to the second device. If it has data to be sent to the group and data to be sent to the second communication device, the operation proceeds from step 1720 to step 1722, otherwise the operation starts from step 1720. Proceed to step 1724.
In step 1722, the first communication device determines if the group request priority is higher than the peer-to-peer connection request priority. If the group request priority is higher, the operation proceeds from step 1722 to step 1728, otherwise the operation proceeds from step 1722 to step 1738.
Returning to step 1724, in step 1724, the first communication device determines whether it wants to send data to the group to which it belongs. If so, the operation proceeds from step 1724 to step 1728, otherwise the operation proceeds from step 1724 to step 1726. At step 1726, the first communication device determines whether it wants to send data to the second communication device over an established peer-to-peer connection. If the first device wants to send data to the second device, the operation proceeds from step 1726 to step 1738, otherwise the operation proceeds from step 1726 to connection node B 1746.
Returning to step 1728, in step 1728, the first communication device intends to transmit to the members of the group during the first period on the group transmission request resource corresponding to the first communication device. Send a send request that is used to indicate. In some embodiments, the group transmit request resource corresponding to the first communication device is part of a set of transmit request resources that also includes a connection-based transmit request resource. Then, in step 1730, the first communication device monitors to detect a transmit request response in the group transmit request response resource corresponding to an individual member of the group. The operation proceeds from step 1730 to step 1732.
In step 1732, the first communication device determines if it has detected at least one request response from a group member. If the first communication device detects at least one request / response from a group member, the operation proceeds from step 1732 to step 1734, otherwise the operation goes from step 1732 to connection node C 1736. move on. At step 1734, the first communication device sends traffic data using the traffic resources that correspond to the sent group send request. The operation proceeds from step 1734 to connection node C 1736.
Returning to step 1738, in step 1738, the first communication device makes a second communication over the peer-to-peer connection during the second period in the transmit request resource corresponding to the peer-to-peer connection request. Send a request to send data to the device. The operation proceeds from step 1738 to step 1740.
In step 1740, the first communication device monitors the transmit request response resource corresponding to the peer-to-peer connection to detect the transmit request response. The operation proceeds from step 1740 to step 1742. In step 1742, the first communication device determines if it has detected a request response from the second device. If the first communication device detects a request / response from the second device, the operation proceeds from step 1742 to step 1744, otherwise the operation proceeds from step 1742 to connection node C 1736. .. In step 1744, the first communication device transmits traffic data using the traffic transmission resource corresponding to the transmitted peer-to-peer transmit request. The operation proceeds from step 1744 to connection node C 1736.
Returning to connection node B 1746, the operation proceeds from connection node B 1746 to steps 1748 and 1752. At step 1748, the first communication device monitors group transmission requests from other members of the group. Step 1748 may include substep 1750, and sometimes includes it. There, the first communication device receives a group transmission request from another member of the group on the group transmission request resource corresponding to the other member during the second period.
Returning to step 1752, in step 1752, the first communication device monitors the transmission request from the second device corresponding to the peer-to-peer connection. Step 1752 may include substep 1754, and sometimes includes it. In sub-step 1754, the second communication device receives the transmission request from the second device on the transmission request resource corresponding to the second device during the second period. The operation proceeds from step 1748 and / or step 1752 to step 1756.
In step 1756, the first communication device receives a group transmission request from a member of the group to which the first communication device belongs and from a second communication device to which the first communication device has a peer-to-peer connection. Determine if a peer-to-peer transmission request has been received. If both are received, the operation proceeds from step 1756 to step 1758, otherwise the operation proceeds from step 1756 to step 1762.
Returning to step 1758, in step 1758, the first communication device performs a priority determination. Then, in step 1760, the first communication device advances in response to the priority determination. If the group request has a higher priority, the operation proceeds from step 1760 to step 1764, and if the request corresponding to the peer-to-peer connection with the second device has a higher priority, the operation has a higher priority. Proceed from step 1760 to step 1766.
Returning to step 1762, in step 1762, the first communication device determines if a group request has been detected. If a group request is detected, the operation proceeds from step 1762 to step 1764, otherwise the operation proceeds from step 1762 to step 1763. In step 1763, the first communication device determines whether a transmission request from a second communication device corresponding to a peer-to-peer connection has been received. If the request is received, the operation proceeds from step 1763 to step 1766, otherwise the operation proceeds from step 1763 to connection node C 1772.
Returning to step 1764, in step 1764, the first communication device transmits a group transmission request / response on the group transmission request / response resource corresponding to the first communication device. Then, in step 1768, the first communication device receives the traffic data using the traffic resources corresponding to the detected group send request. The operation proceeds from step 1768 to connection node C 1772.
Returning to step 1766, in step 1766, the first communication device transmits a peer-to-peer transmit request response on the transmit request response resource corresponding to the peer-to-peer connection with the second device. Then, in step 1770, the first communication device receives the traffic data using the traffic transmission resource corresponding to the detected transmission request response from the second device corresponding to the peer-to-peer connection. .. The operation proceeds from step 1770 to connection node C 1772.
From connection node C 1772, the operation proceeds to the input of step 1720, eg, to consider whether or not the first communication device wants to transmit in the slot followed.
FIG. 18 is a diagram of an exemplary communication device 1800 (eg, peer-to-peer mobile node) that supports group communication and peer-to-peer communication according to an exemplary embodiment. According to the characteristics of this exemplary embodiment, in contrast to peer-to-peer connection transmission request / response signaling, there may be multiple differences with respect to resource allocation and use, for example for traffic transmission request / response signaling for group communication. The method is used for group communication and peer-to-peer connection communication. For group communication, the resource (eg, traffic transmission request unit) is associated with the device in the group, while for peer-to-peer communication, the resource (eg, traffic transmission request unit) is two devices for peer-to-peer connection. It is associated with the connection identifier associated with. In some embodiments, a particular resource (eg, a traffic transmission request unit in a timing / frequency structure) may be associated with a group member device for some time, but at other times. The resource may be associated with a peer-to-peer connection. Thus, for example, in such an embodiment, the balance between resource allocation to groups and resource allocation to peer-to-peer connections may be dynamically changed to adapt to current needs. In other embodiments, some resources may be dedicated for group use, while other resources may be dedicated for peer-to-peer connection use.
The communication device 1800 includes a wireless receiver module 1802, a wireless transmitter module 1804, a user input / output device 1808, a processor 1806, and a wireless receiver module 1802, a wireless transmitter module 1804, and a user input / output device 1808, which are connected to each other by a bus 1812 in which various elements can exchange data and information. Includes memory 1810. In some embodiments, the communication device 1800 includes a network interface 1807 that is similarly connected to bus 1812. The network interface 1807, when implemented, allows the communication device 1800 to connect to a network node and / or the Internet (eg, via a wired backhaul network).
Memory 1810 contains routines 1818 and data / information 1820. Processor 1806 (eg, CPU) executes routines 1818 to control the operation of communication device 1800 and execute methods (eg, the method of flowchart 1700 in FIG. 17) and also data in memory 1810 / Use information 1820.
The radio receiver module 1802 (eg, an OFDM and / or CDMA receiver) is connected to the receiving antenna 1814. The communication device 1800 receives a signal (for example, signal 1850) from another communication device via the receiving antenna 1814. Received signals include, for example, signals communicating: group membership information, group resource allocation information, group member traffic transmission request, group member traffic transmission request response, traffic data from group members, peer-to-peer. -Connection information, peer-to-peer connection resource information, peer-to-peer connection traffic transmission request, peer-to-peer connection traffic transmission request response, and peer-to-peer traffic data.
The radio transmitter module 1804 (eg, an OFDM and / or CDMA transmitter) is connected to the transmitting antenna 1816. The communication device 1800 transmits a signal to another communication device via the transmission antenna 1816. The transmitted signals include, for example, signals communicating: group membership information, group resource allocation information, group traffic transmission request, group traffic transmission request response, group traffic data, peer-to-peer connection information. , Peer-to-peer connection resource information, peer-to-peer connection traffic transmission request, peer-to-peer connection traffic transmission request response and peer-to-peer traffic data. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for both the transmitter and the receiver.
User input / output devices 1808 include, for example, microphones, keyboards, keypads, switches, cameras, speakers, displays and the like. The user input / output device 1808 allows the operator of the communication device 1800 to input data / information, access and output the data / information, and control at least some functions of the communication device 1800.
Routine group 1818 includes communication routine 1822 and control routine group 1824. Communication routine 1822 implements various communication protocols used by communication device 1800. The control routine group 1824 includes the group information storage module 1826, the group transmission request control module 1828, the group request response monitoring module 1830, the resource acquisition module 1832, the resource communication module 1834, the group resource detection module 1836, and the group traffic signaling control. It includes module 1838, group request monitoring module 1840, group transmission request / response control module 1842, peer-to-peer information storage module 1844, and peer-to-peer transmission request control module 1846.
Data / Information 1820 includes group membership information 1848, received signal 1850, generated group send request 1852, detected request response 1854 from group member, timing / frequency structure information 1874, for the device. Information identifying acquired group related resources for the device) 1858, resource communication signal 1860, detected group resource information 1862, generated group traffic signal 1864, detected group send request 1866, generated group send request response 1868, peer-to-peer connection information 1870, It contains information that identifies peer-to-peer connection resources 1872, generated peer-to-peer connection send request 1874, received peer-to-peer connection send request response 1876, and generated peer-to-peer traffic signal 1878. The timing / frequency structure information 1874 includes information corresponding to a plurality of traffic slots in the repeated timing structure (information 1880, ... in slot 1, information 1882 in slot N). Information 1880 in slot 1 includes request resource information 1884, request response resource information 1886, and traffic segment information 1888.
The group information storage module 1826 stores group membership information indicating the members of the group to which the first communication device belongs. Group membership information 1848 is the output of module 1826.
The group send request control module 1828 sends a send request on the group send request resource corresponding to the communication device 1800 to indicate its intention to send to members of that group during a first period of time. Controls the wireless transmitter module 1804 to transmit during. In some embodiments, the group transmit request resource corresponding to the communication device 1800 is part of a set of transmit request resources (the set of transmit request resources also includes a connection-based transmit request resource). There is).
The group request / response monitoring module 1830 monitors the received signal in order to detect the transmission request / response in the group transmission request / response resource corresponding to each member of the group. The received signal 1850 is the input to module 1830, while the detected group transmit request 1866 is the output of module 1830.
The resource acquisition module 1832 acquires a send request resource that is available for later use (eg, a group send request resource associated with device 1800 and the group to which device 1800 belongs). The information 1858 that identifies the group-related resources acquired for this device is the information that is the output of resource acquisition module 1832 (eg, multiple slots that should be tried by device 1800 to send a group traffic send request. Information that identifies the transmitting unit in each of the above). In some embodiments, the acquired transmit request resource comprises a single transmit request resource (eg, a single OFDM tone symbol) for each of the plurality of request periods. For example, the acquired transmission request resource is one transmission unit for each of the plurality of traffic transmission slots (for example, one transmission unit identified in the request resource information 1884 for slot 1, ..., the request resource for slot N). Corresponds to one transmit unit) identified in the information.
The resource communication module 1836 communicates group information indicating that the acquired transmission request resource should be used by the device 1800 as the transmission request resource corresponding to the group to other members of the group to which the device 1800 belongs. The resource communication signal 1860 is a signal generated from module 1836 that communicates group resource information related to device 1800.
From signals received from other members of the group to which device 1800 belongs, the group resource detection module 1836 indicates that the transmit request / response resource should be used by other members of the group as the group transmit request / response resource. Is detected. The detection of module 1836 occurs prior to monitoring the transmit request response in the group transmit request response resource corresponding to the individual members of the group. Therefore, the information obtained by the group resource detection module 1836, for example, the detected group resource information 1862 (which may be part of the group setup or group establishment signaling), is such that the device 1800 is a member of its group. Know where to look in the request-response resource for the request-response signal from (for example, which transmit unit in the request-response resource information 1886 is currently associated with that group member). Make it possible.
Group request and response resources are also assigned to individual members of the group in some embodiments, and such information is also exchanged between group members. The resource acquisition module 1832 is a transmit request response resource that, in some embodiments, should be used later (eg, by device 1800 when transmitting a request response signal in response to a received group member transmit request). To get. In some embodiments, the resource communication module 1836 communicates information identifying the acquired group transmit request / response resource associated with the communication device 1800 to other members of that group. In some embodiments, the group resource detection module 1836 provides information indicating a transmission request resource to be used by another member of the group as a group transmission request resource from a received signal from another member of the group to which the device 1800 belongs. Is detected. In some embodiments, other particular group transmit request / response resources are linked to the particular group transmit request resource, for example by implementing a predetermined timing / frequency structure. In such an embodiment, it also acquires the corresponding group transmit request response resource when the communication device acquires a particular group transmit request resource.
The group traffic signaling control module 1838 is detected by the group request response monitoring module 1830 from a group member who responds positively to at least one response (eg, a request to send group traffic data). After the discovery of the request response 1854), the traffic data (eg, generated) is used with the traffic resources corresponding to the previously sent group send request (eg, the sent generated group send request 1852). Controls the radio transmitter module 1804 to transmit the group traffic signal 1864).
The group request monitoring module 1840 is for detecting a group transmission request from the received signal from another member of the group to which the device 1800 belongs on the group transmission request resource corresponding to the other member. .. In one exemplary embodiment, if the communication device 1800 intends to send a group traffic send request for a slot, the device does not monitor the group send request for the same slot. For example, the group transmit request control module 1838 is active in the first slot corresponding to the first period, while the group request monitoring module 1840 is active in the other slots corresponding to the second period. Is. The detected group send request 1866 represents the exemplary output of module 1840.
The group transmission request / response control module 1842 controls the wireless transmitter module 1804 so as to transmit the group transmission request / response on the group transmission request / response corresponding to the device 1800. The generated group send request response 1868 is exemplary sent under the control of module 1842, for example, as a result of a decision by the request response control module 1842 to acquirecece received group send requests. Response signal.
The peer-to-peer information storage module 1844 stores peer-to-peer connection information indicating a peer-to-peer connection with a second device. Peer-to-peer connection information 1870 (which is the output of module 1844) is used, for example, to identify a peer-to-peer connection between device 1800 and a second device and / or an air link associated with that connection. Obtained, used to identify resources (eg, for each of multiple slots in a timing / frequency structure, a transmit unit for carrying a traffic transmit request and a transmit unit for carrying a traffic transmit request response). Contains information that identifies the connection identifier. Information 1872 that identifies a peer-to-peer connection resource that identifies a particular resource (eg, a transmitting unit) in the timing frequency structure 1874 currently associated with the connection is also the output of module 1844.
The peer-to-peer transmit request control module 1846 provides the wireless transmitter module 1804 to transmit a request to transmit data to a second device over a peer-to-peer connection in the transmit request resource corresponding to the peer-to-peer connection. Control. The generated peer-to-peer connection send request 1874, under the control of module 1846, is an exemplary peer-to-peer traffic sent using the resources identified by information 1872, which corresponds to the connection identified by information 1870. This is a send request.
In some embodiments, the second device on which the communication device 1800 has a peer-to-peer connection with it can and is sometimes a member of the group to which the device 1800 belongs. Therefore, device 1800 can be a member of the group and at the same time maintain a peer-to-peer connection with the second device. In some such embodiments, the communication device 1800 is capable of maintaining both group membership resources associated with the second device and peer-to-peer connection resources associated with the second device, and Keep them from time to time.
FIG. 19 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless communication network 1900 that supports group communication and peer-to-peer communication. An exemplary communication network 1900 comprises multiple wireless communication devices (communication device A 1902, communication device B 1904, communication device C 1906, communication device D 1908, communication device W 1910, communication device X 1912, communication device Y 1914). Including. The wireless communication device of FIG. 19 may be, for example, a device according to device 300 of FIG. 3 and / or may implement the method of flowchart 200 of FIG. FIG. 19 also shows communication device A 1902, communication device B 1904, communication device C 1906 and communication device D. Indicates that 1908 formed group 1916 to support group communication (eg, group communication including group cast traffic signaling). Figure 19 also includes the legend 1918. Legend 1918 indicates that the dotted line 1920 indicates the established peer-to-peer connection and the alternate long and short dash line 1922 indicates the group communication connection. In this example, there are six group communication connections shown among the various members of group 1916 (1902,1904,1906,1908). Moreover, there is a peer-to-peer connection between communication device A 1902 and communication device W 1910, and there is a peer-to-peer connection between communication device X 1912 and communication device Y 1914.
FIG. 20 shows exemplary resource allocation and exemplary signaling corresponding to the example of FIG. 19 with respect to traffic slots in a repeating timing / frequency structure according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 2001 of FIG. 20 shows a block of exemplary transmit request airlink resources 2002, an exemplary block of transmit request response airlink resources 2004 and an exemplary traffic airlink resource 2006 (eg, traffic). Segment) is shown.
FIG. 2021 of FIG. 20 shows exemplary individual transmit units corresponding to different connections. The transmit request airlink resource 2002 includes: (i) a traffic transmit request indicating that communication device A 1902 wants to transmit a traffic signal in traffic airlink resource 2006 for communication device B 1904. Transmission unit 2022 assigned to carry from A 1902 to communication device B 1904; (ii) Traffic transmission indicating that communication device A 1902 wants to send a traffic signal in traffic airlink resource 2006 for communication device C 1906. Transmission unit 2024 assigned to carry a request from communication device A 1902 to communication device C 1906; (iii) Communication device X 1912 wants to send a traffic signal in traffic airlink resource 2006 for communication device Y 1914. Make a traffic transmission request indicating from communication device X 1912 to communication device Y Transmission unit assigned to carry to 1914; (iv) Communication device A 1902 makes a traffic transmission request indicating that communication device A 1902 wants to send a traffic signal in traffic airlink resource 2006 for communication device D 1908. Transmission unit assigned to carry from to communication device D 1908; (v) A traffic transmission request indicating that communication device B 1904 wants to send a traffic signal in the traffic airlink resource 2006 for communication device C 1906. Transmission unit assigned to carry from communication device B 1904 to communication device C 1906; (vi) Indicates that communication device B 1904 wants to send a traffic signal in the traffic airlink resource 2006 for communication device D 1908. Transmission unit 2032 assigned to carry traffic transmission requests from communication device B 1904 to communication device D 1908; (vii) Communication device C 1906 is communication device D Traffic Airlink Resource for 1908 Transmission unit 2034 assigned to carry a traffic transmission request indicating that a traffic signal is to be transmitted from communication device C 1906 to communication device D 1908; and (viii) communication. A transmission unit 2036 assigned to carry a traffic transmission request indicating that device A 1902 wants to transmit a traffic signal in traffic airlink resource 2006 for communication device W 1910 from communication device A 1902 to communication device W 1910.
Figure 2021 also shows that the transmit request response airlink resource 2004 includes: (i) communication device B 1904 transmits a traffic signal in traffic airlink resource 2006 for communication device B 1904: Transmission unit assigned to carry a traffic transmission request response indicating approval of the request from communication device B 1904 to communication device A 1902; (ii) Communication device C 1906 targeted communication device C 1906. Transmission unit 2025 (iii) communication assigned to carry a traffic transmission request response indicating approval of a request to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource 2006 from communication device C 1906 to communication device A 1902. A traffic transmission request response indicating that device Y 1914 approves a request for transmitting a traffic signal in the traffic air link resource 2006 for communication device Y 1914 is sent from communication device Y 1914 to communication device X. Transmission unit assigned to carry to 1912; (iv) Traffic transmission indicating that communication device D 1908 approves a request to send a traffic signal at the traffic air link resource 2006 for communication device D 1908. Transmission unit 2029 assigned to carry the request response from communication device D 1908 to communication device A 1902; (v) Communication device C 1906 sends a traffic signal at the traffic airlink resource 2006 for communication device C 1906. Transmission unit assigned to carry a traffic transmission request response indicating approval of the request from communication device C 1906 to communication device B 1904; (vi) Communication device D 1908 targets communication device D 1908. Traffic transmission request response indicating that the request for transmitting the traffic signal is approved in the traffic air link resource 2006 from the communication device D 1908 to the communication device B. Transmission unit assigned to carry to 1904 2033; (vii) Traffic transmission indicating that communication device D 1908 approves a request to send a traffic signal at traffic airlink resource 2006 for communication device D 1908. The transmission unit 2035; assigned to carry the request response from communication device D 1908 to communication device C 1906; and (viii) traffic in traffic airlink resource 2006 where communication device W 1910 targets communication device W 1910. A transmission unit 2037 assigned to carry a traffic transmission request response indicating approval of a request to transmit a signal from communication device W 1910 to communication device A 1902.
FIG. 2041 of FIG. 20 shows exemplary signaling for one scenario. In this example, device A 1902 wants to use the traffic airlink resource 2006 to send group traffic signals to other members of the group (1904,1906,1908). Communication device A 1902 generates a traffic transmission request signal (2042,2044,2046) and transmits it using the transmission request transmission unit (2022,2024,2028) of the transmission request airlink resource 2002, respectively. Each of the communication devices (communication device B 1904, communication device C 1906, communication device D 1908) receives a traffic transmission request signal (2042,2044,2046). Devices that are members of the group know the other members of the group and also yielding Use that information in consideration). For example, since both requests correspond to groupcast traffic transmissions, the device may detect requests directed to other members of the group without having to make concessions based on those requests. The communication devices (communication device B 1904, communication device C 1906, communication device D 1908) generate traffic transmission request / response signals (2050,2052,2054), respectively, and transmit request / response of transmission request / response resource 2004. Transmit using the transmit unit (2023,2025,2029).
Communication device A 1904 detects a send request response signal (2050,2052,2054) that gives a positive response, generates a group traffic signal 2058, and uses traffic segment 2006 to make the communication device. Sends a group traffic signal 2058 for (communication device A 1904, communication device B 1906, communication device C 1908).
The resource allocation approach for group communication used in the example of Figure 20 (eg, a connection identifier-based approach) is easily implemented and / / in systems that support peer-to-peer connections using connection identifiers. Or it should be noted that it has the advantage of being able to be used. However, for large group sizes, this approach tends to use a large number of send requests and send request response resources. Another advantage of this connection-based approach is that such an approach can be adapted for transmissions that target a subset of groups.
FIG. 21 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless communication network 2100 that supports group communication and peer-to-peer communication. An exemplary communication network 2100 comprises multiple wireless communication devices (communication device A 2102, communication device B 2104, communication device C 2106, communication device D 2108, communication device W 2110, communication device X 2112, communication device Y 2114). Including. An exemplary communication device of FIG. 21, eg, a communication device according to device 1800 of FIG. 18, and / or implements a method according to flowchart 1700 of FIG. FIG. 21 also shows communication device A 2102, communication device B 2104, communication device C 2106 and communication device D. Indicates that 2108 has formed group 2116 that supports group communication (eg, group communication including group cast traffic signaling). Figure 21 also includes the legend 2118. Legend 2118 indicates that the dotted line 2120 indicates the established peer-to-peer connection and the alternate long and short dash line 2122 indicates the group communication connection. In this example, there are six group communication connections shown between the various members of group 2116 (2102,2104,2106,2108). There is also a peer-to-peer connection between communication device A 2102 and communication device B 2104. Moreover, there is a peer-to-peer connection between the communication device A 2102 and the communication device W 2110, and there is a peer-to-peer connection between the communication device X 2112 and the communication device Y 2114.
FIG. 22 shows exemplary resource allocation and exemplary signaling corresponding to the example of FIG. 21 for traffic slots in a repeating timing / frequency structure according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2201 of FIG. 22 shows a block of the exemplary transmit request airlink resource 2202, an exemplary transmit request response airlink resource block 2204, and an exemplary traffic airlink resource block 2206 (eg, traffic). -Segment) is shown.
FIG. 2221 of FIG. 22 shows an exemplary individual transmission unit used to carry a traffic transmission request or a traffic transmission request response. The transmit request airlink resource 2202 includes: (i) A group traffic transmit request indicating that communication device A 2102 wants to transmit a group traffic signal on the traffic airlink resource 2206 for its group members. Is assigned to carry from communication device A 1902 to other members of the group 2222; (ii) Communication device B 2104 sends a group traffic signal on the traffic airlink resource 2206 for that group member. A transmission unit 2224 assigned to carry a group traffic transmission request indicating that it wants to be carried from communication device B 2104 to other members of the group; (iii) communication device C. A transmission assigned to carry a group traffic transmission request from communication device C 2106 to other members of the group indicating that the 2106 wants to transmit a group traffic signal on the traffic airlink resource 2206 for that group member. Unit 2226; (iv) A traffic transmission request from communication device D 2108 indicating that communication device D 2108 wants to send a group traffic signal on traffic airlink resource 2206 for that group member is made from communication device D 2108 to another member of that group. Transmission unit assigned to carry to 2228; (v) Traffic transmission indicating that communication device X 2112 wants to send a traffic signal on traffic airlink resource 2206 for communication device Y 2114 over its peer-to-peer connection. Transmission unit 2230 assigned to carry a request from communication device X 2112 to communication device Y 2114; (vi) Communication device A 2102 is on communication device W over a peer-to-peer connection with that communication device W 2110. Traffic for 2110 Transmission unit 2232; and (vii) communication assigned to carry a traffic transmission request indicating that a traffic signal is to be transmitted in the air link resource 2206 from communication device A 1902 to communication device W 2110. Communication device A 1902 communicates a traffic transmission request indicating that device A 2102 wants to send a traffic signal on the traffic airlink resource 2206 for communication device B 2104 over a peer-to-peer connection with its communication device B 2104. Transmission unit 2234 assigned to carry to device B 2104.
Figure 2221 also shows that the transmit request response airlink resource 2204 includes: (i) Communication device A 2104 transmits a group traffic signal on the traffic airlink resource 2206 for that group: Transmission unit 2236; (ii) Communication device B 2104, which is assigned to carry a traffic transmission request response indicating that the request for approval is approved from the communication device A 2102 to the group member who previously transmitted the group traffic transmission request. In advance of the group traffic transmission request from the communication device B 2104, a traffic transmission request response indicating that the traffic air link resource 2206 for the group approves the request for transmitting the group traffic signal. Transmission unit assigned to carry to the sending group member 2238; (iii) Communication device C A traffic transmission request response indicating that 2106 approves a request for transmitting a group traffic signal in the traffic air link resource 2206 for the group is sent from the communication device C 2106, and a group traffic transmission request is sent from the communication device C 2106. Transmission unit 2240 assigned to carry to a previously transmitted group member; (iv) Communication device D 2108 approves a request to send a group traffic signal on the traffic airlink resource 2206 for that group. A transmission unit 2242 (v) communication device Y 2114 is assigned to carry a traffic transmission request response indicating that from communication device D 2108 to a group member who previously transmitted a group traffic transmission request; (v) communication device Y 2114 peer-to-peer with device X 2112. On the communication link, communication device Y A traffic transmission request response indicating that the traffic air link resource 2206 for 2114 approves the request for transmitting a peer-to-peer traffic signal is assigned to carry the traffic transmission request response from the communication device Y 2114 to the communication device X 2112. Transmission unit 2244; (vi) A request for communication device W 2110 to send a peer-to-peer traffic signal over a peer-to-peer communication link with device A 2102 at traffic airlink resource 2206 for communication device A 2102. Transmission unit 2244 (vii) communication device B 2104 assigned to carry traffic transmission request response indicating approval from communication device W 2110 to communication device A 2102 on a peer-to-peer communication link with device A 2102. A traffic transmission request response indicating that the traffic air link resource 2206 targeting the communication device A 2102 approves the request for transmitting the peer-to-peer traffic signal is displayed on the communication device B. Transmission unit 2248 assigned to carry from 2104 to communication device A 2102.
FIG. 2251 of FIG. 22 shows exemplary signaling for one scenario. In this example, device A 2102 wants to use the traffic airlink resource 2206 to send a group traffic signal to other members of the group (2104,2106,2108). Communication device A generates the traffic transmission request signal 2252 and transmits it using the transmission request transmission unit 2222 of the transmission request air link resource 2202. The communication device (communication device B 2204, communication device C 2206, communication device D 2208) receives the traffic transmission request signal 2252. The communication device (communication device B 2104, communication device C 2106, communication device D 2108) generates a traffic transmission request / response signal (2254, 2256, 2258), respectively, and transmits a transmission request / response of the transmission request / response resource 2204. Transmit using the transmit unit (2238,2240,2242).
Communication device A 2102 detects a send request response signal (2254,2256,2258) that gives a positive response, generates a group traffic signal 2260, and uses traffic segment 2206 to make the communication device. Sends a group traffic signal 2260 for (communication device B 2104, communication device C 2106, communication device D 2108).
It should be noted that the resource allocation approach for group communication (eg, the device-based approach) used in the example of Figure 22 is reasonable when there are a large number of devices in the group. For example, in one embodiment by 10 members of a group using the connection-based method of FIG. 20, one is 45 individual send requests to adapt to possible combinations of the group. An airlink transmit unit and 45 individual transmit request response airlink transmit units will be used. Moreover, if one wants to consider the link direction as well, one will use twice the number of transmit units. Alternatively, other approaches could be utilized, for example, by alternating between link directions for different slots. However, if instead of an embodiment of 10 members in a group, a device-based approach is used, one is a group of 10 individual send request send units and 10 send request response send units. Can support communication. In general, if we have a group of members of N (where N is a positive number greater than or equal to 2) and the connection identifier approach is used, we adapt to possible group request signaling. To do so, an N (N-1) one-way connection identifier-related transmit request unit (eg, an OFDM tone symbol) would be used. However, under the same scenario, if the device identifier approach is used, we can adapt to possible group request signaling with N device identifier-related transmit request units (eg OFDM). Tone symbol) will be used. In some embodiments, we may take into account each connection ID as bidirectional. In other words, an exemplary device pair of groups (A, B) uses one connection ID. In that case, we would use a bidirectional connection ID of N * (N-1) / 2. However, the device-based method uses an ID of N (each associated with one device). If N> 2, N * (N-1) / 2 is greater than or equal to N.
A further advantage of the device-based resource allocation approach for group communication is reduced signaling. In the connection identifier-based resource allocation approach of FIG. 20, WT A 1902 sends three traffic transmission request signals, whereas in the device-based resource allocation approach of FIG. 22, WT A 2102 is one request. I sent a signal.
The techniques of the various embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, and / or a combination of software and hardware. Various embodiments are directed to devices, such as mobile nodes, including mobile access terminals, base stations, including one or more connection points, and / or communication systems. Various embodiments are also directed to methods, such as controlling and / or manipulating mobile nodes, base stations and / or communication systems (eg, hosts). Various embodiments also include machine-readable media (eg, ROM, RAM, CD, etc.) that include machine-readable instructions for controlling a machine (eg, a computer) to perform one or more steps of the method. Aimed at hard disks, etc.).
In various embodiments described herein, a node stores, for example, group membership information indicating a member of the group to which the communication device belongs, a group corresponding to the communication device during a first period. Sending a send request signal used to indicate an intention to send to a member of the group on the send request resource, a send request response in the group send request response resource corresponding to an individual member of the group. Implemented using one or more modules to perform steps corresponding to one or more methods, such as monitoring to detect. Therefore, in some embodiments, various features are implemented using modules. Such modules may be implemented using software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Many of the methods or method steps described above are contained in machine-readable media, such as memory devices (eg, RAM, floppy (registered trademark) disks, etc.), such as in one or more nodes. Implemented using, for example, software or other machine-executable instructions to control a general purpose computer with or without additional hardware to perform all or part of the methods described above. be able to. Thus, among other things, various embodiments are for making a machine (eg, a processor and associated hardware) perform one or more of the steps of the method described above (s). Aimed at machine-readable media containing actionable instructions. Some embodiments are directed to devices (eg, communication devices) that include a processor configured to perform one, more or all of the steps in one or more of the methods of the invention.
In some embodiments, a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing one or more computers to perform various functions, steps, acts and / or operations (eg, one or more steps described above). Directed to computer program products, including. Depending on the embodiment, the computer program product can include, and sometimes contains, different code for each step to be performed. Therefore, computer program products may include, and sometimes include, code for each individual step in a method (eg, a method of controlling a communication device or node). The code is, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only). It may be in the form of a machine (eg, computer) executable instruction stored on a computer-readable medium such as Memory)) or other type of storage device. In addition to being directed to computer program products, some embodiments are configured to perform one or more of the various functions, steps, acts and / or operations in one or more of the methods described above. Directed to the processor. Therefore, some embodiments are directed to processors (eg, CPUs) that are configured to perform some or all of the steps in the methods described herein. For example, the processor may be used, for example, in the communication device or other device described herein.
In some embodiments, one processor or multiple processors (eg, multiple CPUs) of one or more devices (eg, communication devices such as wireless terminals) may be executed by the communication device. It is configured to perform the steps in the described method. Thus, some, but not all, embodiments include a processor-equipped device (eg, communication) that includes a module corresponding to each of the steps in various described methods performed by the device that includes the processor. Aimed at the device). In some, but not all, devices (eg, communication devices) include modules corresponding to each of the steps in the various described methods performed by the device including the processor. Modules may be implemented using software and / or hardware.
Although described in the context of OFDM systems, at least some of the methods and devices of various embodiments are applicable to a wide range of communication systems, including many non-OFDM and / or non-cellular systems.
Numerous further modifications to the methods and devices of the various embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above description. Such variants should be considered within this range. The methods and devices are used with CDMA, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDM), and / or various other types of communication technologies that can be used to provide wireless communication links between access nodes and mobile nodes. Also, various embodiments are used with them. In some embodiments, the access node is implemented as a base station that uses OFDM and / or CDMA to establish a communication link with the mobile node. In various embodiments, to implement the method, the mobile node is a notebook computer, personal data assistant (PDA), or personal data assistant (PDA) that includes a receiver / transmitter circuit and logic and / or routines. Implemented as another portable device<u style="single">。</u><u style="single">Hereinafter, inventions corresponding to the claims described in the claims of the original application of the present application will be added.</u><u style="single">[1] In the method of operating the first communication device, the method corresponds to storing group membership information indicating a member of the group to which the first communication device belongs and corresponding to the first communication device. Sending a send request on the group send request resource, which is used to indicate an intent to send to members of the group during the first period, and a group send request corresponding to an individual member of the group. -A method that involves monitoring a response resource to detect a send request response.</u><u style="single">[2] The group transmission request resource corresponding to the first communication device is a set of transmission request resources (the set of transmission request resources also includes a connection-based transmission request resource). The method described in [1], which is a part.</u><u style="single">[3] Prior to the first period, the transmission request resource should be acquired, and the acquired transmission request resource should be used by the first communication device as the transmission request resource corresponding to the group. The method according to [1], further comprising communicating information indicating the above to other members of the group.</u><u style="single">[4] The method according to [3], wherein the acquired transmission request resource is a single transmission request resource for each of a plurality of transmission request periods.</u><u style="single">[5] Prior to monitoring the transmit request / response in the group transmit request / response resource corresponding to an individual member of the group, the transmit request / response resource from the other members of the group is the other of the group. The method described in [3], which further comprises receiving information indicating that it should be used as a send request response resource by a member of.</u><u style="single">[6] The method according to [1], wherein the traffic data is transmitted using the traffic resource corresponding to the transmitted group transmission request, following the detection of at least one response by monitoring the transmission request response. ..</u><u style="single">[7] Receiving a group transmission request from another member of the group on the group transmission request resource corresponding to the other member during the second period, and receiving a group transmission request response. The method according to [3], further comprising transmitting in the group transmission request / response resource corresponding to the communication device.</u><u style="single">[8] During the second period in storing the peer-to-peer connection information indicating the peer-to-peer communication connection with the second device and in the transmission request resource corresponding to the peer-to-peer connection on the peer-to-peer connection. The method according to [1], wherein a request for transmitting data is transmitted to the second device.</u><u style="single">[9] The second device is a member of the group, the first communication device is a member of the group, and at the same time maintains the peer-to-peer connection with the second device. The method described in [8].</u><u style="single">[10] In the first communication device, a group information storage module configured to store group membership information indicating a member of the group to which the first communication device belongs, a wireless transmitter module, and the first communication device. Control the radio transmitter module to send a transmit request used to indicate its intent to transmit to members of the group during the first period on the group transmit request resource corresponding to the communication device of A transmit request response in a group transmit request control module configured to receive a signal, a wireless receiver module configured to receive a signal, and a group transmit request response resource corresponding to an individual member of the group. A first communication device that includes a group request response monitoring module that is configured to monitor for detection.</u><u style="single">[11] The group transmission request resource corresponding to the first communication device is a set of transmission request resources (the set of transmission request resources also includes a connection-based transmission request resource). The first communication device described in [10] which is a part.</u><u style="single">[12] Prior to the first period, the resource acquisition module for acquiring the transmission request resource and the first communication as the transmission request resource in which the acquired transmission request resource is configured to correspond to the group. The first communication device according to [10], further comprising a resource communication module configured to communicate information indicating that it should be used by the device to other members of the group.</u><u style="single">[13] The first communication device according to [12], wherein the acquired transmission request resource is a single transmission request resource for each of a plurality of transmission request periods.</u><u style="single">[14] Prior to monitoring the transmit request / response in the group transmit request / response resource corresponding to an individual member of the group, the transmit request / response resource from the other members of the group is the other of the group. The first communication device according to [12], further comprising a group resource detection module configured to receive information indicating that it should be used as a send request response resource by a member of.</u><u style="single">[15] A group configured to transmit traffic data using the traffic resources corresponding to the transmitted group transmit request, following the detection of at least one response by the group request response monitoring module. The first communication device according to [10], which further includes a traffic signaling control module.</u><u style="single">[16] A group configured to receive a group transmit request from a received signal from another member of the group during a second period on the group transmit request resource corresponding to the other member. A group transmission request / response control module configured to control the wireless transmitter module so that the request monitoring module and the group transmission request / response are transmitted in the group transmission request / response resource corresponding to the communication device. The first communication device according to [12], further including.</u><u style="single">[17] A peer-to-peer information storage module configured to store peer-to-peer connection information indicating a peer-to-peer communication connection with a second device, and a transmission request resource corresponding to the peer-to-peer connection on the peer-to-peer connection. In addition, during the second period, a peer-to-peer transmission request control module configured to control the radio transmitter module to transmit a request to transmit data to the second device. The first communication device described in [10], including.</u><u style="single">[18] The second device is a member of the group, the first communication device is a member of the group, and at the same time maintains the peer-to-peer connection with the second device. The first communication device described in [17].</u><u style="single">[19] In the first communication device, a group information storage means for storing group membership information indicating a member of the group to which the first communication device belongs, a wireless transmitter means, and the first communication device. To control the radio transmitter means to transmit a transmit request used to indicate an intent to transmit to a member of the group during the first period on the group transmit request resource corresponding to. Group transmission request control means and</u><u style="single">A wireless receiver means for receiving a signal and a group request response monitoring means for monitoring to detect a transmission request response in a group transmission request response resource corresponding to an individual member of the group. First communication device, including.</u><u style="single">[20] The group transmit request resource corresponding to the first communication device is a set of transmit request resources (the set of transmit request resources also includes a connection-based transmit request resource). The first communication device described in [19], which is a part.</u><u style="single">[21] Prior to the first period, the resource acquisition module for acquiring the transmission request resource and the first communication as the transmission request resource in which the acquired transmission request resource is configured to correspond to the group. The first communication device according to [19], further comprising a resource communication module configured to communicate information indicating that it should be used by the device to other members of the group.</u><u style="single">[22] The first communication device according to [21], wherein the acquired transmission request resource is a single transmission request resource for each of a plurality of transmission request periods.</u><u style="single">[23] A transmission request / response resource from another member of the group is the other of the group prior to monitoring the transmission request / response in the group transmission request / response resource corresponding to an individual member of the group. The first communication device according to [21], further comprising a group resource detection module configured to receive information indicating that it should be used as a send request response resource by a member of.</u><u style="single">[24] In a computer program product used for a communication device, the computer program product includes a code for causing the computer to store group membership information indicating a member of the group to which the communication device belongs, and a computer for the communication device. On the corresponding group send request resource, during the first period, the code for causing the send request used to indicate the intent to send to the members of the group and the computer to send the individual of the group. A computer program product that includes a computer-readable medium that contains code for monitoring to detect a send request response in a group send request response resource that corresponds to a member of.</u><u style="single">[25] The group transmit request resource corresponding to the communication device is part of a set of transmit request resources (the set of transmit request resources also includes a connection-based transmit request resource). A computer program product described in [24].</u><u style="single">[26] The computer-readable medium is a code for causing the computer to acquire a transmission request resource, and the first communication in which the acquired transmission request resource is used as a transmission request resource corresponding to the group. The computer program product according to [24], further comprising a code for communicating information indicating that it should be used by the device to other members of the group.</u>
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Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office |
|---|---|---|
| WO2007061014A1 | Cites | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) |
| WO2005076544A1 | Cites | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) |
| JP2005318634A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2007520968A | Cites | Japan |
69 members in 10 offices
Priority claims14
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| US20080166619 | – | – | – |
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| WO2009009691A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
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| TW200917721A | Taiwan Province of China | A | |
| TW200920036A | Taiwan Province of China | A | |
| TW200922349A | Taiwan Province of China | A | |
| TW200922353A | Taiwan Province of China | A | |
| CN101690045A | China | A | |
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| EP2171932A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
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| AT541417T | Austria | T | |
| ATE541417T1 | Austria | T1 | |
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| HUE032596T2 | Hungary | T2 | |
| EP2172077B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 |
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Numbers
- Publication
- 4965708
- Publication, DOCDB
- 4965708
- Publication, EPODOC
- JP4965708B
- Application
- 2010516216
- Application, DOCDB
- 2010516216
- Application, EPODOC
- JP20100516216
Titles2
- Japanese
- デバイス識別子を利用するグループ通信をサポートするための方法及び装置
- English
- Methods and devices to support group communication using device identifiers
Classification
- CPC, 6
- H04W72/56
- H04W72/121
- H04W4/08
- H04W84/18
- H04B17/382
- H04W76/14
- IPC, 2
- H04W84 18
- H04W4 06
