Abstract: There is provided a method, comprising: configuring, by a network node controlling a macro cell of a cellular communication system, at least one handover trigger related signalling configuration for at least one terminal device of the cellular communication system; receiving, by the network node controlling the macro cell, as a result of said signalling configuration, an uplink message broadcasted by the at least one terminal device via a local area access node; recognizing the local area access node as an edge node located at an edge of a coverage area of the macro cell; and initiating a handover of the terminal device between the macro cell and a neighbouring macro cell.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from a high quality of service (QoS). For example, fifth generation (5G) wireless communication systems may benefit from differentiated service flows in the user plane that may impact a core network. According to certain embodiments, a method can include determining at a serving radio access network whether a modification of a service flow will impact at least one of a core network service monitoring, controlling, and configuring, and initiating, based on the determination, the modification of the service flow directly with a user equipment or through a controlling network entity located in the core network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing services for a mobile device with access to a cellular system are disclosed. In accordance with a method a mobile device sends to a cellular system a request for a service by a machine type device. The request includes information identifying the machine type device for use by the cellular system that is then used in exchange of information in relation to at least one of authentication, authorization and configuration. Information associated with configuration of a device-to-machine connection to the machine type device is then sent to the mobile device. The device-to-machine connection for use of the service is then established between the machine type device and the mobile device based on the received information. In another embodiment the mobile device contact the machine type device first and provides the machine type device with information assigned by the cellular system.

Abstract: The invention relates to device-to-device (D2D) communications an in particular to location registration of a D2D User Equipment (UE) being in idle mode. A D2D capable UE (D2D cluster head) is [1] configured to communicate with a communication network, is [2] able to establish D2D communication with another D2D capable UE, receives [3] from the communication system a configuration so as to send location update related messaging on behalf of UEs with which D2D communications has been established, obtains [4] information of a change of status of a UE regarding a D2D communication or a change of cell of a UE and in response to the information, causes [5] the sending of a message to the communication network, the message comprising a location update request regarding the UE.

Abstract: A method for a communications system, wherein in response to detecting a radio link problem during a first phase of a radio link failure, the first user terminal transmits an indication of the detection of the radio link problem to a second user terminal over a device-to-device link. In response to a report on the radio link problem detection of the first user terminal being sent from the second user terminal to a network apparatus, the first user terminal receives a confirmation on a status of the report from the second user terminal over the device-to-device link. Based on the confirmation, the first user terminal decides, whether to stop a first radio link failure timer, reset the first radio link failure timer, or extend the first radio link failure timer.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from having appropriate information regarding communication resources. For example, systems implementing fifth generation multi-connectivity may be able to provide efficient radio scheduling through distribution of L2 buffer status information. A method can include preparing, by a multi-connectivity aggregating entity, an aggregated buffer status regarding a plurality of legs of a split radio access flow. The method can also include distributing the aggregated buffer status to a plurality of schedulers of the legs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided. A request is received from a first user equipment to schedule communication resources for a device to device communication between the first user equipment and at least one second user equipment. Control information relating to the device to device communication is sent to the at least one second user equipment in response to the request.

Abstract: A method and a device for data processing in a cellular network are provided including the step of scheduling data transmission between mobile terminals utilizing a DRX mode of the mobile terminals. Furthermore, a communication system is suggested including said device.

Abstract: An example technique may include controlling sending data by a first user device to a second user device in a network providing proximity-based services, determining, by the first user device, a release of a user plane protocol entity resources used for the proximity-based services in the second user device, and controlling sending, by the first user device to at least the second user device in response to the determining, a message that causes at least the second user device to perform the release of the user plane protocol entity resources used for the proximity-based services in the second user device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling the establishment of a network connection to a mobile relay; communicating with the moving relay connected to a donor network; controlling the activation, reactivation and setup of the connection<a moving relay with donor cellular networks, the networks being controlled by more than one operator; and creating or reactivating and keeping update of the context of the mobile relay context when the mobile relay establishes a connection with a donor cellular network.

Abstract: A method includes coordinating one or more pools of resources for discovery signal transmission between a plurality of devices, at least one of said pools of resources being shared by at least one larger cell and at least one smaller cell at least partially in a coverage area of the said larger cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a controller to control not only cellular radio connections in a cell of a cellular communication system but also direct device-to-device communication links established between terminal devices within the cell. Particularly, the controller selects portion of the terminal devices to function as relay terminals for the other terminals to enable relayed communication links between the terminal devices and the base station through the relay terminals. The relay terminals link device-to-device connections to the cellular radio connections between the relay terminals and the base station.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a controller to control not only cellular radio connections in a cell of a cellular communication system but also direct device-to-device communication links established between terminal devices within the cell. Particularly, the controller selects portion of the terminal devices to function as relay terminals for the other terminals to enable relayed communication links between the terminal devices and the base station through the relay terminals. The relay terminals link device-to-device connections to the cellular radio connections between the relay terminals and the base station.

Abstract: There is provided a solution for improving the quality of service of end-to-end communication between at least two user terminals. The solution comprises applying uplink signaling in which information related to the traffic status of a direct device-to-device communication link is transmitted.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for facilitating device-to-device connection establishment. A method may include directing broadcast of an indication of a device-to-device registration area identification in each of one or more cells forming a device-to-device registration area identified by the device-to-device registration area identification. The method may further include directing receipt of a device-to-device registration request originated by a first terminal apparatus in response to the broadcast indication. The first terminal apparatus may be located within the registration area. The method may additionally include registering the first terminal apparatus based at least in part upon the device-to-device registration request. Corresponding apparatuses and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for a random access channel (RACH) procedure based proximity-based service channel allocation are provided. One method includes controlling receiving, by a network node, a request for proximity-based service on a random access channel, the request being for at least one resource, and determining whether the requested at least one resource is allocable within a random access contention window. When the at least one resource is allocable, the method may include preparing a transmission of allocation information on a common control channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatuses, a method, computer programs and computer-readable media for controlling mode change from a normal cellular communication mode to a machine-to-machine or device-to-device communication mode and to ensure sequence number synchronization between a sender and receiver ends when said mode change is performed. The mode change control is performed by controlling the duration of the transition period for switching from the cellular communication mode to the machine-to-machine or device-to-device mode and by using a temporary server for transmission of a desired data flow or by sending at least one dummy packet.

Abstract: A method, including receiving at a first communication device from a first network information for assisting device-to-device transmissions between a group of communication devices including said first communication device; thereafter detecting at said first communication device loss of possibility to continue receiving assistance for said device-to-device transmissions from said first network; and deciding at said first communication device whether to continue with said device-to-device transmissions with assistance from a second network or without assistance from a second network.

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: Example implementations are described related to a dynamic resource allocation scheme for use in allocating frequency resources from a frequency band shared by a plurality of small area cell base stations located in a service area of a large area cell base station. The large area cell base station may control the dynamic resource allocation from the shared frequency band.