# US 10,320,915 B2 · System and method for IP session continuity in device-to-device communication system

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- Number: US 10,320,915 B2
- Document ID: US10320915B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/277,408
- Filed: 2014-05-14
- Published: 2014-11-20
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2013-05-14
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Anil Agiwal; Young-Bin Chang; Ki-Suk Kweon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320915B2

## CPC

- H04L 67/14: Session management (for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066)
- H04L 61/5007: Internet protocol [IP] addresses
- H04W 36/0011: {for data sessions of end-to-end connection}
- H04W 36/033: {in pre-organised networks}
- H04W 76/23: Manipulation of direct-mode connections
- H04L 61/2514: between local and global IP addresses
- H04W 8/26: Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
- H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A method for performing, by a User Equipment (UE), Device-to-Device (D2D) communication using a wireless communication network is provided. The method includes performing D2D communication via a direct communication path using an allocated Internet Protocol (IP) address, establishing a first Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearer supporting D2D communication via the wireless communication network, to a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway (P-GW), determining to switch from the direct communication path to D2D communication via the wireless communication network, and communicating an IP packet through the first EPS bearer based on the determination. An IP packet transmitted through the first EPS bearer may not be transmitted to a packet data network, or an IP packet received through the first EPS bearer is not received from the packet data network.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for performing, by a first user equipment (UE), device-to-device (D2D) communication using a wireless communication network that includes an evolved node B (eNB), a serving gateway (S-GW), a packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), and a PDN, the method comprising:
performing D2D communication with a second UE via a direct communication path using an allocated internet protocol (IP) address;
while performing the D2D communication via the direct communication path, establishing a first evolved packet system (EPS) bearer between the first UE and the P-GW, the first EPS bearer being configured to support D2D communication via the wireless communication network;
determining to switch from the D2D communication via the direct communication path to D2D communication via the wireless communication network;
in response to the determining, communicating a first IP packet through the first EPS bearer using D2D communication via the wireless communication network; and
while performing the D2D communication via the direct communication path, establishing a second EPS bearer between the first UE and the P-GW, the second EPS bearer being configured to support D2D communication via the wireless communication network,
wherein the first EPS bearer is used for D2D communication with the second UE, and the second EPS bearer is used for D2D communication with a third UE different from the second UE, and
wherein the first IP packet that is transmitted through the first EPS bearer, which is established to the P-GW, is not transmitted to the PDN, or the first IP packet that is received through the first EPS bearer, which is established to the P-GW, is not received from the PDN.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first IP packet that is not transmitted to the PDN is transmitted to the second UE on a third EPS bearer that the P-GW has established to the second UE, or the first IP packet that is not received from the PDN is received from the second UE on the third EPS bearer that the P-GW has established to the second UE.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing, to the P-GW, a fourth EPS bearer for communicating a second IP packet to/from the PDN via the wireless communication network while maintaining the first EPS bearer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
establishing, to the P-GW, a fifth EPS bearer supporting D2D communication via the wireless communication network while maintaining the first EPS bearer,
wherein the first UE provides differential quality of service (QoS) across the first EPS bearer and the fifth EPS bearer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a paging message from the eNB if the first EPS bearer is not activated; and
activating the first EPS bearer based at least in part on the paging message.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determination to switch from the direct communication path to the D2D communication via the wireless communication network is based at least in part on channel conditions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the method of claim 1.

### Claim 8

A method for supporting, by a packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), device-to-device (D2D) communication using a wireless communication network that includes an evolved node B (eNB), a serving gateway (S-GW), the P-GW, and a PDN, the method comprising:
establishing, by the P-GW, a first evolved packet system (EPS) bearer to a first user equipment (UE) and a second EPS bearer to a second UE, the first EPS bearer and the second EPS bearer being configured to support D2D communication via the wireless communication network between the first UE and the second UE;
storing, by the P-GW, in a table, a packet filter including an identifier (ID) of the second EPS bearer and at least one of a source internet protocol (IP) address of the D2D communication or a destination IP address of the D2D communication;
upon the P-GW receiving a first IP packet from the first UE on the first EPS bearer using the D2D communication via the wireless communication network, mapping, by the P-GW, the received first IP packet to the second EPS bearer using the table;
transmitting, by the P-GW, the received first IP packet on the second EPS bearer;
establishing, by the P-GW, a third EPS bearer to the first UE and a fourth EPS bearer to a third UE; and
upon the P-GW receiving a second IP packet from the first UE on the third EPS bearer using the D2D communication via the wireless communication network, mapping, by the P-GW, the received second IP packet to the fourth EPS bearer using the table,
wherein the first EPS bearer and the second EPS bearer are established while the first UE and the second UE perform D2D communication via a direct communication path.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
establishing, to the first UE, a fifth EPS bearer for communicating a third IP packet to/from the PDN via the wireless communication network while maintaining the first EPS bearer; and
upon receiving the third IP packet on the fifth EPS bearer, converting a source IP address of the third IP packet into a public IP address.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising triggering activation of the second EPS bearer if the second EPS bearer is not activated.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
establishing, to the first UE, a sixth EPS bearer supporting D2D communication via the wireless communication network while maintaining the first EPS bearer,
wherein the P-GW provides differential quality of service (QoS) to the first UE using the first EPS bearer and the sixth EPS bearer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the packet filter further includes at least one of a source port number or a destination port number of the D2D communication.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the method of claim 8.

### Claim 14

A first user equipment (UE) apparatus for performing device-to-device (D2D) communication using a wireless communication network that includes an evolved node B (eNB), a serving gateway (S-GW), a packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), and a PDN, the first UE apparatus comprising:
a transceiver configured to perform D2D communication with a second UE via a direct communication path using an allocated internet protocol (IP) address; and
at least one processor configured to:
while controlling the transceiver to perform the D2D communication via the direct communication path, control to establish a first evolved packet system (EPS) bearer between the first UE and the P-GW, the first EPS bearer being configured to support D2D communication via the wireless communication network,
determine whether to switch from the D2D communication via the direct communication path to D2D communication via the wireless communication network,
activate the first EPS bearer based on the determination,
in response to the activating of the first EPS bearer, communicate a first IP packet through the activated first EPS bearer using D2D communication via the wireless communication network,
while performing the D2D communication via the direct communication path, establish a second EPS bearer between the first UE and the P-GW, the second EPS bearer being configured to support D2D communication via the wireless communication network,
wherein the first EPS bearer is used for D2D communication with the second UE, and the second EPS bearer is used for D2D communication with a third UE different from the second UE, and
wherein the first IP packet that is transmitted through the first EPS bearer, which is established to the P-GW, is not transmitted to the PDN, or the first IP packet that is received through the first EPS bearer, which is established to the P-GW, is not received from the PDN.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The first UE apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first IP packet that is not transmitted to the PDN is transmitted to the second UE on a third EPS bearer that the P-GW has established to the second UE, or the first IP packet that is not received from the PDN is received from the second UE on the third EPS bearer that the P-GW has established to the second UE.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The first UE apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to establish, to the P-GW, a fourth EPS bearer for communicating a second IP packet to/from the PDN via the wireless communication network while maintaining the first EPS bearer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The first UE apparatus of claim 14,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to establish, to the P-GW, a fifth EPS bearer supporting D2D communication via the wireless communication network while maintaining the first EPS bearer, and
wherein the first UE provides differential quality of service (QoS) across the first EPS bearer and the fifth EPS bearer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The first UE apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
receive a paging message from the eNB if the first EPS bearer is not activated, and
activate the first EPS bearer based at least in part on the paging message.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The first UE apparatus of claim 14, wherein the determination to switch from the direct communication path to the D2D communication via the wireless communication network is based at least in part on channel conditions.

### Claim 20

A packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW) apparatus for supporting device-to-device (D2D) communication using a wireless communication network that includes an evolved node B (eNB), a serving gateway (S-GW), a P-GW, and a PDN, the P-GW apparatus comprising:
at least one processor configured to:
establish a first evolved packet system (EPS) bearer to a first user equipment (UE) and a second EPS bearer to a second UE, the first and second EPS bearers being configured to support D2D communication via the wireless communication network between the first UE and the second UE, and
store, in a table, a packet filter including an identifier (ID) of the second EPS bearer and at least one of a source internet protocol (IP) address of the D2D communication or a destination IP address of the D2D communication; and
a transceiver configured to communicate a first IP packet to/from at least one of the first UE or the second UE under control of the at least one processor,
wherein, upon the P-GW receiving the first IP packet from the first UE on the first EPS bearer using the D2D communication via the wireless communication network, the at least one processor is further configured to:
map the received first IP packet to the second EPS bearer using the table, and
transmit the first IP packet on the second EPS bearer,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
establish a third EPS bearer to the first UE and a fourth EPS bearer to a third UE, and
upon the P-GW receiving a second IP packet from the first UE on the third EPS bearer using the D2D communication via the wireless communication network, map the received second IP packet to the fourth EPS bearer using the table, and
wherein the first EPS bearer and the second EPS bearer are established while the first UE and the second UE perform D2D communication via a direct communication path.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The P-GW apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
establish, to the first UE, a fifth EPS bearer for communicating a third IP packet to/from the PDN via the wireless communication network while maintaining the first EPS bearer, and
upon receiving the third IP packet on the fifth EPS bearer, convert a source IP address of the third IP packet into a public IP address.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The P-GW apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to trigger activation of the second EPS bearer if the second EPS bearer is not activated.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The P-GW apparatus of claim 20,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to establish, to the first UE, a sixth EPS bearer supporting D2D communication via the wireless communication network while maintaining the first EPS bearer, and
wherein the P-GW provides differential quality of service (QoS) to the first UE using the first EPS bearer and the sixth EPS bearer.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The P-GW apparatus of claim 20, wherein the packet filter further includes at least one of a source port number or a destination port number of the D2D communication.