Abstract:
A method for operating a Base Station (BS) in a wireless communication system capable of supporting a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication is provided. The method includes receiving at least one response message from at least one Mobile Station (MS) that has received a request message from a first MS and determining whether to allow the first MS to performs the P2P communication with a second MS based on the at least one response message.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of a prior application Ser. No. 12/169,404, filed on Jul. 8, 2008, which claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Jul. 9, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial number 10-2007-0068843, the entire disclosures of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for establishing a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) connection in a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for adaptive P2P communication selection in consideration of a wireless environment between Mobile Stations (MSs). 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In a wireless communication system, whenever first and second Mobile Stations (MSs) desire to communicate with each other, the first or transmitting MS must make a call to the second or receiving MS through a wireless communication network regardless of the distance between the transmitting and receiving MSs. That is, a connection with the receiving MS is established via a Base Station (BS), a mobile switching center, or the like, constituting the wireless communication system, regardless of the distance between the transmitting MS and the receiving MS. However, if the distance between the transmitting MS and the receiving MS is very close, direct communication can be more reasonable. Direct communication, that is, communication that is not established via the BS, is referred to as Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication. Various services can be provided through the P2P communication, such as, transmission of a massive file, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video conference, etc. Also, the P2P communication can provide the same service quality as that conventionally provided via the BS. 
         [0006]    The MSs conventionally use a different frequency band for general P2P communication than a frequency band allocated to the wireless communication system. To process the additional frequency band, a separate Radio Frequency (RF) transmitting/receiving apparatus is used. For example, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication, Bluetooth communication, etc., are used in the P2P communication. Alternatively, when the P2P communication and the wireless communication use the same frequency band, bandwidth efficiency can be improved by flexibly adjusting each transmission band through effective resource management so long as interference is prevented. One project that is researching such P2P communication is the Wireless world Initiative NEw Radio (WINNER) system in Europe. 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a P2P communication environment in a wireless communication system. 
         [0008]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a plurality of MSs  102 ,  104  and  106  are located in a service coverage area of a BS  100 , and the MS_y  108  is located in a service coverage area of another BS  110 . The MSs  102  to  108  can communicate with receiving MSs via the corresponding BSs  100  and  110 . Although an additional P2P communication module is not included, wireless resources of the mobile communication system can be reused to perform P2P communication between the MSs. 
         [0009]    In the wireless communication system of  FIG. 1 , when the MS — 1  102  desires to communicate with the MS — 2  104 , the MS — 1  102  determines whether the connection will be established in a P2P communication mode or a wireless communication mode. For example, when the MS — 1  102  detects that the receiving MS (i.e., the MS — 2  104 ) is located close to the MS — 1  102 , the MS — 1  102  can request the BS  100  to establish a P2P connection with the MS — 2  104 . Alternatively, the MS — 1  102  may attempt direct P2P communication with the MS — 2  104  not via the BS  100 . In addition, although the MS — 1  102  does not detect the location of the receiving MS (i.e., the MS — 2  104 ), the MS — 1  102  can perform P2P communication by gathering information of the MS — 2  104 . However, if the MS — 1  102  is located in the service coverage area of the BS  100  and desires P2P communication with the MS_y  108  whose location is not detected, the MS — 1  102  cannot perform P2P communication with the MS_y  108  because the MS — 1  102  cannot gather information of the MS_y  108  due to a distance between the MS — 1  102  and the MS_y  108 . In such a case, in order to communicate with the MS_y  108  (or the MS_x  106 ), it is preferable that the MS — 1  102  establishes a BS-assisted connection instead of establishing the P2P connection. 
         [0010]    To perform communication, the MS — 1  102  must select either the P2P communication mode or the wireless communication mode by considering a wireless environment and a distance from the receiving MS, which is difficult in practice. Even if the selection of a communication mode is achieved by the MS — 1  102  in consideration of the wireless environment and the distance from the receiving MS, there is no guarantee that the selected communication mode is effective in terms of resource utilization. 
         [0011]    As described above, when an MS attempts a call connection with another MS in a wireless communication system, there is no method of adaptively selecting a communication mode between BS-assisted communication (i.e., wireless communication) and P2P communication among MSs by considering effective utilization of overall resources from the viewpoint of a BS. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for establishing a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) connection in a wireless communication system. 
         [0013]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a Base Station (BS) for establishing a communication mode between Mobile Stations (MSs) in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes, upon receiving a connection request message from a transmitting MS, broadcasting an instruction message to one or more neighbor MSs, receiving P2P-related information from a receiving MS among the neighbor MSs, selecting a communication mode by determining whether P2P communication is possible between MSs according to the P2P-related information and, if P2P communication is possible between the MSs, transmitting a connection response message to the transmitting MS and the receiving MS. 
         [0014]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a transmitting MS for establishing a communication mode between MSs in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes, after requesting a connection to a BS, broadcasting a P2P report request message for checking possibility of P2P communication with a receiving MS, after broadcasting the P2P report request message, receiving a connection response message that informs the possibility of P2P communication with the receiving MS and establishing a connection with the receiving MS in a desired communication mode according to the connection response message. 
         [0015]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a receiving MS for establishing a communication mode between MSs in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes, after receiving a P2P setup ready message for instructing preparation of P2P setup from a BS, preparing P2P setup, after preparing the P2P setup, receiving a P2P report request message for checking possibility of P2P communication from a transmitting MS and reporting P2P-related information to the BS. 
         [0016]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a BS apparatus for establishing a communication mode between MSs in a wireless communication system is provided. The apparatus includes a controller for broadcasting an instruction message to one or more neighbor MSs upon receiving a connection request message from a transmitting MS, for receiving P2P-related information from a receiving MS among the neighbor MSs, and, if P2P communication is possible between the MSs, for transmitting a connection response message to the transmitting MS and the receiving MS and a mode selector for selecting a communication mode by determining whether P2P communication is possible between MSs according to the P2P-related information. 
         [0017]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a transmitting MS apparatus for establishing a communication mode between MSs in a wireless communication system is provided. The apparatus includes a controller for broadcasting a P2P report request message for checking possibility of P2P communication with a receiving MS after requesting a connection to a BS, for receiving a connection response message that informs the possibility of P2P communication with the receiving MS after broadcasting the P2P report request message, and for establishing a connection with the receiving MS in a desired communication mode according to the connection response message. 
         [0018]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a receiving MS apparatus for establishing a communication mode between MSs in a wireless communication system is provided. The apparatus includes a controller for preparing P2P setup after receiving a P2P setup ready message for instructing preparation of P2P setup from a BS, for receiving a P2P report request message for checking possibility of P2P communication from a transmitting MS after preparing the P2P setup, and for reporting P2P-related information to the BS. 
         [0019]    Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication environment in a wireless communication system; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating signal flows when a Base Station (BS) selects a communication mode by considering a wireless environment between MSs in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a BS for adaptively selecting a communication mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a Mobile Station (MS) for adaptively selecting a communication mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an MS for establishing a P2P connection between MSs in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a BS for establishing a P2P connection between MSs in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0027]    Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features and structures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions will be omitted for clarity and conciseness. 
         [0029]    Hereinafter, an exemplary method and apparatus for adaptively selecting a communication mode by a Base Station (BS) in consideration of a wireless environment between Mobile Stations (MSs) in a wireless communication system will be described. The communication mode includes a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication mode and a wireless communication mode. The P2P communication mode is defined as a mode in which two MSs communicate with each other not via the BS. The wireless communication mode is defined as a mode in which communication is achieved via the BS. 
         [0030]    In a P2P communication environment shown in  FIG. 1 , an MS — 1  102  desires communication with a receiving MS which may be located within a service coverage area A of a BS  100  or may be located within a cell or service coverage area B of BS  110 . In such a situation, if the MS — 1  102  desires communication with an MS — 2  104 , direct communication between the MSs (i.e., P2P communication) is advantageous over wireless communication via the BS in terms of channel conditions and resource utilization. Some MSs (e.g., an MS_x  106  and an MS_y  108 ) are located in a region where a signal transmitted from the MS — 1  102  cannot be delivered. In this case, since P2P communication cannot be achieved, communication using the BS is more effective. An exemplary process of adaptively establishing a P2P connection will be described below with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating signal flows when a BS selects a communication mode by considering a wireless environment between MSs in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an MS  102  transmits a connection request (hereinafter, connection_req) message to a BS  100  in step  210 . The connection_req message transmitted by MS  102  indicates a desire by the MS  102  to communicate with an MS  104 . That is, in the illustrated example of  FIG. 2 , the MS  102  is a transmitting MS which desires general communication. Since the MS  102  does not know a location of the receiving MS  104  or a current wireless channel condition, the MS  102  requests the BS  100  to establish a general call connection according to a preset communication link. 
         [0033]    In step  212 , in order to determine the possibility of P2P communication before establishing a connection in the wireless communication mode, the BS  100  broadcasts a P2P setup preparation (hereinafter, P2P_setup_ready) message to MSs  104 ,  106 , and  108 . In this case, the MSs  104  and  106 , located in a service coverage area of the BS  100 , receive the P2P_setup_ready message, and prepare to receive a P2P Neighbor Report request (hereinafter, PNR_req) message from their neighbor MSs. However, the MS  108  is located too far from the BS  100  and thus cannot receive the P2P_setup_ready message. 
         [0034]    The MSs  104  and  106 , which have received the P2P_setup_ready message and are located within the service coverage area of the BS  100 , may be in a state of a sleep mode in which no communication is currently made with the BS  100  or in a state in which the MS is currently communicating with another MS. In the former case, the sleep mode is shifted to a P2P active mode, and power consumed in the MSs can be effectively reduced. In the latter case, by receiving the P2P setup_ready_message, wireless communication and P2P communication can be simultaneously performed. 
         [0035]    After a time period has elapsed, the MS  102  broadcasts the PNR_req message in step  214  so that the MS  104  will transmit P2P-related information to the BS  100 . The time period is begun in step  210  when the MS  102  transmits the Connection_req message and has a duration sufficient to allow the receiving MSs to receive the P2P_setup_ready message and prepare for receipt of the PNR_req message. 
         [0036]    In step  216 , the BS  100  receives a message in response to the PNR_req message (hereinafter, the response message will be referred to as a PNR_rsp message) from the MS  104  among the MSs  104  and  106  which have received the PNR_req message. The PNR_rsp message includes a variety of information such as a P2P group IDentifier (ID) (hereinafter, P2P_GroupID), a transmitting MS ID (hereinafter, Sender_ID), channel power information (hereinafter, Channel_Power_info), a call status (hereinafter, Call_status), etc. According to an exemplary embodiment, as shown in step  218 , the BS  100  may receive the PNR_rsp message not only from the corresponding MSs but also from all or some of MSs which have received the PNR_req message. 
         [0037]    In step  220 , the BS  100  determines whether P2P communication will be used between the MS  102  and the MS  104  according to information included in the PNR_rsp message received from MS  104 . In other words, the BS  100  determines whether the MS  102  and the MS  104  are in an environment where P2P communication can be achieved and is favorable. In an exemplary implementation, the BS  100  creates a list or table of neighbor MSs that have responded to the PNR_req message, listing the MSs by connection ID, including their associated P2P information obtained in the PNR_rsp messages. The table may include results regarding P2P communication including which of the MSs may communicate by P2P with other MSs. 
         [0038]    In step  222 , the BS  100  selects a desired communication mode. For example, if a distance between the MSs is close enough to perform P2P communication and the MSs are located far from the BS  100  so that a BS-MS channel condition is poor, then P2P communication is advantageous over wireless communication. In this case, the BS  100  selects the P2P communication mode for the purpose of effective utilization of resources. On the contrary, if the distance between the MSs is far, and the MSs are located close to the BS  100  so that the BS-MS channel condition is good, then the BS  100  selects the wireless communication mode. For example, referring back to  FIG. 1 , the P2P communication mode is selected for communication between the MS  102  and the MS  104 , and the wireless communication mode is selected for communication between the MS  102  and the MS  106  or between the MS  102  and the MS  108 . 
         [0039]    According to another exemplary embodiment, the MS  102  rather than the BS  100  may receive the PNR_rsp message from the MS  104 , determine the possibility of P2P communication between the MS  102  and the MS  104 , and report the determination result to the BS  100 . 
         [0040]    In step  224 , the BS  100  transmits a connection response (hereinafter, Connection_rsp) message to the MS  102  and the MS  104 . 
         [0041]    In step  226 , the MS  102  and the MS  104  communicate with each other according to the communication mode selected by the BS  100 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , when the P2P communication mode is selected, a P2P connection is established according to a preset P2P communication process, and when the wireless communication mode is selected, a connection is established according to a call connection process via the BS  100 . 
         [0042]    Thereafter, the procedure of  FIG. 2  ends. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a BS for adaptively selecting a communication mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the BS receives a connection_req message from an MS in step  300 . 
         [0045]    In step  302 , in order to determine the possibility of P2P communication before establishing a connection in the wireless communication mode, the BS broadcasts a P2P_setup_ready message to relevant MSs. 
         [0046]    In step  304 , the BS receives P2P-related information (e.g., a P2P_GroupID, a Sender_ID, a Channel_Power_info, a Call_status, etc.) from the relevant MSs. 
         [0047]    In step  306 , the BS creates a list of neighbor MSs by using the P2P-related information received from the relevant MSs. 
         [0048]    In step  308 , according to the neighbor-MS information, the BS determines whether P2P communication is possible between the MSs. In other words, by determining whether the MSs are in a P2P communicable environment, the BS selects a desired communication mode. 
         [0049]    In step  310 , the BS transmits a connection_rsp message to the relevant MSs. 
         [0050]    Thereafter, the procedure of  FIG. 3  ends. 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an MS for adaptively selecting a communication mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the MS transmits a connection_req message to a BS including a request to communicate with another MS in step  400 . 
         [0053]    In step  402 , after a time period elapses, the MS broadcasts a message for requesting P2P-related information to neighbor MSs. 
         [0054]    In step  404 , the MS receives a connection_rsp message from the BS. 
         [0055]    In step  406 , the MS determines a communication mode. If the communication mode is the P2P communication mode, the MS establishes a P2P connection with a corresponding MS in step  408 . 
         [0056]    Otherwise, if the communication mode is not the P2P communication mode, the MS communicates with the corresponding MS via the BS in step  410 . 
         [0057]    Thereafter, the procedure of  FIG. 4  ends. 
         [0058]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an MS for establishing a P2P connection between MSs in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the MS includes a Radio Frequency (RF) processor  500  for reception, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) demodulator  502 , a message processor  504 , a first controller  506 , a message generator  508 , an OFDM modulator  510 , an RF processor  512  for transmission, and a P2P controller  514 . 
         [0060]    The RF processor  500  converts an RF signal received through an antenna into a baseband analog signal. The OFDM demodulator  502  converts the analog signal received from the RF processor  500  into sample data. Further, the OFDM demodulator  502  converts the sample data into frequency-domain data through Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and selects data of subcarriers to be received in practice from the frequency-domain data. Furthermore, the OFDM demodulator  502  demodulates and decodes data according to a preset Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) level and outputs the data to the message processor  504 . 
         [0061]    The message processor  504  decomposes a control message received from the OFDM demodulator  502  and provides the decomposition result to the first controller  506 . Further, in a state of being switched to a P2P communication mode, the message processor  504  decomposes a P2P control message received from the OFDM demodulator  502  and provides the decomposition result to the P2P controller  514 . For example, the message processor  504  processes a P2P connection message. 
         [0062]    The first controller  506  performs a process suitable for information received from the message processor  504  and provides the result to the message generator  508 . Further, in a state of being switched to the P2P communication mode, the P2P controller  514  performs a process suitable for P2P communication control information received from the message processor  504  and provides the result to the message generator  508 . 
         [0063]    The message generator  508  generates a message by using a variety of information received from the first controller  506  or the P2P controller  514  and outputs the generated message to the OFDM modulator  510  of a physical layer. For example, the message generator  508  generates a message for requesting information on neighbor MSs. 
         [0064]    The OFDM modulator  510  codes and modulates data received from the message generator  508  according to the preset MCS level. Further, the OFDM modulator  510  converts the modulated data into sample data (i.e., an OFDM symbol) through Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT). Furthermore, the OFDM modulator  510  converts the sample data into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal to the RF processor  512 . The RF processor  512  converts the analog signal into an RF signal and transmits the RF signal through an antenna. 
         [0065]    The first controller  506  may receive information, which is required when a general wireless communication protocol is processed through a mobile switching station or a BS, from an element of the physical layer or may generate a control signal to be delivered to the element of the physical layer. The first controller  506  can control and use a transmitter and a receiver in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) or Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) mode. 
         [0066]    The P2P controller  514  may receive information, which is required when a P2P communication protocol is processed between MSs, from an element of the physical layer or may generate a control signal to be delivered to the element of the physical layer. The P2P controller  514  can also be used based on the TDD or FDD mode. In addition thereto, the P2P controller  514  broadcasts a PNR_req message, and, if the BS selects the P2P communication mode, controls a P2P connection according to a preset P2P communication process. 
         [0067]    In the aforementioned structure, the first controller  506  is provided as a protocol controller and controls the message processor  504 , the message generator  508 , and the P2P controller  514 . That is, the first controller  506  can function as the message processor  504 , the message generator  508 , and the P2P controller  514 . Although these elements are separately configured in the illustrated example, this is for explanation purposes only. Thus, in practice, all or some of these elements may be controlled by the first controller  506 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a BS for establishing a P2P connection between MSs in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the BS includes an RF processor  600  for reception, an OFDM demodulator  602 , a message processor  604 , a controller  606 , a message generator  608 , an OFDM modulator  610 , an RF processor  612  for transmission, a mode selector  614 , a P2P information manager  616 , and a P2P setup unit  618 . 
         [0070]    The RF processor  600 , the OFDM demodulator  602 , the message processor  604 , the controller  606 , the message generator  608 , the OFDM modulator  610 , and the RF processor  612  have substantially the same functions as described with reference to  FIG. 5 , and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted for brevity. 
         [0071]    In a P2P connection process, the P2P information manager  616  allocates resources so that P2P communication can be maintained between the transmitting MS and a receiving MS, and also manages a P2P group list. For example, the P2P information manager  616  broadcasts a P2P_setup_ready message by using the message generator  608 . Thereafter, the P2P information manager  616  gathers information included in a P2P neighbor report response (i.e., PNR_rsp) message processed by the message processor  604  and stores a P2P-related message. Then, the P2P information manager  616  provides P2P-related information to the mode selector  614  or the P2P setup unit  618  when necessary. 
         [0072]    The mode selector  614  receives the P2P-related information from the P2P information manager  616 , selects a preferable communication mode between BS-assisted communication and P2P communication among the MSs, and reports the selected mode to the controller  606 . 
         [0073]    If the mode selector  614  selects the P2P communication mode, the P2P setup unit  618  provides P2P connection information between the MSs. 
         [0074]    In the aforementioned structure, the controller  606  is provided as a protocol controller and controls the message processor  604 , the message generator  608 , the mode selector  614 , the P2P information manager  616 , and the P2P setup unit  618 . That is, the controller  606  can function as the message processor  604 , the message generator  608 , the mode selector  614 , the P2P information manager  616 , and the P2P setup unit  618 . Although these elements are separately configured in the illustrated example, this is for explanation purposes only. Thus, in practice, all or some of these elements may be controlled by the controller  606 . 
         [0075]    According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a BS adaptively selects a communication mode by considering a wireless environment between MSs in a wireless communication system. Therefore, services can be provided in a good wireless environment. In addition, the wireless communication system can effectively use wireless resources. 
         [0076]    While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims and their equivalents, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.