EP1779600A1

EP1779600A1 - Method and apparatus to support p2p communication

Info

Publication number: EP1779600A1
Application number: EP05777289A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Li Philips Electronics China SUN; Yonggang Philips Electronics China DU
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Priority date: 2004-08-10
Filing date: 2005-08-03
Publication date: 2007-05-02
Also published as: WO2006016329A1; TW200708007A; JP2008510342A; KR20070048720A; CN1735264A

Abstract

A P2P communication method to be executed in a UE, comprising: sending a P2P communication service registration request message to a communication network system; receiving a P2P communication service registration confirmation message from the communication network system, which at least including a P2P communication identification code for identifying the UE in offline P2P communication; storing the P2P communication identification code of the UE. The P2P communication method to be executed in the communication network system, comprising: receiving the P2P communication service registration request message from the UE; generating a P2P communication identification code for the UE, according to the request message; sending a P2P communication service registration confirmation message to the UE.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO SUPPORT P2P COMMUNICATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a wireless communication network, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus to support P2P communication in the wireless communication network.

BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTION

In conventional cellular mobile communication systems, only through the relaying of base stations can a UE (user equipment) communicate with another UE. Fig.l illustrates this conventional communication mode in TD-SCDMA(Time Division- Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) system, in which UEl and UE2 exchange information through

UTRAN consisting of a base station transceiver (Node B) and a radio network controller (RNC). This conventional communication mode is also called as UP- Base Station -DOWN mode. But in some cases where two users camping in a cell are very close to each other, it can be a more reasonable for them to communicate directly rather than through the relaying/forwarding of base stations, and this is the so-called peer-to-peer communication, abbreviated as P2P.

Fig.2 shows a P2P communication mode in TD-SCMDA system. As shown in Fig.2, there only exists control link as represented by the dashed line for transferring signaling between UTRAN and UEl and UE2, whereas there only exists P2P direct link as represented by the solid line for transferring traffic data between the communicating UEl and UE2. Compared with conventional communication mode, P2P communication can save up to 50% radio resource, and at the same time UTRAN still keeps control of the P2P communication, especially the use of radio resource, thus it's very easy for network operators to charge for the radio resource used by P2P communication. This P2P communication mode monitored by UTRAN is also called as online P2P communication mode, as described in the patent applications filed by KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N. V. on March 7, 2003, Application Serial No. 03119892.9 and 03119894.5, and incorporated herein as reference.

Referring to the P2P communication mode as shown in Fig.2, when trying to launch P2P communication with UE2, UEl sends a P2P communication request to UTRAN by using UE2's MSISDN (Mobile Subscriber ISDN), which is similar to conventional communication mode. Upon receiving the P2P communication request, UTRAN sends the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), TMSI (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity) or P-TMSI (Packet TMSI) corresponding to UE2's MSISDN to UEl, based on the mapping relationship between the MSISDNs of UEs and the relevant IMSIs and TMSIs registered in HLR/VLR or that between the MSISDNs of UEs and the relevant P-TMSIs registered in SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node), so that UEl can page UE2 via its IMSI, TMSI or P-TMSI, thus to establish P2P communication link between UEl and UE2. However, with respect to this method to launch P2P communication via IMSI, TMSI or P-TMSI, it can be very difficult for the called UE2 to distinguish the communication mode the calling party intends to adopt. Namely, UE2 can't determine whether to launch P2P communication or conventional communication only according to the paging address used by the calling UEl . Furthermore, if UEl and UE2 happen to be located outside the coverage area of the communication network, they can't acquire IMSI, TMSI or P-TMSI of their peer without the support of the communication network system, and thus can't start P2P communication between them.

It is, therefore, necessary to propose a new P2P communication method, to facilitate P2P communication between two UEs that are very close to each other and fall outside the coverage area of the communication network (offline P2P communication), and to launch P2P communication between two UEs within the coverage area of the communication network even without IMSI, TMSI or P-TMSI of their peer as provided by the network system (online P2P communication).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for P2P communication, with which P2P communication can be established between UEs without IMSI, TMSI or P-TMSI.

A P2P communication method to be executed in a UE is proposed according to the present invention, comprising steps: sending a P2P communication service registration request message to a communication network system; receiving a P2P communication service registration confirmation message from the communication network system, which at least including a P2P communication identification code to identify the UE in offline P2P communication; storing the P2P communication identification code of the UE. A P2P communication method to be executed in a communication network system is proposed according to the present invention, comprising steps: receiving a P2P communication service registration request message from a UE; generating a P2P communication identification code to identify the UE in offline P2P communication, according to the request message; sending a P2P communication service registration confirmation message to the UE, which at least including the P2P communication identification code.

A UE is proposed according to the present invention, comprising: a sending unit, for sending a P2P communication service registration request message to a communication network system; a receiving unit, for receiving a P2P communication service registration confirmation message from the communication network system, which at least including a

P2P communication identification code to identify the UE in offline P2P communication; an extracting unit, for extracting the P2P communication identification code of the UE from the P2P communication service registration confirmation message; a storing unit, for storing the P2P communication identification code of the UE. A communication network system is proposed according to the present invention, comprising: a receiving unit, for receiving a P2P communication service registration request message from a UE; a generating unit, for generating a P2P communication identification code to identify the UE in offline P2P communication, according to the request message; a sending unit, for sending a P2P communication service registration confirmation message to the UE, which at least including the P2P communication identification code.

Other objects and attainments together with a fuller- understanding of the invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig.l is a schematic diagram showing a communication system adopting conventional communication mode;

Fig.2 is a schematic diagram showing a TD-SCDMA system adopting P2P communication mode; Fig.3 is a schematic diagram showing a TD-SCDMA system adopting offline P2P communication mode;

Fig.4 is a flowchart illustrating the method for P2P communication in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig.5 is a flowchart illustrating the generation of a P2P communication service registration confirmation message in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig.6 is the block diagram illustrating the UE and network system to carry out P2P communication in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Throughout the drawing figures, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts and components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the P2P communication method as proposed in the present invention, when a UE registers P2P communication service in a communication network system, the communication network system will generate a P2P communication identification code for the UE. By exploiting the P2P communication identification code acquired from the communication network system, two UEs that has registered P2P communication service can both find their peer, no matter in online P2P communication mode or in offline communication mode without support from the communication network system, thus the two UEs can establish P2P communication by themselves. A TD-SCDMA system will be taken as an example in the following, to describe the

P2P communication method as proposed in the present invention, in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

Fig.3 depicts a TD-SCDMA system adopting offline P2P communication mode according to the present invention. As shown in Fig.3, before carrying out P2P communication, UEl and UE2 register P2P communication service at UTRAN in conventional communication mode. After obtaining the P2P communication identification code of their peer, UEl and UE2 establish P2P communication link by using the P2P communication identification code of their peer. After P2P communication is completed, UEl and UE2 go back to idle state in conventional communication mode respectively. Fig.4 illustrates the procedure for UEl to register P2P communication service in the communication network system. As shown in Fig.4, when UEl enters into the coverage area of the communication network, it sends a location update message to the communication network system UTRAN, to perform a location update procedure (Step SlO). Upon receipt of the location update message from UEl, UTRAN updates UEl 's location information, and returns a location update confirmation message to UEl .

Afterwards, UEl sends a P2P communication service registration request message to UTRAN (Step S20). Furthermore, UEl can also respond the P2P communication service query message from UTRAN, to send the P2P communication service registration request message to UTRAN. Upon receipt of the P2P communication service registration request message from

UEl, UTRAN generates a P2P communication identification code for UEl, encapsulates the P2P communication identification code in a P2P communication service registration confirmation message and sends it to UEl (Step S30). Step S30 will be described below in conjunction with Fig.5. UEl receives the P2P communication service registration confirmation message and prepares for carrying out P2P communication (Step S40).

Step S30 will be described in further detail below in conjunction with Fig.5.

First, upon receipt of the P2P communication service registration request message from UEl, UTRAN generates a P2P communication identification code and a life-timer for UEl (Step S301).

The P2P communication identification code is UEl's identification information during P2P communication. Other UEs can find UEl according to UEl's P2P communication identification code, and thus establish P2P communication link with UEl.

The P2P communication identification code can also be in form of mobile IP, expression form similar to IMSI, TMSI or P-TMSI, or a customized way to form a specific identification for P2P communication. UTRAN can generate a permanent P2P communication identification code for UEl when UEl registers P2P communication service at the first time, or generate a temporary P2P communication identification code for UEl that has registered P2P communication service each time UEl enters into the P2P communication service area. The time limit of the P2P communication identification code is set according to the life-timer assigned by UTRAN. For a permanent P2P communication identification code, the value of the life-timer is to be determined by the fee for P2P communication as prepaid by UEl. If the P2P communication time to be enjoyed by UEl is obtained through accumulating conventional communication time, the value of the life-timer is to be determined by the conventional communication time to be used accumulatively. For a temporary P2P communication identification code, the value of the life-timer is to be determined through negotiations between UEl and UTRAN.

When the time limit as defined by the life-timer expires, for a permanent P2P communication identification code, UEl needs to pay P2P communication fee again or discount the accumulated conventional communication time into P2P communication time, to activate the P2P communication identification code, so as to continue to enjoy the P2P communication service by using the P2P communication identification code. While for a temporary P2P communication identification code, UEl needs to resend a request for registering P2P communication service to UTRAN, to obtain a new temporary P2P communication identification code, thus to continue to enjoy the P2P communication service by using the new P2P communication identification code.

UTRAN encapsulates the P2P communication identification code for UEl as generated above and its life-timer into a P2P communication service registration confirmation message. Then, UTRAN determines whether there is any record indicating that other UEs who have registered P2P communication service have once requested for UEl's P2P communication identification code (Step S303).

If there are such records, for instance, UE2 have once requested for UEl's P2P communication identification code, UTRAN searches for the P2P communication identification codes of other UEs (such as UE2) and the relevant life-timers in the information library for storing the P2P communication identification codes of the UEs and the relevant life-timers. If getting the P2P communication identification codes of other UEs (such as UE2) and the relevant life-timers, UTRAN determines whether the P2P communication identification codes of other UEs (such as UE2) are still in life time according to the time remained in the life-timer (step S304). If there is still time remained in the life-timer, UTRAN attaches the searched P2P communication identification codes of other UEs (such as UE2) and the relevant life-timers into the above P2P communication service registration confirmation message (step S305). Further, UTRAN sends UEl 's P2P communication identification code and the relevant life-timer to other UEs (such as UE2) (Step S307). If there is no record indicating that other UEs have once requested for UEl's P2P communication identification code, the process will go directly to Step S309, that is: UTRAN determines whether there is demand information for UEl to request for the P2P communication identification codes of other UEs included in the P2P communication service registration message from UEl (Step S309). If such demand information doesn't exist, the process will go directly to Step S319.

If such demand information exists, UTRAN determines whether there is the P2P communication identification code of the UE designated in the demand information in the information library which stores the P2P communication identification codes of the UEs and the relevant life-timers (step S311). If in UTRAN's information library there is the P2P communication identification code of the designated UE (such as UE3), UTRAN determines whether the P2P communication identification code of the designated UE is still in life time according to the time remained in the life-timer (Step S312). If there is time remained in the life-timer of the designated UE (such as UE3), UTRAN attaches the stored P2P communication identification code of the designated UE (such as UE3) and the relevant life-timer into the above P2P communication service registration confirmation message (Step S315), and sends UEl's P2P communication identification code and its relevant life-timer to the designated UE (such as UE3) (Step S317).

If there is no P2P communication identification code of the designated UE (such as UE3) in UTRAN's information library, UTRAN attaches the UE that is designated in the demand information but whose P2P communication identification code is not yet stored in UTRAN into UEl's demand record (Step S313).

Next, UTRAN stores UEl 's P2P communication identification code and its relevant life-timer in the information library (Step S319), and sends the P2P communication service registration confirmation message generated above to UEl (Step S321). The method for use in P2P communication as proposed in the present invention can be implemented in software or hardware, or in combination of both.

Fig.6 illustrates the architecture of the network system and the UE according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the UE starts P2P communication based on the P2P communication identification code obtained from the network system, wherein the components same as those in conventional network system and UE are not shown.

As shown in Fig.6, when UEl enters into the communication network, a sending unit 10 of UEl sends a P2P communication service registration request message to UTRAN 100.

A receiving unit 110 in UTRAN receives the P2P communication service registration request message from UEl. Next, a generating unit 120 generates a P2P communication identification code for identifying UEl in offline communication according to the request message. Then, a sending unit 130 encapsulates it into a P2P communication service registration confirmation message and sends it to UEl.

Receiving unit 20 of UEl receives the P2P communication service registration confirmation message sent from UTRAN, extracting unit 40 extracts UEl's P2P communication identification code included in the P2P communication service registration confirmation message and stores UEl 's P2P communication identification code in storing unit 30. Thus, when UEl attempts to start P2P communication, P2P communication signal can be sent to another UE via sending unit 10 by using the stored P2P communication identification code.

Moreover, sending unit 10 of UEl can send a demand information to request for the P2P communication identification codes of other UEs to UTRAN.

After receiving unit 110 of UTRAN receives the demand information, searching unit

140 searches the information library that store P2P communication identification codes of UEs and the relevant life-timers, for the P2P communication identification code of the UE designated in the demand information, and sends the searched P2P communication identification code of the designated UE to UEl via sending unit 130. Receiving unit 20 of UEl receives the P2P communication identification code of the designated UE from UTRAN. For a designated UE without P2P communication identification code in the information library, setting unit 160 sets a demand record for UEl, and attaches the designated UE without searched P2P communication identification code in UEl 's demand record via attaching unit 170.

Furthermore, determining unit 150 of UTRAN can also determine whether in UTRAN there is demand record from other UEs to request for UEl 's P2P communication identification code. If there exists such demand record, sending unit 130 of UTRAN sends the P2P communication identification codes of other related UEs in the demand record to

UEl. Receiving unit 20 of UEl receives the P2P communication identification code related in the demand record.

When the above UTRAN generates a P2P communication identification code for UEl, UTRAN can also generate a life-timer for the P2P communication identification code to define the time limit of UEl 's P2P communication identification code. The P2P communication identification code and its life-timer can be set in the way same as or similar to that in the above P2P communication method.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

With regard to the detailed description to the embodiment of the present invention taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings, in the method and apparatus for P2P communication as proposed in the present invention, the communication network system generates a P2P communication identification code for each UE that requests for registering P2P communication service, so a UE can address with the P2P communication identification code of its peer when starting P2P communication, and thus establish P2P communication link with another UE.

Regarding the method and apparatus for P2P communication as proposed in the present invention, two UEs performing P2P communication can easily identify communication type according to the P2P communication identification code in the paging message. Furthermore, for two UEs outside the coverage area of the communication network, P2P communication can be established directly between them using the P2P communication identification code, which makes it possible to establish P2P communication even without identifications such as IMSI, TMSI or P-TMSI obtained from the communication network system.

With regard to the method and apparatus for P2P communication as proposed in the present invention, a UE can obtain the P2P communication identification codes of other

UEs and the relevant life-timers from the communication network system, so the user can make a dial using MSISDN of the peer UE just as in conventional communication. Based on the MSISDN of the called peer UE, the UE can find the P2P communication identification code of the peer UE corresponding to MSISDN of the peer UE in the obtained P2P communication identification codes of other UEs, thus to establish P2P communication with the peer UE.

With regard to the method and apparatus for P2P communication as proposed in the present invention, it's applicable to online P2P communication mode in which signaling link is maintained between the UEs and the network side and the network side monitors the data link for P2P communication between two UEs, and offline P2P communication mode in which no signaling link exists between the network side and the UEs and two UEs perform communication independently by using the P2P link between them.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the method and apparatus for P2P communication as disclosed in this invention can be made of various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A P2P communication method to be executed in a UE(user equipment), comprising steps of: sending a P2P communication service registration request message to a communication network system; receiving a P2P communication service registration confirmation message from the communication network system, which at least including a P2P communication identification code to identify the UE in offline P2P communication; storing the P2P communication identification code of the UE.

2. The P2P communication method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of: sending a demand information to the communication network system, to request for P2P communication identification codes of other UEs.

3. The P2P communication method according to claim 1, wherein said P2P communication service registration request message also comprises a demand information to request for P2P communication identification codes of other UEs.

4. The P2P communication method according to claim 2, further comprising steps of: receiving P2P communication identification codes of specific UEs from said communication network system; storing the P2P communication identification codes of the specific UEs.

5. The P2P communication method according to claim 4, wherein said specific UEs are UEs designated in said demand information, and said specific UEs have registered P2P communication service in said communication network system before said UE registers P2P communication service.

6. The P2P communication method according to claim 5, wherein said P2P communication service registration confirmation message also includes the P2P communication identification codes for said specific UEs.

7. The P2P communication method according to claim 4, wherein said specific UEs are UEs designated in said demand information, and said specific UEs have registered P2P communication service in said communication network system and obtained the corresponding P2P communication identification codes after said UE registers P2P communication service.

8. The P2P communication method according to claim 1, wherein said P2P communication service registration confirmation message also includes a life-timer, for defining time limit of said P2P communication identification code.

9. A P2P communication method to be executed in a communication network system, comprising steps of: receiving a P2P communication service registration request message from a UE(user equipment); generating a P2P communication identification code to identify the UE in offline P2P communication, according to the request message; sending a P2P communication service registration confirmation message to the UE, which at least including the P2P communication identification code.

10. The P2P communication method according to claim 9, further comprising steps of: receiving a demand information to request for P2P communication identification codes of other UEs from said UE; searching for P2P communication identification codes of UEs designated in the demand information; sending the searched P2P communication identification codes of the designated UEs to said UE.

11. The P2P communication method according to claim 9, wherein said P2P communication service registration request message also includes a demand information to request for P2P communication identification codes of other UEs, and said P2P communication service registration confirmation message also includes the P2P communication identification codes of the designated UEs.

12. The P2P communication method according to claim 10, further comprising steps of: setting a demand record for said UE; attaching said designated UEs without P2P communication identification code into the demand record.

13. The P2P communication method according to claim 12, further comprising steps of: determining whether there are demand records of other UEs who once request for the P2P communication identification code of said UE; sending the P2P communication identification code of said UE to said other UEs if there are such demand records.

14. The P2P communication method according to claim 13, further comprising step of: sending the P2P communication identification codes of said other UEs to said UE.

15. The P2P communication method according to claim 9, wherein said P2P communication service registration confirmation message also includes a life-timer, for defining time limit of said P2P communication identification code.

16. A UE(user equipment), comprising: a sending unit, for sending a P2P communication service registration request message to a communication network system; a receiving unit, for receiving a P2P communication service registration confirmation message from the communication network system, which at least including a P2P communication identification code to identify the UE in offline P2P communication; an extracting unit, for extracting the P2P communication identification code of said UE from the P2P communication service registration confirmation message; a storing unit, for storing the P2P communication identification code of the UE.

17. The UE according to claim 16, wherein said sending unit sends a demand information to the communication network system, to request for other UEs' P2P communication identification codes.

.

18. The UE according to claim 17, wherein said receiving unit receives P2P communication identification codes for specific UEs from said communication network system.

19. The UE according to claim 18, wherein said specific UEs are UEs designated in said demand information, and said specific UEs have registered P2P communication service in said communication network system before said UE registers P2P communication service.

20. The UE according to claim 19, wherein said specific UEs are UEs designated in said demand information, and said specific UEs have registered P2P communication service in said communication network system and obtained the corresponding P2P communication identification codes after said UE registers P2P communication service.

21. The UE according to claim 16, wherein said P2P communication service registration confirmation message also includes a life-timer, for defining time limit of said P2P communication identification code.

22. A communication network system, comprising: a receiving unit, for receiving a P2P communication service registration request message from a UE(user equipment); a generating unit ,for generating a P2P communication identification code to identify the UE in offline P2P communication, according to the request message; a sending unit, for sending a P2P communication service registration confirmation message to the UE, which at least including the P2P communication identification code.

23. The communication network system according to claim 22, wherein said receiving unit receives a demand information to request for P2P communication identification codes of other UEs from said UE, said communication network system further comprising: a searching unit, for searching for P2P communication identification codes of UEs designated in the demand information; wherein said sending unit sends the searched P2P communication identification codes of the designated UEs to said UE.

24. The communication network system according to claim 23, further comprising: a setting unit, for setting a demand record for said UE; an attaching unit, for attaching said designated UEs without P2P communication identification code into the demand record.

25. The communication network system according to claim 24, further comprising: a determining unit, for determining whether there are demand records of other UEs who once request for the P2P communication identification code of said UE; wherein said sending unit sends the P2P communication identification code of said

UE to said other UEs if there are such demand records.

26. The communication network system according to claim 22, said P2P communication service registration confirmation message also includes a life-timer, for defining time limit of said P2P communication identification code.