Operating a terminal device in a wireless communication system
AssigneesSony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
InventorRickard Ljung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for operating a terminal device (106) of a wireless communication system (100). The terminal device (106) is connected to a base station (101) of the wireless communication system (100). According to the method, an intermediate node functionality is provided at the terminal device (106). The intermediate node functionality is configured to forward communication data received from the base station (101) to a further terminal device (107) and to forward communication data received from the further terminal device (107) to the base station (101). Upon receiving a permission from the base station (101) to activate the intermediate node functionality, the terminal device (106) activates the intermediate node functionality.
Claims7
A method for operating a terminal device of a wireless communication system, the terminal device being connected to a base station of the wireless communication system, wherein the method comprises:
- providing an intermediate node functionality at the terminal device, the intermediate node functionality being configured to forward communication data received from the base station to a further terminal device and to forward communication data received from the further terminal device to the base station;
- detecting, by the terminal device, the further terminal device via a direct radio communication between the terminal device and the further terminal device, wherein the further terminal device is located within a radio range of the terminal device, wherein detecting the further terminal device comprises receiving a message from the further terminal device indicating that the further terminal device is not within the radio range of the base station;
- requesting, by the terminal device, permission from the base station to activate the intermediate node functionality;
- receiving from the base station the permission to activate the intermediate node functionality;
- and
- upon receiving the permission from the base station, activating the intermediate node functionality at the terminal device.
A terminal device for a wireless communication system, the terminal device comprising:
- a transceiver for establishing a data communication between the terminal device and a base station of the wireless communication system and for establishing a data communication between the terminal device and a further terminal device;
- and
- a processing circuit configured to:
- detect the further terminal device via a direct radio communication between the terminal device and the further terminal device, wherein the further terminal device is located within a radio range of the terminal device, wherein the terminal device receives a message from the further terminal device indicating that the further terminal device is not within the radio range of the base station;
- request permission from the base station to activate an intermediate node functionality configured to forward communication data received from the base station to the further terminal device and to forward communication data received from the further terminal device to the base station;
- receive from the base station the permission to activate the intermediate node functionality;
- and
- activate the intermediate node functionality upon receiving the permission from the base station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.