Abstract: The invention relates to apparatuses, a method, computer program and computer-readable medium.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided according to an example embodiment to provide a cellular based ITS environment. In this regard, a method includes causing a secondary cell carrier (SCC) to be configured for a mobile terminal located in a vehicular target area. The method of this embodiment may also include causing the SCC to be activated by signaling a vehicular fast activation block (VFAB). The method of this embodiment may also include causing the SCC to deactivate based on a signal strength measurement, received from a road side unit (RSU), in an instance in which the signal strength measurement does not satisfy a predetermined threshold over a measurement period based on a timer.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided according to an example embodiment to distributed communications. In this regard, a method includes causing an actual channel and a shadow channel to be configured to carry information for a logical channel. In some example embodiments, the logical channel is configured for at least one QCI class. The method of this embodiment may also include configuring an actual channel on a secondary link and a shadow channel on a primary link. The method of this embodiment may also include causing the shadow channel and the actual channel to be swapped such that the actual channel is configured on the primary link and the shadow channel is configured on the secondary link in an instance in which it is determined that the secondary link is no longer available.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for providing facilitation of mobile gateway operation may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least causing provision of configuration instructions (210) to one or more machines (42) where the configuration instructions define at least a discontinuous reception period and beaconing instructions for the one or more machines relative to machine communications utilizing network defined resources, and causing provision of connection information (220) to a mobile terminal (10) to identify connection parameters that correspond to the configuration instructions provided to the one or more machines where the connection information enables establishment of communication between the mobile terminal and the one or more machines. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of this invention provide, in one aspect thereof, a method that includes sending a mode switch command from a network access node to a first node of a pair of nodes operating in a device-to-device (D2D) communication mode. The method further includes receiving at least one acknowledgment of the reception of the mode switch command at the network access node, where the at least one acknowledgment is received from a second node of the pair of nodes. In one embodiment the mode switch command is an explicit mode switch command sent using layer 1 (L1) signaling to a master node of the pair of nodes.

Abstract: At a cluster head/first device there is received, from each of at least two other devices with which the cluster head has a respective wireless link, a quality indicator for the respective link observed by the respective other device. The cluster head compiles those received quality indicators into a compressed report, and sends the compressed report to a network entity. In a specific embodiment the cluster head also determines an additional quality indicator of each of those respective links observed by the cluster head by listening to a sounding reference signal sent by the respective other device to the network entity on a PUCCH. Those additional quality indicators are also compiled into the compressed report, as are further quality indicators received from the devices for D2D links between pairs of those other devices that exclude the cluster head. The compressed report can inform how many indicators are above/below a threshold.

Abstract: A method for distributed carrier aggregation on unlicensed bands is described. The method includes tuning an antenna of a user equipment to a first carrier. The method includes transmitting, from an access point on a first carrier, information regarding a second carrier. The method also includes receiving, on the first carrier via the antenna, the information regarding the second carrier. The first carrier and the second carrier are in an unlicensed band. The method includes retuning the antenna to the second carrier and communicating data on the second carrier via the antenna. A maximum transmission power for the second carrier is based at least in part on a bandwidth of the second carrier. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program for controlling device-to-device connections and associated quality-of-service parameters are presented. The quality-of-service parameters of an end-to-end connection through a plurality of different radio access networks are aligned in connection with changing a communication mode to a direct device-to-device connection.

Abstract: Various methods for enabling D2D connections to exchange P2P data so as to reduce traffic on a network. One example method may comprise constructing a local topology of one or more mobile terminals. The method of this embodiment may also include determining that a mobile terminal of the one or more mobile terminals has initiated a peer to peer session. The method of this embodiment may also include determining, based on the local topology, one or more mobile terminals to act as one or more seeder devices for the peer to peer session. The method of this embodiment may also include causing the local topology to be transmitted to the mobile terminal that has initiated the peer to peer session. In some example embodiments, the mobile terminal is configured to use the local topology to initiate a device to device connection for the peer to peer session.

Abstract: A method of controlling device-to-device communications between user equipment, including using a network control element, which is common to a plurality of networks, including controlling any of the following functions: network access control functions, connection set-up, resource allocation, mode switching, handover, security and/or charging. Also a method of controlling handovers or connections in a device-to-device communications between a first and a second user equipment wherein the control is performed, at least in part, said first or second user equipments. Alternatively the user equipment may send reports a handover/connection is initiated/controlled based on said report.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, devices and computer programs arranged to control access to a cell in a communication network. One embodiment comprises an apparatus comprising a processing system arranged to cause the apparatus to: receive a plurality of Closed Subscriber Group identifiers (CSG IDs) assigned to the cell; select and transmit a first CSG ID from the plurality of CSG IDs on the basis of a first load condition on the cell; and select and transmit a second, different, CSG ID from the plurality of CSG IDs on the basis of a second, different, load condition on the cell.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided according to an example embodiment to distribute and utilize location information received from one or more networks to determine handover timing and target cell selection for a mobile terminal. A method also includes determining a predicted future mobile terminal location based on the location information for the mobile terminal. A method also includes determining at least one network entity with a serving area that encompasses the predicted future mobile terminal location. A method also includes causing the at least one network entity to receive handover instructions by causing the predicted future mobile terminal location and information regarding the at least one network entity to be transmitted to a network management node.

Abstract: In one aspect, a wireless device sends a synchronization group identifier to a network control apparatus identifying a synchronization group of wireless devices. If the wireless device is notified that no other devices of the synchronization group are connected to the control apparatus, the wireless device transmits a timing reference to and agrees an extended discontinuous reception time period with the control apparatus. Otherwise, the wireless device receives a timing reference and an extended discontinuous reception time period from the control apparatus. The wireless device periodically enters an idle state and powers up for reception in accordance with at least the timing reference and the extended discontinuous reception time period. In another aspect, plural base stations each use a common timing reference and a common extended discontinuous reception time period in controlling the operation of extended discontinuous reception by a synchronization group of wireless devices.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for communication are provided. The solution includes controlling a transceiver to determine free frequency blocks on a shared spectrum and controlling a transceiver to map synchronization control channels, downlink and uplink physical control channels, physical broadcast channel and random access channel on found free frequency blocks.

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.

Abstract: In one aspect, a wireless device sends a synchronisation group identifier to a network control apparatus identifying a synchronisation group of wireless devices. If the wireless device is notified that no other devices of the synchronisation group are connected to the control apparatus, the wireless device transmits a timing reference to and agrees an extended discontinuous reception time period with the control apparatus. Otherwise, the wireless device receives a timing reference and an extended discontinuous reception time period from the control apparatus. The wireless device periodically enters an idle state and powers up for reception in accordance with at least the timing reference and the extended discontinuous reception time period. In another aspect, plural base stations each use a common timing reference and a common extended discontinuous reception time period in controlling the operation of extended discontinuous reception by a synchronisation group of wireless devices.

Abstract: In one aspect, a wireless device sends a synchronisation group identifier to a network control apparatus identifying a synchronisation group of wireless devices. If the wireless device is notified that no other devices of the synchronisation group are connected to the control apparatus, the wireless device transmits a timing reference to and agrees an extended discontinuous reception time period with the control apparatus. Otherwise, the wireless device receives a timing reference and an extended discontinuous reception time period from the control apparatus. The wireless device periodically enters an idle state and powers up for reception in accordance with at least the timing reference and the extended discontinuous reception time period. In another aspect, plural base stations each use a common timing reference and a common extended discontinuous reception time period in controlling the operation of extended discontinuous reception by a synchronisation group of wireless devices.

Abstract: RRC signaling is used to configure a user device for N secondary cells SCells on license-exempt channels wi in a frequency hopping channel set W={wi} where i=1, 2, . . . N. Then cross-carrier scheduling is sent on a primary cell PCell to schedule a frequency hopping FH resource block hi on the ith license-exempt channel wi. Based on measurements of at least some of the license-exempt channels wi received from at least the user device, parameters for the frequency hopping are adapted. The FH resource block contains M physical resource blocks, scheduled for the SCell during a FH time interval Tu*L+j by a resource grant sent on a PDCCH of the PCell. In an embodiment the RRC signaling is sent by a micro access node/HeNB on the PCell, the cross carrier scheduling is sent also by the micro access node/HeNB on the PCell, and the PCell lies within an LTE licensed frequency band.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are therefore provided that may enable the provision of M2M communication in a wireless network environment. In this regard, for example, relatively low power devices (specifically referencing low transmission power) such as sensors or other machines in an M2M system may be enabled to initiate communication with a network through a mobile terminal in a more reliable and robust manner. The machine may transmit a busy-signal to request a reservation of a machine access slot on a machine access control channel to reserve the slot before transmitting any machine information or data to reduce the likelihood of collisions with other machines. Once the machine has reserved the machine access slot, the machine may transmit identification information via randomly selected frequency division multi-plexed or code division multiplexed resources to further reduce the likelihood of collisions with other machines. Thus, delays in establishing connections may be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment there are determined which radio resource are to be used for contention based access, and the allocated radio resource is accessed according to a probability function that varies in dependence on at least one of interference measured on the allocated radio resource and a received power level for the allocated radio resource. By example the radio resource is allocated by a cellular base station for use in D2D communications; the base station provides configuration parameters for the D2D communications via common or dedicated signaling; the received power level is a target received power level that is received via broadcast system information or dedicated control signaling; and/or the received power level is itself a function of pathloss on a wireless link to the cellular base station. Embodiments are presented for method, apparatus, and tangibly stored computer program.