Method and apparatus for a cellular assisted intelligent transportation system

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided according to an example embodiment to provide a cellular based ITS environment. The cellular based ITS environment may be configured based on LTE based interfaces. In this regard, a method includes receiving configuration information from a first access point, wherein the configuration information defines an ITS target area comprising at least the first access point and a first RSU. A method also includes receiving an ITS paging message from the first access point. A method also includes causing a reselection of the first RSU while in the communications range of the first access point in the ITS target area and in response to the received ITS paging message.

1 . An electronic device comprising:
 circuitry configured to
 receive configuration information from a first access point, wherein the configuration information defines an intelligent transportation system (ITS) target area comprising at least the first access point and a first road side unit (RSU); 
 cause reselection to a second RSU in an instance in which the first access point is no longer in range, wherein the second RSU is in data communication with a second access point within the ITS target area; and 
 receive an ITS paging message comprising configuration information for the second access point and at least the second RSU. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to receive another ITS paging message from the first access point prior to causing reselection to the second RSU.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to cause a reselection of the first RSU while in a communications range of the first access point in response to the received another ITS paging message.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to receive the configuration information for the first RSU over direct link while the electronic device is in a connected state.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to control the electronic device to transition from an idle state to a ready state in response to receiving the another ITS paging message from the first access point.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to cause reselection of the first RSU while the electronic device is in the ready state.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to initiate transmission of user data to the first RSU over an access link when the electronic device is in a connected state.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to cause reselection to a third RSU in communication with the first access point in an instance in which a distributed triggering via the another ITS paging message is received from the first access point.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein
 the third RSU is in data communication with the first access point over a backhaul link.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to control the electronic device to change from a ready state to an idle state in an instance in which a reselection from the first access point to the second access point occurs.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to cause the electronic device to change from an idle state to a connected state in an instance in which configuration information is received for the second access point and at least the second RSU.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to cause reselection to be triggered in response to receiving the another ITS paging message in an instance in which a data bearer is established and the electronic device is in a ready state.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the another ITS paging message is configured to establish a data bearer.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to cause the electronic device to transition from a connected state to a ready state in an instance in which data bearers are removed.   
     
     
         15 . An electronic device comprising:
 circuitry configured to
 receive configuration information from a first access point, wherein the configuration information defines an intelligent transportation system (ITS) target area comprising at least the first access point and a first road side unit (RSU); 
 receive a first ITS paging message from the first access point; 
 cause a reselection of the first RSU while in a communications range of the first access point in the ITS target area and in response to the received first ITS paging message; 
 cause reselection to a second RSU in an instance in which the first access point is no longer in range, wherein the second RSU is in data communication with a second access point within the ITS target area; and 
 receive a second ITS paging message including configuration information for the second access point and at least the third RSU. 
   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to cause reselection to a third RSU in communication with the first access point in an instance in which a distributed triggering via the first ITS paging message is received.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to cause the electronic device to transition from a ready state to an idle state in an instance in which a reselection from the first access point to the second access point occurs.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to cause the electronic device to transition from an idle state to a connected state in an instance in which configuration information is received for the second access point and at least the second RSU.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to cause reselection to be triggered based on the first ITS paging message from an RSU in an instance in which a data bearer is established and the electronic device is in ready state.   
     
     
         20 . A method performed by an electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving configuration information from a first access point, wherein the configuration information defines an intelligent transportation system (ITS) target area comprising at least the first access point and a first road side unit (RSU);   performing reselection to a second RSU in an instance in which the first access point is no longer in range, wherein the second RSU is in data communication with a second access point within the ITS target area; and   receiving an ITS paging message comprising configuration information for the second access point and at least the second RSU.