Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W76/00—Connection management
  • H04W76/10—Connection setup
  • H04W76/14—Direct-mode setup
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/01—Protocols
  • H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
  • H04L67/104—Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W60/00—Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W76/00—Connection management
  • H04W76/10—Connection setup
  • H04W76/11—Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W8/00—Network data management
  • H04W8/26—Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Definitions

• 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.
• 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
• TD-SCDMA Time Division- Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access
• UTRAN consisting of a base station transceiver (Node B) and a radio network controller (RNC).
• Node B base station transceiver
• RNC radio network controller
• This conventional communication mode is also called as UP- Base Station -DOWN mode.
• P2P peer-to-peer communication
• Fig.2 shows a P2P communication mode in TD-SCMDA system.
• control link as represented by the dashed line for transferring signaling between UTRAN and UEl and UE2
• P2P direct link as represented by the solid line for transferring traffic data between the communicating UEl and UE2.
• 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.
• UEl 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.
• MSISDN Mobile Subscriber ISDN
• UTRAN 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.
• IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity
• TMSI Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity
• P-TMSI Packet TMSI
• 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.
• 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 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 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 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
• a communication network system 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.
• 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
• the communication network system 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.
• 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
• Fig.3 depicts a TD-SCDMA system adopting offline P2P communication mode according to the present invention.
• UEl and UE2 register P2P communication service at UTRAN in conventional communication mode.
• UEl and UE2 establish P2P communication link by using the P2P communication identification code of their peer.
• 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.
• Step SlO 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).
• UTRAN Upon receipt of the location update message from UEl, UTRAN updates UEl 's location information, and returns a location update confirmation message to UEl .
• 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 UTRAN (Step S20).
• Step S30 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.
• UTRAN 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.
• the value of the life-timer is to be determined by the conventional communication time to be used accumulatively.
• the value of the life-timer is to be determined through negotiations between UEl and UTRAN.
• UEl 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).
• 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).
• 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).
• Step S309 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.
• 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).
• 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).
• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
• a generating unit 120 generates a P2P communication identification code for identifying UEl in offline communication according to the request message.
• 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.
• P2P communication signal can be sent to another UE via sending unit 10 by using the stored P2P communication identification code.
• sending unit 10 of UEl can send a demand information to request for the P2P communication identification codes of other UEs to UTRAN.
• searching unit 110 of UTRAN After receiving unit 110 of UTRAN receives the demand information, searching unit 110
• Receiving unit 20 of UEl receives the P2P communication identification code of the designated UE from UTRAN.
• 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.
• 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
• Receiving unit 20 of UEl receives the P2P communication identification code related in the demand record.
• 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.
• the communication network system 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.
• 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.
• a UE can obtain the P2P communication identification codes of other
• the 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.
• 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.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
• Communication Control (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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• 2004
  • 2004-08-10 CN CNA2004100565376A patent/CN1735264A/zh active Pending
• 2005
  • 2005-08-03 JP JP2007525414A patent/JP2008510342A/ja active Pending
  • 2005-08-03 EP EP05777289A patent/EP1779600A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-08-03 WO PCT/IB2005/052592 patent/WO2006016329A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-08-03 KR KR1020077002991A patent/KR20070048720A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-08-10 TW TW094127181A patent/TW200708007A/zh unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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