Group-based machine to machine communication

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for performing group-based machine-to-machine communication. Machine-type communication (MTC) wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) may operate in MTC groups. MTC WTRUs belonging to the same MTC group may use a group-based International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and a group-based IP address for data transmission. Group-based network registration may be performed. A group-based IP address and radio resources may be proactively allocated for an MTC group. A master MTC may perform network registration/attachment process on behalf of the MTC group. A group of MTC WTRUs may transmit data according to staggered time windows.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for performing group-based machine-to-machine communication, the method comprising:
 receiving an indication from a communication network, the indication comprising information associated with an internet protocol (IP) address, wherein the IP address is allocated for a machine type communication (MTC) group comprising a plurality of MTC wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) prior to a MTC WTRU network registration process associated with the MTC group;   identifying the IP address based on the received indication; and   sending data using the obtained IP address in a prescribed transmission window.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein allocation of the IP address is triggered by a service request from an MTC access server. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication from the communication network further comprises information associated with radio resources allocated for the MTC group, and the method further comprising obtaining the radio resources based on the received indication. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 listening for at least one of paging or broadcast from the communication network, wherein the indication from the communication network is received via the at least one of paging or broadcast.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing network registration on behalf of the MTC group. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a network registration request on behalf of the MTC group, wherein the indication from the communication network is received in response to the network registration request. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 releasing the allocated IP address when the MTC group completes data transmission.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 listening on a broadcast channel upon waking up from a sleep cycle;   receiving a broadcast message comprising an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI);   determining whether the IMSI matches a group IMSI associated with the MTC group; and   based on a determination that the IMSI matches the group IMSI associated with the MTC group, processing the received broadcast message.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication from the communication network is a first indication, and the method further comprises:
 listening on a broadcast channel for a second indication that the MTC group has been attached to the communication network upon waking up from a sleep cycle; and   upon receiving the second indication that the MTC group has been attached to the communication network, monitoring a paging channel for an indication of the prescribed transmission window associated with the WTRU.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a paging message;   determining whether the WTRU is in a control cycle;   on a condition that the WTRU is in the control cycle, determining whether the received paging message is directed to the MTC group or to the WTRU; and   on a condition that the received paging message is directed to the WTRU, requesting an IP address dedicated to the WTRU and radio resources.   
     
     
         11 . A wireless transmit and receive unit (WTRU) configured to perform group-based machine-to-machine communication, the WTRU comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive an indication from a communication network, the indication comprising information associated with an internet protocol (IP) address, wherein the IP address is allocated for a machine type communication (MTC) group prior to a MTC WTRU network registration process associated with the MTC group, the MTC group comprising a plurality of MTC WTRUs; 
 identify the IP address based on the received indication; 
 determine a prescribed transmission window associated with the WTRU for transmitting data; and 
 send data using the allocated IP address in the prescribed transmission window. 
   
     
     
         12 . The WTRU of  claim 11 , wherein the WTRU acts as a master MTC WTRU of the MTC group, and the processor is further configured to:
 perform network registration on behalf of the MTC group.   
     
     
         13 . The WTRU of  claim 11 , wherein the WTRU acts as a master MTC WTRU of the MTC group, and the processor is further configured to:
 send a network registration request on behalf of the MTC group, wherein the indication from the communication network is received in response to the network registration request.   
     
     
         14 . The WTRU of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 listen on a broadcast channel;   receive a broadcast message comprising an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI);   determine whether the IMSI matches a group IMSI associated with the MTC group; and   based on a determination that the IMSI matches the group IMSI associated with the MTC group, process the received broadcast message.   
     
     
         15 . The WTRU of  claim 11 , wherein the indication from the communication network is a first indication, wherein the WTRU acts as a slave MTC WTRU of the MTC group, and the processor is further configured to:
 listen on a broadcast channel for a second indication that the MTC group has been attached to the communication network upon waking up from a sleep cycle; and   upon receiving the second indication that the MTC group has been attached to the communication network, monitor a paging channel for an indication of the prescribed transmission window associated with the WTRU.   
     
     
         16 . The WTRU of  claim 11 , wherein the WTRU acts as a slave MTC WTRU of the MTC group, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a paging message;   determine whether the received paging message is directed to the MTC group; and   based on a determination that the received paging message is directed to the MTC group, wait for a master MTC WTRU of the MTC group to perform network registration on behalf of the MTC group.   
     
     
         17 . The WTRU of  claim 11 , wherein the WTRU acts as a master MTC WTRU of the MTC group, and the processor is further configured to:
 receive a paging message;   determine whether the received paging message is directed to the MTC group or to the WTRU; and   based on a determination that the received paging message is directed to the WTRU, request an IP address dedicated to the WTRU and radio resources.   
     
     
         18 . The WTRU of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 initiate a release of the allocated IP address upon completing data transmission if the WTRU is the last WTRU in the MTC group to transmit data.   
     
     
         19 . The WTRU of  claim 11 , wherein the indication from the communication network further comprises information associated with radio resources allocated for the MTC group, and the processor is further configured to obtain the radio resources based on the received indication. 
     
     
         20 . The WTRU of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 listen for at least one of paging or broadcast from the communication network, wherein the indication from the communication network is received via the at least one of paging or broadcast.