Communication control method, user terminal, processor, and storage medium

Abstract

A communication control method used in a cellular mobile communication system that supports inter-terminal communication that is direct radio communication capable of being performed between user terminals in a state where a radio connection with a network is established, comprises a step of transmitting, by a first user terminal, to the network, communication request information indicating a desire to start the inter-terminal communication, a step of transmitting, by the network, to a second user terminal, start request information for starting waiting for a search signal, in a case where the second user terminal identified on the basis of the communication request information is stopping the waiting for the search signal for the inter-terminal communication, and a step of starting, by the second user terminal, waiting for the search signal upon receiving the start request information from the network.

1 . A communication control method used in a cellular mobile communication system that performs inter-terminal communication that is direct radio communication capable of being performed between user terminals in a state where a radio connection with a network is established, comprising:
 a step of transmitting, by a first user terminal, to the network, communication request information indicating a desire to start the inter-terminal communication;   a step of transmitting, by the network, to a second user terminal, start request information for starting waiting for a search signal, in a case where the second user terminal identified on the basis of the communication request information is stopping the waiting for the search signal for the inter-terminal communication; and   a step of starting, by the second user terminal, waiting for the search signal upon receiving the start request information from the network.   
     
     
         2 . The communication control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication request information includes at least one of: an identifier of an application to be used in the inter-terminal communication; an identifier of a group of user terminals between which the inter-terminal communication is to be performed; and an identifier of the second user terminal. 
     
     
         3 . The communication control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a step of starting, by the first user terminal, a transmission of the search signal when it is desired to start the inter-terminal communication; and   a step of transmitting, by the second user terminal, to the first user terminal, a response signal for the search signal upon receiving the search signal from the first user terminal after starting the waiting.   
     
     
         4 . The communication control method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a step of notifying, by the second user terminal, the network of transmission power of the response signal and received power of the search signal upon transmitting the response signal;   a step of notifying, by the first user terminal, the network of received power of the response signal and transmission power of the search signal upon receiving the response signal; and   a step of determining, by the network, whether the inter-terminal communication by the first user terminal and the second user terminal is possible on the basis of a distance estimated from the transmission power and the received power of the search signal and the transmission power and the received power of the response signal.   
     
     
         5 . A user terminal that performs inter-terminal communication that is direct radio communication capable of being performed between user terminals in a state where a radio connection with a network is established, comprising:
 a processor that performs a process for transmitting, to the network, communication request information indicating a desire to start the inter-terminal communication.   
     
     
         6 . A user terminal that performs inter-terminal communication that is direct radio communication capable of being performed between user terminals in a state where a radio connection with a network is established, comprising:
 a processor that performs a process for, in a case where waiting for a search signal for the inter-terminal communication is being stopping, starting waiting for the search signal upon receiving start request information for starting waiting for the search signal from the network.   
     
     
         7 . A processor provided in a user terminal that performs inter-terminal communication that is direct radio communication capable of being performed between user terminals in a state where a radio connection with a network is established, wherein
 the processor performs a process for transmitting, to the network, communication request information indicating a desire to start the inter-terminal communication.   
     
     
         8 . A processor provided in a user terminal that performs inter-terminal communication that is direct radio communication capable of being performed between user terminals in a state where a radio connection with a network is established, wherein
 the processor performs a process for, in a case where waiting for a search signal for the inter-terminal communication is being stopped, starting waiting for the search signal upon receiving start request information for starting waiting for the search signal from the network.   
     
     
         9 . A storage medium provided in a user terminal that performs inter-terminal communication that is direct radio communication capable of being performed between user terminals in a state where a radio connection with a network is established, wherein
 the storage medium stores therein a program for the user terminal to perform a process for transmitting, to the network, communication request information indicating a desire to start the inter-terminal communication.   
     
     
         10 . A storage medium provided in a user terminal that performs inter-terminal communication that is direct radio communication capable of being performed between user terminals in a state where a radio connection with a network is established, wherein
 the storage medium stores therein a program for the user terminal to perform a process for, in a case where waiting for a search signal for the inter-terminal communication is being stopped, starting waiting for the search signal upon receiving start request information for starting waiting for the search signal from the network.