Abstract: To allocate resources for a device-to-device discovery and/or communication to at least one user equipment of a mobile communication network, the at least one user equipment is informed of a change of the resources allocated for the device-to-device discovery and/or communication from first allocated resources to second allocated resources. To inform the at least one user equipment of the change, a base station or a user equipment which act as central controller for a group of users of the mobile communication network transmits information on the second allocated resources in at least one physical resource element of the first allocated resources..

Abstract: Effective proximity service discovery resource reporting and allocation. Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for enhancing proximity service (ProSe) device to device discovery resource allocation, the method comprising: allocating, by a network processing device, network resources to a plurality of user devices including at least one user device in a connected mode and at least one user device in an idle mode, the allocating comprising: restricting network resources allocated to the user device in the idle mode for proximity service discovery compared to the network resources allocated to the user device in the connected mode for proximity service discovery, such that the network resources maintain reliable discovery services for the user device in the connected mode as well as provide acceptable discovery services for the user device in the idle mode.

Abstract: Timing control procedure is needed for uplink transmissions in several communication networks. Some networks and bands have physical and regulatory limitations for obtaining timing advance value in conventional manner. One example of these limitations is disabled downlink channel in TV white spaces. The present invention provides an arrangement for obtaining timing advance value in a situation wherein the use of downlink channel is disabled.

Abstract: In one embodiment information is received from one or more wireless networks indicating a request for a listen before transmit mode or a non-listen before transmit mode. In reply it is determined whether the one or more wireless networks is to utilize the listen before transmit mode or the non-listen in an unlicensed frequency band and the one or more wireless networks are informed of the determined mode. Centralized control of spectrum for coexistence of wireless communication systems in unlicensed bands according to exemplary embodiments of the invention can be performed by an enhanced coexistence manager or a network access node with information obtained from one or more base stations or user equipment.

Abstract: The invention allows flexible disabling/enabling of cross-carrier scheduling in carrier-aggregated wireless data transmission. In response to detecting a predetermined disabling indication of cross-carrier scheduling of received carrier aggregated wireless data transmission, the disabling indication targeting subframes allocated to uplink in a first component carrier transmitted from a cross-carrier scheduling cell and to downlink in a second component carrier transmitted from a cross-carrier scheduled cell: a downlink control region in the targeted subframes in the second component carrier is monitored for uplink/downlink grants; and in response to detecting an uplink/downlink grant, the detected uplink/downlink grant is utilized in uplink/downlink scheduling of the targeted subframe in the second component carrier.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, devices and computer programs arranged to control access to a Secondary Cell Carrier (SCC) by a user terminal. The user terminal having a first functional state in which the user terminal is arranged to monitor for a broadcast channel associated with the SCC, and a second functional state, different to said first functional state. One embodiment comprises an apparatus comprising a processing system arranged to cause the apparatus to: receive data indicative of a plurality of operational modes assigned to the SCC; and transmit a signalling message comprising data indicative of said plurality of operational modes for receipt by the user terminal, whereby to configure the user terminal into the first functional state, wherein the user terminal is arranged to selectively request access to resources of the SCC on the basis of a comparison between data contained in said signalling message and data contained in a transmission received on the broadcast channel.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention en-compass an apparatus and corresponding method and computer program product, wherein the apparatus comprises a controller, configured to cause communication via a first and at (east a second radio access technology, provide for setting of rules, which permit the apparatus to autonomously deny communication via the first radio access technology, detect a predetermined event in terms of the second radio access technology, responsive thereto, apply the rules and deny a communication via the first radio access technology, detect an occurrence of a further predetermined event in terms of the second radio access technology, while the rules prohibit to further deny a communication via the first radio access technology, decide, responsive thereto, to violate the rules and to permit to deny a further communication via the first radio access technology, and cause transmission of a violation indication to a destination of the communication via the first radio access technology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enhanced proximity services discovery with radio access status indicator. Embodiments of the invention are directed to the first apparatus and methods for enhancing proximity services (ProSe) discovery between user devices. In one embodiment, the method includes sending, using a first computing device processor of a first user device, a discovery signal; receiving, using the first computing device processor of the first user device, a response signal sent from a second computing device processor of a second user device, the response signal being sent in response to the discovery signal and comprising a radio access network status indicator corresponding to the second user device; and assistantly establishing using the received radio access network status indicator, a link between the first user device and the second user device.

Abstract: There is provided a mechanism for controlling communications conducted via different frequency bands or communication spectrums. When a communication via a first communication path, for example an unlicensed or white space communication spectrum, is to be established, e.g. for offloading traffic from a second communication path, for example a licensed cellular communication spectrum, a preamble transmission command is generated and transmitted from a communication network control element, such as an eNB, via the second communication path to a communication element, such as a UE. By means of the preamble transmission command, the transmission of a preamble signal by the receiving communication element on the first communication path with predetermined communication resources is triggered.

Abstract: Effective proximity service discovery resource reporting and allocation. Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for enhancing proximity service (ProSe) device to device discovery resource allocation, the method comprising: allocating, by a network processing device, network resources to a plurality of user devices including at least one user device in a connected mode and at least one user device in an idle mode, the allocating comprising: restricting network resources allocated to the user device in the idle mode for proximity service discovery compared to the network resources allocated to the user device in the connected mode for proximity service discovery, such that the network resources maintain reliable discovery services for the user device in the connected mode as well as provide acceptable discovery services for the user device in the idle mode.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for rebalancing the sizes of downlink (DL) association sets for component carriers having different time division duplex subframe configurations. A method is provided that includes determining DL subframes that are included in a DL association set for each of a plurality of component carriers. In an instance in which the number of acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) bits corresponding to the DL subframes included in the DL association sets for respective component carriers differ by at least a predetermined amount, the method modifies the number of ACK/NACK bits corresponding to the DL subframes that are included in the DL association sets for each of the respective component carriers. The method may also cause transmission of the ACK/NACK bits in accordance with the DL association sets, as modified, via the respective component carriers. Corresponding apparatus and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) for implementing enhanced and flexible radio aperiodic measurements, e.g., on an unlicensed band in LTE wireless systems and providing effective and timely reporting. A UE may receive from a wireless network an aperiodic measurement request to measure a special measurement object (e.g., a neighbor cell) specified in the aperiodic measurement request, e.g., in an unlicensed band. In response to the aperiodic measurement request, the UE may perform the measurement of the special management object until a further instruction from the wireless network or for a determined period of time. Inter-frequency measurements may be performed during the measurement gap determined from the aperiodic measurement request.

Abstract: A user equipment is operative to receive prioritization information for a plurality of unlicensed carriers from a cellular network node and to use the prioritization information for channel measurements or carrier selection.

Abstract: For use in offloading traffic to a wireless local area network (WLAN) a user equipment (UE) receives from a wireless wide area network at least a first set of thresholds having different thresholds corresponding to different types of data to be offloaded. The UE utilizes the threshold corresponding to a given type of data to evaluate whether an access node operating in the WLAN is suitable for offloading data of the given type. Only if the evaluated access node is determined to be suitable will the UE use it for offloading, and only for data of the given type. In other non-limiting embodiments the first set of thresholds has different thresholds corresponding to different data-types for different catergories (e.g., subscription levels) of the UE; and there may be a second set of thresholds with different thresholds corresponding to different classifications of different WLAN access nodes.

Abstract: A subframe (201-2, 201-5) is transmitted from a communication device to a cellular network. The subframe (201-2, 201-5) selectively includes an uplink control channel (265) in a slot (211).

Abstract: A user equipment (2) comprises a wireless interface (20) for communication with a cellular communication network. The wireless interface (20) is operative for a device-to-device transmission and/or a device-to-device reception in a position determining procedure in which a relative position of the user equipment (2) and at least one further user equipment (3, 4) is determined. The user equipment (2) is operative to communicate with a radio access network node (11) of the cellular communication network for network assistance in the position determining procedure.

Abstract: A network access node identifies a component carrier within an unlicensed radio spectrum, determines whether or not to configure the component carrier for use as a secondary component carrier, and based on the determining configures the component carrier for use as a secondary component carrier companion to a primary component carrier within a licensed radio spectrum. In various non-limiting embodiments the network node senses the component carrier within the unlicensed radio spectrum, and as more data is needed to make the determination employs a mobile device to also sense and further to measure the component carrier within the unlicensed radio spectrum. Specific procedures are detailed for both the network node and the mobile device.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for managing the use of industrial-scientific-medical bands for cellular network communication. An apparatus comprises a processing system and a memory storing a set of program instructions. The processing system is configured to cause the apparatus to receive channel information from a UE reporting the control of an unlicensed band channel by the UE and cause the apparatus to schedule a communication session with the UE over the channel, with the channel being configured and activated as a component carrier. The apparatus may further request one or more user equipments (UEs) to report their wireless fidelity (WiFi) capability and request user equipments having WiFi capability to compete for the wireless medium and report occupation of the wireless medium in the form of a request to send command, to which the apparatus responds with a clear to send command.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided to reduce coexistence interference that may occur following a S1 handover. The method, apparatus and computer program product may provide the target access point with information regarding one or more frequencies to be avoided so as to reduce instances of coexistence interference that might otherwise occur following a SI handover.

Abstract: A user equipment (2) has a wireless interface configured for communication with a cellular communication network. The user equipment (2) is configured to use device-to-device resources for device-to-device discovery and/or device-to-device communication. The device-to-device resources are dependent on whether the user equipment is out of coverage of the cellular communication network.