GB2499418A

GB2499418A - Transmitting a message comprising information related to device to device communication from a User Equipment to a Network Entity

Info

Publication number: GB2499418A
Application number: GB1202608.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samuli Turtinen; Sami-Jukka Hakola; Timo Koskela; Anna Pantelidou; Juhu Pekka Karjalainen; Matti Pikkarainen; Ville Vartiainen
Original assignee: Renesas Mobile Corp
Current assignee: Renesas Electronics Corp
Priority date: 2012-02-15
Filing date: 2012-02-15
Publication date: 2013-08-21
Also published as: WO2013121399A1; GB201202608D0

Abstract

A request for a counting communication message is transmitted from a Network Entity (e.g. a Base Station, Access Point, eNB etc) to at least one device (e.g. User Equipment). The Network Entity receives the counting communication message from at least one device wherein the counting communication message comprises information related to device to device communications. Aspects of the invention include allocating discovery resources related to device to device communications based at least in part on the received information. Aspects of the invention further include at least one of the devices are in an RRC idle state. Thus, the network entity (AP, NB, BS, eNB etc) polls communication devices in both RRC connected and RRC Idle states regarding their interest in D2D communications, the services they provide, and the services they desire. Further aspects include the information may comprise an indication that the device is a discovery receiver, an indication that the device is a discovery transmitter, an indication of a service that the device provides, the service that the device requests, indication of receiver capabilities, discovery transmitter capabilities, and/or the like.

Description

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Method and Apparatus for Allocating Discovery Resources for Device to Device

Communications

Technical Field

5 An example embodiment of the present invention relates generally to the establishment of communication and, more particularly, to the efficient allocation of discovery resources for device to device communications.

Background

10 Device to device communication allows for two or more devices to communicate directly with one another. Device to device communication has gained popularity and is expected to significantly increase in the near future.

A first device may be interested in establishing a device to device communication with a second device to receive and/or provide one or more services.

15 Additionally, the network may desire to determine the number of devices in the network interested in establishing a device to device communication as well as what type(s) of services each device would like to provide and/or receive.

In some instances, the network may not have sufficient information to efficiently allocate discovery resources for establishing device to device

20 communication connections. As a result, there is a need for allowing a network to obtain more complete information related to the devices in the network interested in establishing device to device communications and the services they provide and/or desire.

25 Summary

A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided according to an example embodiment of the present invention to provide a more efficient mechanism by which discovery resources for device to device communications may be allocated. For example, the method, apparatus and computer

30 program product of one embodiment may enable requesting and receiving device to device communications information from a device. In this regard, the method,

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apparatus and computer program product of one example embodiment of the present invention may allow a network to allocate discovery resources for device to device communications based on device information, such as discovery transmitter/receiver and service class provided/requested, received not only from devices in the RCC 5 Connected state but also in the RCC Idle state, thereby providing increased efficiency and informed control of the allocation of discovery resources.

A method is provided in one embodiment for use in a network element, the method comprising causing a request for a counting communication message to be transmitted to at least one device. The method further comprises receiving a said 10 requested counting communication message from at least one device. The counting communication message comprises information related to device to device communications. The method also comprises allocating discovery resources related to device to device communications based at least in part on the received information. In another embodiment, a computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions 15 may be provided, which when executed on an apparatus embodying the network element causes the apparatus to perform the various operations of the example method.

In another embodiment, an apparatus is provided for use in a network element, the apparatus comprising a processing system which may be embodied by at least one 20 processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to cause a request for a counting communication message to be transmitted to at least one device. The processing system is also arranged to cause the apparatus to receive a said requested counting communication message from at least one device. The counting communication 25 message comprises information related to device to device communications. The processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to allocate discovery resources related to device to device communications based at least in part on the received information.

In a further embodiment, a computer program product is provided that 30 comprises a set of instructions, which, when executed by a network element, causes the network element to cause a request for a counting communication message to be

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transmitted to at least one device. The set of instructions, when executed by the network element, causes the network element to receive a said requested counting communication message from at least one device. The counting communication message comprises information related to device to device communications. The set 5 of instructions may also include a set of instructions that, when executed by the network element, causes the network element to allocate discovery resources related to device to device communications based at least in part on the received information.

In yet another embodiment, an apparatus is provided for use in a network element, the apparatus including means for causing a request for a counting 10 communication message to be transmitted to at least one device. The apparatus of this embodiment also includes means for receiving the counting communication message from at least one device. The counting communication message comprises information related to device to device communications. The apparatus of this embodiment also includes means for allocating discovery resources related to device 15 to device communications based at least in part on the received information.

In one embodiment, a method is provided for use in a user equipment, the method comprising receiving a request for a counting communication message from a network entity. The method also comprises creating a counting communication message comprising information related to device to device communications. The 20 method of this embodiment also causes the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity. In another embodiment, a computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions may be provided, which when executed on an apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the various operations of the example method.

25 In another embodiment, an apparatus is provided for use in a user equipment,

the apparatus comprising a processing system that may be embodied as at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to at least receive a request for a counting communication message from a network entity. The processing system is also 30 arranged to cause the apparatus to create a counting communication message comprising information related to device to device communications. The processing

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system is arranged to cause the apparatus to cause the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity.

In a further embodiment, a computer program product is provided that comprises a set of instructions, which, when executed by a user equipment, causes the 5 user equipment to receive a request for a counting communication message from a network entity. The set of instructions also include a set of instructions that, when executed by the user equipment, causes the user equipment to create a counting communication message comprising information related to device to device communications. The set of instructions also include a set of instructions, which, 10 when executed by the user equipment, causes the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity.

In yet another embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes means for receiving a request for a counting communication message from a network entity. The apparatus also includes means for creating a counting communication message 15 comprising information related to device to device communications. The apparatus of this embodiment also includes means for causing the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity.

Brief Description of the Drawings 20 Having thus described several example embodiments of the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a system for enabling efficient allocation of discovery resources for device to device communications in accordance 25 with an example embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus that may be embodied as a device that is configured to enabling efficient allocation of discovery resources for device to device communications in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention;

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Figure 3 is a flow chart of the operations performed by an apparatus embodied by a network entity that requests information related to device to device communications in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an apparatus 5 embodied by a device that provides information related to device to device communications in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with 10 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 15 As used in this application, the term "circuitry" refers to all of the following:

(a)hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and (b) to combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) to a combination of processor(s) or (ii) to portions of processor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and 20 memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and (c) to circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present.

This definition of "circuitry" applies to all uses of this term in this application, 25 including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term "circuitry" would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term "circuitry" would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or application specific 30 integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other network device.

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A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention in order to enable more efficient allocation of discovery resources for device to device communications base at least in part on a counting procedure that allows a network entity to poll 5 communications devices in both RRC Connected as well as RRC Idle states regarding their interest in device to device communications, the services they provide, and the services they desire.

Although the method, apparatus and computer program product may be implemented in a variety of different systems, one example of such a system is shown 10 in Figure 1, which includes first and second communication devices 10, 12 that are capable of communication with each other via device to device communications. The first and second communication devices may also be configured to communicate with a network 14 (e.g., a core network) via respective network entities 16, such as an access point, e.g., a base station, a Node B, an evolved Node B (eNB), serving cell, 15 Home Subscriber Server (HSS), or other access point. While the network may be configured in accordance with Long Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), other networks may support the method, apparatus and computer program product of embodiments of the present invention including those configured in accordance with wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), CDMA2000, global system 20 for mobile communications (GSM), general packet radio service (GPRS) and/or the like.

The network 14 may include a collection of various different nodes, devices or functions that may be in communication with each other via corresponding wired and/or wireless interfaces. For example, the network may include one or more cells, 25 supported by respective access points, each of which may serve a respective coverage area. The cells could be, for example, part of one or more cellular or mobile networks or public land mobile networks (PLMNs). In turn, other devices such as processing devices (e.g., personal computers, server computers or the like) may be coupled to the communication devices 10, 12 and/or other communication devices via the network. 30 A communication device 10, 12, such as the mobile terminal (also known as user equipment (UE)), may be in communication with other communication devices

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or other devices via either device to device communications or via the network 14 utilizing a network entity 16 (e.g., an access point). In some cases, the communication device may include one or more antennae for transmitting signals to and for receiving signals from a serving cell.

5 In some example embodiments, the communication device 10, 12 may be a mobile terminal such as, for example, a mobile telephone, portable digital assistant (PDA), pager, laptop computer, or any of numerous other hand held or portable communication devices, computation devices, content generation devices, content consumption devices, or combinations thereof. As such, the communication device 10 10, 12 may include one or more processors that may define processing circuitry either alone or in combination with one or more memories. The processing circuitry may utilize instructions stored in the memory to cause the communication device 10, 12 to operate in a particular way or execute specific functionality when the instructions are executed by the one or more processors. The communication device 10, 12 may also 15 include communication circuitry and corresponding hardware/software to enable communication with other devices and/or the network 14.

In one embodiment, for example, either or both of the communication devices 10, 12 and/or the network entity 16 may be embodied as or otherwise include an apparatus 20 as generically represented by the block diagram of Figure 2. While the 20 apparatus 20 may be employed, for example, by a mobile terminal in the case of a communication device or an eNB in the case of a network entity, it should be noted that the components, devices or elements described below may not be mandatory and thus some may be omitted in certain embodiments. Additionally, some embodiments may include further or different components, devices or elements beyond those shown 25 and described herein.

As shown in Figure 2, the apparatus 20 may include or otherwise be in communication with processing circuitry 22 that is configurable to perform actions in accordance with example embodiments described herein. The processing circuitry may be configured to perform data processing, application execution, and/or other 30 processing and management services according to an example embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, the apparatus or the processing circuitry

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may be embodied as a chip or chip set. In other words, the apparatus or the processing circuitry may comprise one or more physical packages (e.g., chips) including materials, components and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g., a baseboard). The structural assembly may provide physical strength, conservation of 5 size, and/or limitation of electrical interaction for component circuitry included thereon. The apparatus or the processing circuitry may therefore, in some cases, be configured to implement an embodiment of the present invention on a single chip or as a single "system on a chip." As such, in some cases, a chip or chipset may constitute means for performing one or more operations for providing the 10 functionalities described herein.

In an example embodiment, the processing circuitry 22 may include at least one processor 24 and at least one memory 26 that may be in communication with or otherwise control a communication interface 28 and, in some cases, a user interface 30. As such, the processing circuitry may be embodied as a circuit chip (e.g., an 15 integrated circuit chip) configured (e.g., with hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software) to perform operations described herein. However, in some embodiments taken in the context of the communication device 10, 12, the processing circuitry may be embodied as a portion of a mobile computing device or other mobile terminal; and in other embodiments taken in the context of the network entity 16, the 20 processing circuitry may be embodied as a portion of an eNB.

The user interface 30 (if implemented) may be in communication with the processing circuitry 22 to receive an indication of a user input at the user interface and/or to provide an audible, visual, mechanical or other output to the user. As such, the user interface may include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a 25 display, a touch screen, a microphone, a speaker, and/or other input/output mechanisms.

The communication interface 28 may include one or more interface mechanisms for enabling communication with other devices and/or networks. In some cases, the communication interface may be any means such as a device or 30 circuitry embodied in either hardware, or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to a network 14 and/or any other

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device or module in communication with the processing circuitry 22, such as between the communication devices 10, 12 via device to device communication, or via the network, such as a cellular, e.g., LTE, network. In this regard, the communication interface may include, for example, an antenna (or multiple antennas) and supporting 5 hardware and/or software for enabling communications with a wireless communication network and/or a communication modem or other hardware/software for supporting communication via cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet or other methods.

In an example embodiment, the memory 26 may include one or more non-10 transitory memory devices such as, for example, volatile and/or non-volatile memory that may be either fixed or removable. The memory may be configured to store information, data, applications, instructions or the like for enabling the apparatus 20 to carry out various functions in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. For example, the memory could be configured to buffer input data for 15 processing by the processor 24. Additionally or alternatively, the memory could be configured to store instructions for execution by the processor. As yet another alternative, the memory may include one of a plurality of databases that may store a variety of files, contents or data sets. Among the contents of the memory, applications may be stored for execution by the processor in order to carry out the 20 functionality associated with each respective application. In some cases, the memory may be in communication with the processor via a bus for passing information among components of the apparatus.

The processor 24 may be embodied in a number of different ways. For example, the processor may be embodied as various processing means such as one or 25 more of a microprocessor or other processing element, a coprocessor, a controller or various other computing or processing devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), or the like. In an example embodiment, the processor may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory 26 or otherwise accessible 30 to the processor. As such, whether configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the processor may represent an entity (e.g., physically

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embodied in circuitry - in the form of processing circuitry 22) capable of performing operations according to embodiments of the present invention while configured accordingly. Thus, for example, when the processor is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA or the like, the processor may be specifically configured hardware for conducting the 5 operations described herein. Alternatively, as another example, when the processor is embodied as an executor of software instructions, the instructions may specifically configure the processor to perform the operations described herein.

Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operations performed by a method, apparatus, and computer program product, such as apparatus 20 of Figure 2, from the 10 perspective of a network entity 16 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operations performed by a method, apparatus, and computer program product, such as apparatus 20 of Figure 2, from the perspective of a communications device 10, 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. It will be understood that each block of the 15 flowchart, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart, may be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, processor, circuitry and/or other device associated with execution of software including one or more computer program instructions. For example, one or more of the procedures described above may be embodied by computer program instructions. In this regard, the computer program 20 instructions which embody the procedures described above may be stored by a memory device 26 of an apparatus employing an embodiment of the present invention and executed by a processor 24 in the apparatus. As will be appreciated, any such computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus (e.g., hardware) to produce a machine, such that the resulting computer or 25 other programmable apparatus provides for implementation of the functions specified in the flowchart block(s). These computer program instructions may also be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage memory that may direct a computer or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage memory produce an article of 30 manufacture, the execution of which implements the function specified in the flowchart block(s). The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a

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computer or other programmable apparatus to cause a series of operations to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide operations for implementing the functions 5 specified in the flowchart block(s). As such, the operations of Figures 3 and 4, when executed, convert a computer or processing circuitry into a particular machine configured to perform an example embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, the operations of Figures 3 and 4 define an algorithm for configuring a computer or processing circuitry 22, e.g., processor, to perform an example embodiment. In some 10 cases, a general purpose computer may be provided with an instance of the processor which performs the algorithm of Figures 3 and 4 to transform the general purpose computer into a particular machine configured to perform an example embodiment.

Accordingly, blocks of the flowcharts support combinations of means for performing the specified functions and combinations of operations for performing the 15 specified functions. It will also be understood that one or more blocks of the flowchart, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

In some embodiments, certain ones of the operations above may be modified 20 or further amplified as described below. Moreover, in some embodiments additional optional operations may also be included. It should be appreciated that each of the modifications, optional additions or amplifications below may be included with the operations above either alone or in combination with any others among the features described herein.

25 Referring now to Figure 3, the operations performed by a method, apparatus and computer program product of an example embodiment are illustrated from the perspective of a network entity 16 that requests information related to one or more communications devices 10, 12 associated with the network 14 interested in device to device communication discovery and allocates discovery resources for device to 30 device communication discovery based on the collected information. In accordance with an example embodiment, the collected information may identify the number of

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interested devices associated with the network in both the RRC Connected and Idle states as well as the services they provide and/or desire. For example, the services may comprise application services, gaming services, restaurant services, shopping services and/or the like. As such, the network entity 16 may allocate the resources for 5 device to device communication discovery based on the information received from devices in both RRC Connected and Idle states.

While the network entity 16 may be configured to determine information related to one or more devices, e.g., communications devices 10, 12, associated with the network 14 interested in device to device communication discovery regardless of 10 the RRC state of the devices, the communications that permit the network entity 16 to determine the device to device communication discovery information are particularly advantageous in an instance in which one or more devices are not in an RRC Connected state, such as in an instance in which one or more devices are in an RRC Idle state. For example, one or more communications devices 10, 12 may be 15 interested in device to device communications even though presently in an RRC Idle state. The network entity 16, however, if unable to request information related to the services these RRC Idle devices provide or desire, has insufficient information with which to make decisions regarding allocation of discovery resources for allowing the RRC Idle devices to establish device to device communications with each other 20 and/or other RRC Connected devices. Thus, example embodiments of the present invention are advantageous for allowing the network to request and receive information related to one or more communications devices 10, 12 in both the RCC Connected as well as Idle states interested in device to device communications.

As shown in block 40 of Figure 3, the apparatus 20 embodied by the network 25 entity 16 that requests device to device communication counting information may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, for causing a request for a counting communication message to be transmitted to at least one device. The at least one device may include one or more communication devices 10, 12 associated with the network 14 in an RRC Connected state and one or more 30 communication devices 10, 12 associated with the network 14 in an RRC Idle state. It should be understood that in certain embodiments, the at least one device may

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comprise only devices in the RRC Connected state or only devices in the RRC Idle state.

By causing the request for a counting communication message to be transmitted, the apparatus of various embodiments, such as the processing circuitry or 5 the processor, may initiate a counting procedure. In some embodiments, the apparatus of various embodiments initiating the counting procedure may be embodied as an eNB. In other embodiments, the apparatus initiating the counting procedure may be embodied as a device to device communications control network element. For example, the device to device communications control network element may be 10 implemented as a logical entity embodied as a Mobile Management Entity (MME) or a component of the MME. As another example, the device to device communications control network element may be embodied as a dedicated network element configured to handle device to device communications information. In this regard, the dedicated device to device communications control network element may provide an interface to 15 one or more other network entities 16 (e.g., eNB, MME, HSS, and/or the like) over which the dedicated device to device communications control network element exchanges information related to the counting procedure.

According to example embodiments, the apparatus 20, such as the processing circuitry 22 or the processor 24, is configured to cause the request for a counting 20 communication message to be transmitted via a downlink channel. In one embodiment, the request may be transmitted in a downlink subframe that comprises device to device communications discovery transmissions. In another embodiment, the request may be transmitted in the downlink subframe corresponding to the device to device communications discovery subframe in the uplink, for example, the n + 4th 25 subframe, wherein n corresponds to the downlink subframe.

In another embodiment, the apparatus 20, such as the processing circuitry 22 or the processor 24, may be configured to schedule the request for a counting communication message prior to causing transmission of the request. In one embodiment, the request may be scheduled via a System Information Block (SIB), for 30 example, an SIB defined for device to device communication. In another embodiment, the request may be scheduled via the Physical Downlink Control

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Channel (PDCCH). In this regard, the request may be scheduled via PDCCH using a common device to device communications Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI, e.g., a D2D RNTI (D-RNTI). For example, the request for a counting communication message may be scheduled via a PDCCH by mapping the request to at 5 least one subframe on a downlink channel or an uplink channel comprising one or more resources configured for device-to-device discovery.

Following the transmission of the request for a counting communication message, the apparatus 20 embodied by the first device 10 may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the 10 like, for receiving the counting communication message from at least one device. See block 42 of Figure 3. In this regard, the apparatus of various embodiments, such as the processing circuitry or the processor, may be configured to receive a counting communication message from at least one device in an RRC Idle state and/or at least one device in an RRC Connected state. In an example embodiment, the counting 15 communication message from a particular device may comprise information related to device to device communications associated with that device. For example, the information may comprise an indication that the device is a discovery receiver, an indication that the device is a discovery transmitter, an indication that the device is both a discovery receiver and a discovery transmitter, an indication of a service that 20 the device provides, an indication of a service that the device requests, and/or the like. As regards to receiving the counting communication message from at least one device, the apparatus 20, such as the processing circuitry 22 or the processor 24, may be configured to receive the counting communication message via a random access channel (RACH). In this regard, the RACH may refer to a transport channel RACH 25 or a physical RACH (PRACH) associated with a physical channel. For example, the RACH may be a separate RACH allocated for receiving counting communication messages. In one embodiment, the counting communication message may be received via a separate PRACH for each device or for each group of devices. In another embodiment, the counting communication message may be received from at 30 least one device via other uplink channels. The apparatus, such as the processing circuitry or the processor, of one embodiment may also be configured to receive a

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counting communication message from at least one device not in an RRC Idle state (i.e., in an RRC Connected state) via, e.g., the same PRACH used for the RRC Idle devices or a separate PRACH. In other embodiments, the counting communication message may be received over any other available uplink channel. According to these 5 various embodiments, the apparatus, such as the processing circuitry or the processor, may schedule the one or more PRACHs and the corresponding configuration parameters associated with each PRACH (e.g., root sequence value, preamble grouping information, mask index, and/or the like) via the PDCCH. In some embodiments, one or more preambles of the RACH or PRACH may be allocated 10 based at least in part on at least one of an indication that one or more of the devices comprise a discovery receiver, an indication that one or more of the devices comprise a discovery transmitter, an indication that one or more of the devices comprise both a discovery receiver and a discovery transmitter, an indication of a service that one or more of the devices provides, an indication of a service that one or more of the 15 devices requests, and/or the like.

According to example embodiments, the preambles of the RACH may be grouped according to device to device communication service classes supported and/or allowed in the cell. Additionally or alternatively, the preambles may be grouped according to service classes supported and/or allowed within the device to 20 device communication discovery area. The preambles for communication devices operating as discovery transmitters may be allocated separately, in certain instances, from the preambles for communication devices operating as discovery receivers. In these embodiments, the apparatus 20, such as the processing circuitry 22 or the processor 24, may be configured to establish whether uplink retransmissions 25 overlapping the PRACH are allowed in the cell or discovery area.

The apparatus 20, such as the processing circuitry 22 or the processor 24, in some embodiments, may compile and maintain the information contained in the one or more counting communication messages. In this regard, the compiled information may comprise a count of the number of device to device communications receivers, 30 transmitters, and joint receiver/transmitters. The compiled information may further

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comprise an indication of the number of devices providing a particular class of service and/or the number of devices requesting a particular class of service.

In response to receiving a counting communication message from a device via a RACH, the apparatus 20, such as the processing circuitry 22 or the processor 24, 5 may cause a random access response (RAR) to be transmitted to the device. The apparatus, such as the processing circuitry or the processor, may create the RAR such that it comprises an indication of the information compiled from the one or more counting communication messages received by the network entity 16. For example, the RAR may comprise an indication of the number of devices in the network 14 10 interested in device to device communications. In some embodiments, the RAR may comprise information of specific interest to the device, such as information related to the availability of services requested by the device, information related to other devices requesting services provided by the device, and/or the like. The RAR transmission may use a random access RNTI (RA-RNTI) derived from the legacy 15 RA-RNTI space. In an instance in which the amount of free values of the legacy RA-RNTI space is exceeded, the RA-RNTI may be expanded to include additional space. According to certain embodiments, based at least in part on receiving a counting communication message from a device via a RACH or any other uplink channel, the apparatus 20, such as the processing circuitry 22 or the processor 24, may cause a 20 counting result information message to be transmitted to the device via a downlink channel, for example, a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH). The apparatus, such as processing circuitry or processor, may create the message such that it comprises an indication of the information compiled from the one or more counting communication messages received by the network entity 16. For example, the 25 counting result information message may comprise an indication of the number of devices in the network 14 interested in device to device communications. In some embodiments, the counting result information message may comprise information of specific interest to the device, such as information related to the availability of services requested by the device, information related to other devices requesting 30 services provided by the device, and/or the like. In one embodiment, the counting result information message may be transmitted in a downlink subframe that comprises

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device to device communications discovery transmissions. In another embodiment, the counting result information message may be transmitted in the downlink subframe corresponding to the device to device communications discovery subframe in the uplink, for example, the n + 4th subframe. In another embodiment, the result message 5 may be scheduled via the PDCCH. In this regard, the result message may be scheduled via PDCCH using a common device to device communications RNTI, e.g., a D2D RNTI (D-RNTI). For example, the counting result information message may be scheduled via a PDCCH by mapping the message to at least one subframe on a downlink channel or an uplink channel comprising one or more resources configured 10 for device to device communications discovery.

Once one or more counting communications are received and the information contained therein is compiled, the apparatus 20 embodied by the first device 10 may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, for allocating discovery resources related to 15 device to device communications based at least in part on the received information. See block 44 of Figure 3. In one embodiment, the apparatus, such as the processing circuitry or the processor, may increase the discovery resources available to communications devices providing services that one or many other devices have requested. In another embodiment, the apparatus, such as the processing circuitry or 20 the processor, may decrease the discovery resources available to communications devices providing services that few or no other devices have requested. In this regard, more discovery resources may be allocated to the devices providing services with the greatest demand, while less discovery resources may be allocated to the devices providing services with the least demand. According to some embodiments, the 25 apparatus, such as the processing circuitry or the processor, may defer the discovery signal transmissions of a discovery transmitter device until such a time that a discovery receiver is detected by the network entity 16 requesting the service provided by the discovery transmitter device.

According to various embodiments, the apparatus, such as the processing 30 circuitry or the processor, may configure particular discovery resources specifically for the counting procedure. In some instances, the particular discovery resources may

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be dedicated exclusively to the counting procedure. A discovery period typically comprises multiple time-frequency resource grids. Thus, the apparatus, such as the processing circuitry or the processor, may allocate one or more resource grids or one or more portions of a resource grid (e.g., one or more resource elements) of the 5 discovery resources to the counting procedure. As a result, one or more additional or new parameters may be added to the discovery resource allocation. For example, one or more new parameters may be added to discovery resource allocation between the network entity 16 (e.g., a dedicated device to device communications control element) and one or more involved eNBs within the device to device communications 10 discovery area. As another example, one or more new parameters may be added to the SIB information for carrying discovery resource allocation information to the cell level. Similarly, the apparatus, such as the processing circuitry or the processor, may allocate part of the allocated resource grids to RACH signaling from the devices to the network 14, for example, to network element 16, an eNB, or the like. 15 Referring now to Figure 4, the operations performed by a method, apparatus and computer program product of an example embodiment are illustrated from the perspective of a communication device 10, 12 that provides information related to device to device communication discovery associated with the particular device. In these embodiments, communication device 10 represents a device configured to 20 request a service via device to device communications (e.g., a discovery receiver), and communication device 12 represents a device configured to provide a service via device to device communications (e.g., a discovery transmitter). It should be understood that embodiments of the communication device 10, 12 described below may further comprise any of the features described above, from the perspective of the 25 network entity 16, associated with a communications device.

As shown in block 50 of Figure 4, the apparatus 20 embodied by the communication device 10, 12 that provides device to device communication counting information may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, for receiving a request for a counting communication message from a 30 network entity. In some instances, the request for the counting communication message is received during an RCC Idle state, while in other instances the request for

19

the counting communication message is received during an RCC Connected state. The request, in various embodiments, may have been scheduled via SIB or PDCCH. Following receipt of the request, the apparatus 20 embodied by the communication device 10, 12 that provides device to device communication counting information 5 may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, for creating a counting communication message comprising information related to device to device communications. See block 52 of Figure 4. In this regard, the information may comprise an indication of discovery receiver capabilities of the device, an indication of discovery transmitter capabilities of the device, an indication 10 of both discovery receiver and discovery transmitter capabilities of the device, an indication of a service provided by the device, an indication of a service requested by the device, and/or the like.

Once the counting communication message is created, the apparatus 20 embodied by the communication device 10, 12 that provides device to device 15 communication counting information may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, for causing the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity. In some instances, the counting communication message is caused to be transmitted during an RCC Idle state, while in other instances the counting communication message is caused to be transmitted 20 during an RCC Connected state. See block 54 of Figure 4. In an instance in which the communication device 10, 12 is in an RRC Idle state, the apparatus, such as the processing circuitry or the processor, may cause the counting communication message to be transmitted via a RACH. In an instance in which the communication device 10, 12 is in an RRC Connected state, the apparatus, such as the processing 25 circuitry or the processor, may cause the counting communication message to be transmitted via the same RACH as used for the RRC Idle devices, or any available uplink channel.

According to certain embodiments, the apparatus 20, such as the processing circuitry 22 or the processor 24, may be configured to receive a random access 30 response from the network entity. The random access response may comprise information related to at least one other device providing a service requested by the

20

communication device 10, 12. In an instance in which the communication device 10, 12 configured to provide a service is in an RRC Idle state and the random access response or the result message in the downlink channel indicates one or more other devices interested in the provided service, the apparatus 20, such as the processing 5 circuitry 22 or the processor 24, may be configured to initiate procedures for switching from an RRC Idle to an RRC Connected state. In some instances, the communication device 10, 12 may further initiate procedures for establishing a device to device communications connection with the one or more other devices.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein 10 will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although 15 the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of 20 elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

21

Claims

Claims

1. A method for use in a network element, the method comprising:

causing a request for a counting communication message to be transmitted to

5 at least one device;

receiving a said requested counting communication message from at least one device, wherein the counting communication message comprises information related to device to device communications; and allocating discovery resources related to device to device communications

10 based at least in part on the received information.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least one devices are in an RRC idle state.

15 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein receiving the counting communication message from at least one device comprises receiving the counting communication message via a random access channel.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the random access channel

20 comprises a separate random access channel allocated for receiving counting communication messages.

5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the information comprises at least one of an indication the device is a discovery receiver, an indication

25 the device is a discovery transmitter, an indication the device is both a discovery receiver and a discovery transmitter, an indication of a service the device provides, and an indication of a service the device requests.

6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:

30 scheduling the request for a counting communication message via one of a system information block or a physical downlink control channel.

22

7. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:

causing a random access response to be transmitted to a device, wherein the random access response comprises information related to at least one other device 5 providing a service requested by the device.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: causing a counting result information message to be transmitted to a device,

wherein the counting result information message comprises information related to at 10 least one of information related to the availability of services requested by the device and information related to at least one other device requesting services provided by the device, and wherein the counting result information message is caused to be transmitted in at least one of a downlink subframe that comprises device to device communications discovery transmissions and a downlink subframe corresponding to 15 the device to device communications discovery subframe of an uplink channel.

9. A method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein allocating discovery resources related to device to device communications based at least in part on the received information comprises allocating more discovery resources to a device

20 providing a service requested by a first number of devices than to a device providing a service requested by a second number of devices, wherein the first number of devices is greater than the second number of devices.

10. A method according to any of claims 3 to 9, further comprising:

25 allocating one or more preambles of the random access channel based at least in part on at least one of an indication that one or more of the at least one devices comprises a discovery receiver, an indication that one or more of the at least one devices comprises a discovery transmitter, an indication that one or more of the at least one devices comprises both a discovery receiver and a discovery transmitter, an 30 indication of a service that one or more of the at least one devices provides, and an indication of a service that one or more of the at least one devices requests.

23

11. A method according to any of claims 6 to 10, wherein scheduling the request for a counting communication message via a physical downlink control channel further comprises mapping the request to at least one subframe on a downlink

5 channel or an uplink channel comprising one or more resources configured for device to device discovery.

12. An apparatus for use in a network element, the apparatus comprising a processing system arranged to:

10 cause a request for a counting communication message to be transmitted to at least one device;

receive a said requested counting communication message from at least one device, wherein the counting communication message comprises information related to device to device communications; and

15 allocate discovery resources related to device to device communications based at least in part on the received information.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein one or more of the at least one devices are in an RRC idle state.

20

14. An apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein in order to receive the counting communication message from at least one device, the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to receive the counting communication message via a random access channel.

25

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the random access channel comprises a separate random access channel allocated for receiving counting communication messages.

30 16. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the information comprises at least one of an indication the device is a discovery receiver,

24

an indication the device is a discovery transmitter, an indication the device is both a discovery receiver and a discovery transmitter, an indication of a service the device provides, and an indication of a service the device requests.

5 17. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to:

schedule the request for a counting communication message via one of a system information block or a physical downlink control channel.

10 18. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to:

cause a random access response to be transmitted to a device, wherein the random access response comprises information related to at least one other device providing a service requested by the device.

15

19. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to:

cause a counting result information message to be transmitted to a device, wherein the counting result information message comprises information related to at

20 least one of information related to the availability of services requested by the device and information related to at least one other device requesting services provided by the device, and wherein the counting result information message is caused to be transmitted in at least one of a downlink subframe that comprises device to device communications discovery transmissions and a downlink subframe corresponding to

25 the device to device communications discovery subframe of an uplink channel.

20. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 19, wherein in order to allocate discovery resources related to device to device communications based at least in part on the received information, the processing system is arranged to cause the

30 apparatus to allocate more discovery resources to a device providing a service requested by a first number of devices than to a device providing a service requested

25

by a second number of devices, wherein the first number of devices is greater than the second number of devices.

21. An apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 20, wherein the 5 processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to:

allocate one or more preambles of the random access channel based at least in part on at least one of an indication that one or more of the at least one devices comprises a discovery receiver, an indication that one or more of the at least one devices comprises a discovery transmitter, an indication that one or more of the at 10 least one devices comprises both a discovery receiver and a discovery transmitter, an indication of a service that one or more of the at least one devices provides, and an indication of a service that one or more of the at least one devices requests.

22. An apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 21, wherein in order to 15 schedule the request for a counting communication message via a physical downlink control channel, the processing system is further arranged to cause the apparatus to map the request to at least one subframe on a downlink channel or an uplink channel comprising one or more resources configured for device-to-device discovery.

20 23. A computer program product comprising a set of instructions, which,

when executed by a network node, causes the network node to:

cause a request for a counting communication message to be transmitted to at least one device;

receive a said requested counting communication message from at least one 25 device, wherein the counting communication message comprises information related to device to device communications; and allocate discovery resources related to device to device communications based at least in part on the received information.

30 24. A computer program product according to claim 23, wherein one or more of the at least one devices are in an RRC idle state.

26

25. A computer program product according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the set of instructions cause the network node to receive the counting communication message via a random access channel.

5

26. A computer program product according to claim 25, wherein the random access channel comprises a separate random access channel allocated for receiving counting communication messages.

10 27. A computer program product according to any of claims 23 to 26,

wherein the information comprises at least one of an indication the device is a discovery receiver, an indication the device is a discovery transmitter, an indication the device is both a discovery receiver and a discovery transmitter, an indication of a service the device provides, and an indication of a service the device requests.

15

28. A computer program product according to any of claims 23 to 27, further comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by the network node, causes the network node to:

schedule the request for a counting communication message via one of a

20 system information block or a physical downlink control channel.

29. A computer program product according to any of claims 23 to 28, further comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by the network node, causes the network node to:

25 cause a random access response to be transmitted to a device, wherein the random access response comprises information related to at least one other device providing a service requested by the device.

30. A computer program product according to any of claims 23 to 28,

30 further comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by the network node,

causes the network node to:

27

cause a counting result information message to be transmitted to a device, wherein the counting result information message comprises information related to at least one of information related to the availability of services requested by the device and information related to at least one other device requesting services provided by 5 the device, and wherein the counting result information message is caused to be transmitted in at least one of a downlink subframe that comprises device to device communications discovery transmissions and a downlink subframe corresponding to the device to device communications discovery subframe of an uplink channel.

10 31. A computer program product according to any of claims 23 to 30,

wherein the set of instructions that cause the network node to allocate discovery resources related to device to device communications based at least in part on the received information comprise a set of instructions, which, when executed by the network node, causes the network node to allocate more discovery resources to a 15 device providing a service requested by a first number of devices than to a device providing a service requested by a second number of devices, wherein the first number of devices is greater than the second number of devices.

32. A computer program product according to any of claims 25 to 31, 20 further comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by the network node, causes the network node to:

allocate one or more preambles of the random access channel based at least in part on at least one of an indication that one or more of the at least one devices comprises a discovery receiver, an indication that one or more of the at least one 25 devices comprises a discovery transmitter, an indication that one or more of the at least one devices comprises both a discovery receiver and a discovery transmitter, an indication of a service that one or more of the at least one devices provides, and an indication of a service that one or more of the at least one devices requests.

30 33. A computer program product according to any of claims 28 to 32,

wherein the set of instructions that cause scheduling of the request for a counting

28

communication message via a physical downlink control channel comprise a set of instructions, which, when executed by the network node, causes the network node to map the request to at least one subframe on a downlink channel or an uplink channel comprising one or more resources configured for device-to-device discovery.

5

34. A method for use in a user equipment, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a counting communication message from a network entity;

creating a counting communication message comprising information related to 10 device to device communications; and causing the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein receiving a request for a counting 15 communication message from a network entity further comprises receiving a request for a counting communication message from a network entity during a radio resource control (RRC) idle state, and wherein causing the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity further comprises causing the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity during a radio 20 resource control (RRC) idle state.

36. A method according to claim 34 or 35, wherein causing the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity comprises causing the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity via a random

25 access channel.

37. A method according to any of claims 34 to 36, wherein the information comprises at least one of an indication of discovery receiver capabilities, an indication of discovery transmitter capabilities, an indication of both discovery receiver and

30 discovery transmitter capabilities, an indication of a service provided, and an indication of a service requested.

29

38. A method according to any of claims 34 to 37, further comprising: receiving a message scheduling the request for a counting communication message via one of a system information block or a physical downlink control 5 channel.

39. A method according to any of claims 34 to 38, further comprising: receiving a random access response from the network entity, wherein the random access response comprises information related to at least one device providing 10 a requested service.

40. An apparatus for use in a user equipment, the apparatus comprising a processing system arranged to:

receive a request for a counting communication message from a network

15 entity;

create a counting communication message comprising information related to device to device communications; and cause the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity.

20

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein in order to receive a request for a counting communication message from a network entity, the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to receive a request for a counting communication message from a network entity during a radio resource control (RRC) idle state, and

25 wherein in order to cause the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity, the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to cause the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity during a radio resource control (RRC) idle state

30 42. An apparatus according to claim 40 or 41, wherein in order to cause the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity, the

30

processing system is further arranged to cause the apparatus to cause the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity via a random access channel.

5 43. An apparatus according to any of claims 40 to 42, wherein the information comprises at least one of an indication of discovery receiver capabilities, an indication of discovery transmitter capabilities, an indication of both discovery receiver and discovery transmitter capabilities, an indication of a service provided, and an indication of a service requested.

10

44. An apparatus according to any of claims 40 to 43, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to:

receive a message scheduling the request for a counting communication message via one of a system information block or a physical downlink control

15 channel.

45. An apparatus according to any of claims 40 to 44, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to:

receive a random access response from the network entity, wherein the

20 random access response comprises information related to at least one device providing a requested service.

46. A computer program product comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by a user equipment, causes the user equipment to:

25 receive a request for a counting communication message from a network entity;

create a counting communication message comprising information related to device to device communications; and cause the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network

30 entity.

31

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the set of instructions that cause the user equipment to receive a request for a counting communication message from a network entity further comprise a set of instructions, which, when executed by the user equipment, causes the user equipment to receive a 5 request for a counting communication message from a network entity during a radio resource control (RRC) idle state, and wherein the set of instructions that cause the user equipment to cause the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity further comprise a set of instructions, which, when executed by the user equipment, causes the user equipment to cause the counting communication 10 message to be transmitted to the network entity during a radio resource control (RRC) idle state.

48. A computer program product according to claim 46 or 47, wherein the set of instructions that causes the counting communication message to be transmitted 15 to the network entity comprise a set of instructions, which, when executed by the user equipment, causes the user equipment to cause the counting communication message to be transmitted to the network entity via a random access channel.

49. A computer program product according to any of claims 46 to 48, 20 wherein the information comprises at least one of an indication of discovery receiver capabilities, an indication of discovery transmitter capabilities, an indication of both discovery receiver and discovery transmitter capabilities, an indication of a service provided, and an indication of a service requested.

25 50. A computer program product according to any of claims 46 to 49,

further comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by the user equipment, causes the user equipment to:

receive a message scheduling the request for a counting communication message via one of a system information block or a physical downlink control 30 channel.

32

51. A computer program product according to any of claims 46 to 50, further comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed by the user equipment, causes the user equipment to:

receive a random access response from the network entity, wherein the 5 random access response comprises information related to at least one device providing a requested service.