IP Library Granted Patent US 10,638,506
Granted Patent B2
US 10,638,506 · App. 15/948,439 · Granted Apr 28, 2020

Allocating resources for a device-to-device transmission

Inventors: Rene Faurie (Versailles, FR); Eswar Vutukuri (Havant, GB); Takashi Suzuki (Ichikawa, JP)
Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
H04W72/14H04W72/04H04W72/085H04W8/005H04W72/121H04W76/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,638,506
App. No.
15/948,439
Granted
Apr 28, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for allocating resources for device-to-device transmission between two or more user equipment (UEs) includes transmitting, from a first UE to a second UE, a resource allocation configuration for device-to-device communications. A resource request for a device-to-device transmission is received from the second UE. In response to the resource request, a resource for the device-to-device transmission is selected at the first UE. A resource grant is transmitted to the second UE. The resource grant identifies the selected resource. A device-to-device transmission is received from the second UE over the selected resource.

Claims (32)

1. A method for configuring and scheduling radio resources for device-to-device (D2D) transmissions between a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE within D2D proximity, the method comprising:

receiving, at the first UE, a resource request from the second UE;

in response to receiving the resource request and based on information characterizing the D2D transmission, determining, by the first UE, whether a regular resource allocation period or an extended resource allocation period is to be used to allocate sidelink radio resources for the second UE, wherein the extended resource allocation period is longer than the regular resource allocation period; and

in response to determining to use the extended resource allocation period, transmitting, from the first UE to the second UE, an extended sidelink resource grant, wherein the extended sidelink resource grant indicates that extended resource allocation period is allocated for the sidelink radio resources, and the allocated sidelink radio resources are used by the second UE for transmissions from the second UE to the first UE.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended sidelink resource grant is transmitted using an enhanced Sidelink Control Information (SCI) format.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the enhanced SCI format is used over a Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended sidelink resource grant is requested by the first UE to a network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended sidelink resource grant is allocated by a network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended sidelink resource grant is allocated by a network using an enhanced DCI format.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first UE and the second UE supports the extended resource allocation period.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, from the first UE to the second UE, a capability indicator indicating that the first UE supports the extended resource allocation period.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from the second UE, a capability indicator indicating that the second UE supports the extended resource allocation period.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resource request includes Quality of Service (QoS) information.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resource request includes a duration of the extended resource allocation period.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended resource allocation period starts when the second UE receives a start indication from the first UE, and the extended resource allocation period ends when the second UE receives a stop indication from the first UE.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first UE is inside of a network coverage, and the second UE is outside of the network coverage.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended resource allocation period is released on receipt of an indication.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended resource allocation period is released after an inactivity period during which no data is sent or no data is received.

16. A first user equipment (UE), comprising:

a memory; and

at least one hardware processor communicatively coupled with the memory and configured to perform a method for configuring and scheduling radio resources for device-to-device (D2D) transmissions between the first UE and a second UE within D2D proximity, the method comprising:

receiving, at the first UE, a resource request from the second UE;

in response to receiving the resource request and based on information characterizing the D2D transmission, determining, by the first UE, whether a regular resource allocation period or an extended resource allocation period is to be used to allocate sidelink radio resources for the second UE, wherein the extended resource allocation period is longer than the regular resource allocation period; and

in response to determining to use the extended resource allocation period, transmitting, from the first UE to the second UE, an extended sidelink resource grant, wherein the extended sidelink resource grant indicates that extended resource allocation period is allocated for the sidelink radio resources, and the allocated sidelink radio resources are used by the second UE for transmissions from the second UE to the first UE.

17. The first UE of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first UE and the second UE supports the extended resource allocation period.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed, cause a first user equipment (UE) to perform a method for configuring and scheduling radio resources for device-to-device (D2D) transmissions between the first UE and a second UE within D2D proximity, the method comprising:

receiving, at the first UE, a resource request from the second UE;

in response to receiving the resource request and based on information characterizing the D2D transmission, determining, by the first UE, whether a regular resource allocation period or an extended resource allocation period is to be used to allocate sidelink radio resources for the second UE, wherein the extended resource allocation period is longer than the regular resource allocation period; and

in response to determining to use the extended resource allocation period, transmitting, from the first UE to the second UE, an extended sidelink resource grant, wherein the extended sidelink resource grant indicates that extended resource allocation period is allocated for the sidelink radio resources, and the allocated sidelink radio resources are used by the second UE for transmissions from the second UE to the first UE.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first UE and the second UE supports the extended resource allocation period.

Assignments (12)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDED PATENT NUMBER TO REMOVE PATENT NO. 8,873,407 AT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 64066 FRAME 1. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE DATE MARCH 20, 2023. Recorded Feb 2, 2026
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 074921/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT 12817157 APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 064015 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064807/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COVER SHEET AT PAGE 50 TO REMOVE 12817157 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 063471 FRAME 0474. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 064806/0669 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064066/0001 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064015/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 063471/0474 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2019
From: FAURIE, RENE
To: BLACKBERRY FRANCE S.A.S.
Reel/Frame 048582/0448 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2019
From: BLACKBERRY UK LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048583/0482 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2019
From: BLACKBERRY JAPAN LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048583/0402 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2019
From: BLACKBERRY FRANCE S.A.S.
To: BLACKBERRY UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048583/0345 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2019
From: VUTUKURI, ESWAR
To: BLACKBERRY UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048582/0768 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2019
From: SUZUKI, TAKASHI
To: BLACKBERRY JAPAN LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048582/0555 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14712779 · May 14, 2015
Related Publication 20180295646A1 · Oct 11, 2018
Cited By (3)
US 12,250,683 US 12,439,422 US 12,621,848