Multicast-based group communications in ad hoc arrangements of wireless devices
Wireless communication devices may directly communicate within groups of wireless communication devices using Layer-2 communications to implement “push-to-talk” type applications. In one implementation, a method may include generating a floor request signaling message to take control of a communication channel for a group. After transmitting data relating to the communications, a floor release signaling message may be generated and transmitted a number of times.
1. An user equipment (UE) for proximity-based direct communications with one or more other UEs of a group, comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more device-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the UE to:
obtain information related to the group including a layer-2 group identifier (ID) and an upper layer group ID;
generate a frame having:
a destination layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication, wherein the destination layer-2 address is based on the layer-2 group ID, and
the upper layer group ID;
transmit the frame to the one or more other UEs affiliated with the layer-2 group ID;
receive a second frame;
determine that the second frame potentially belongs to the group when a layer-2 destination address of the second frame matches the layer-2 group ID;
determine, when the layer-2 destination address of the second frame matches the layer-2 group ID, whether a second upper layer group ID, associated with the second frame, matches the upper layer group ID; and
process the second frame as belonging to the group when the second upper layer group ID matches the upper layer group ID.
2. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a source layer-2 ID indicating a source layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication.
3. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the layer-2 is a media access control (MAC) layer.
4. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the UE to:
encrypt the frame with a group security key derived from a value shared among the group.
5. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the UE to:
transmit a floor request signaling message to take control of a communication channel before transmitting the frame to the one and other UEs.
6. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the UE to:
transmit a floor release signaling message to release a communication channel after transmitting the frame to the one or other UEs.
7. The UE of claim 6 , wherein the instructions further cause the UE to:
transmit the floor request signaling message for a plurality of times, based on current quality of the communication channel.
8. A method, employed by a user equipment (UE) for a proximity-based direct communication with one or more other UEs of a group, the method comprising:
obtaining information related to the group including a layer-2 group identifier (ID) and an upper layer group ID;
generating a frame having
a destination layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication, wherein the destination layer-2 address is based on the layer-2 group ID, and
the upper layer group ID;
transmitting the frame to the one or more other UEs affiliated with the layer-2 group ID;
receiving a second frame;
determining that the second frame potentially belongs to the group when a layer-2 destination address of the second frame matches the layer-2 group ID;
determining, when the layer-2 destination address of the second frame matches the layer-2 group ID, whether a second upper layer group ID, associated with the second frame, matches the upper layer group ID; and
processing the second frame as belonging to the group when the second upper layer group ID matches the upper layer group ID.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the frame further comprises a source layer-2 ID indicating a source layer-2 address for the proximity-based direct communication.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the layer-2 is a media access control (MAC) layer.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
encrypting the frame with a group security key derived from a value shared among the group.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
transmitting a floor request signaling message to take control of a communication channel before transmitting the frame to the one and other UEs.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
transmitting the floor request signaling message for a plurality of times, based on current quality of the communication channel.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
transmitting a floor release signaling message to release a communication channel after transmitting the frame to the one or other UEs.