Abstract: It is disclosed a method (and related apparatus) including deciding a handover of a terminal from a relaying source entity to a relaying target entity based on information related to at least one link between the relaying source and target entities and source and target network access entities.

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: There is provided a method, including acquiring, by a first device, information indicating a type of radio signals to detect and a predetermined time interval for the detection to take place; detecting, by a first device, that radio signals of the indicated type are transmitted from a plurality of second devices during the predetermined time interval; and estimating the amount of the second devices in a geographically limited area based on the detection of the radio signals.

Abstract: There is provided a method, including acquiring, by a network node of a source cell, information that a handover of a plurality user terminals currently connected to the source cell is needed to a target cell; determining at least one attribute with respect to each of the plurality of user terminals; selecting at least some of the plurality of user terminals to form a group of user terminals such that the user terminals in the group share at least one common attribute; and indicating the at least one common attribute of the group to a target node of the target cell in a group handover request message.

Abstract: There is proposed a mechanism providing functions of a so-called hybrid home node B (HHNB) where subscribers, depending on their belonging to a specific subscriber group, such as a closed subscriber group or an open subscriber group, are admitted for a connection to the communication network via different connection routes and systems. After a request for connecting a subscriber is received, an identification process is performed whether the subscriber belongs to a first subscriber group (CSG) or to a second subscriber group (OSG). On the basis of this identification, the subscriber is assigned to a first connection route or a second connection route. It is then checked whether available resources on the assigned connection route are sufficient, wherein on the basis of this check the request for connecting is allowed or rejected.

Abstract: There is provided an improved solution for performing beacon broadcasting in a device-to-device communication network. The solution includes selecting, by a node capable of entering a device-to-device communication network, a channel for broadcasting wherein the selection is based on at least one of the following: the characteristics of the node and the state of the node; and causing a broadcast of information related to at least part of the properties of the node on the selected channel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for communication are provided. The solution includes controlling communication links to a set of user equipment; transmitting a request for information related to a temporary resource commitment to one or more nodes of a communication system; receiving information related to a temporary resource commitment from the one or more nodes; assigning the communication links to more than one groups based on the received information and the properties of the communication links, each group including one or more communication links and transferring groups including the communication links to the one or more nodes based on the assignment.

Abstract: This document discloses transmission of a radio link failure control message in a situation where a control plane connection is established directly between a first access point of a cellular communication system and a terminal device of the cellular communication system and, additionally, a user plane connection is established between the first access point and the terminal device through a second access point. The radio link failure control message is transferred over the user plane connection during the radio link failure or proactively in an attempt to prevent the radio link failure.

Abstract: A network entity, interfaces with at least one other apparatus. The network entity receives a plurality of reports from respective terminals, each report being indicative of a detection of at least one particular apparatus of a specific type by the respective terminal, and analyzes the plurality of reports in terms of which. The network entity determines that terminals, the reports of which are indicative of the same particular apparatus of the specific type, are in proximity to each other, and causes transmission of a corresponding proximity indication to each terminal for which a proximity to one or more other terminals was determined. Similarly, corresponding proximity discovery agent entities, i.e. apparatus of the specific type, corresponding terminal apparatuses and related methods as well as computer program products are envisaged.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus, comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: determine a first timing associated with a first signal; detect a second timing associated with a second signal; and estimate a timing advance value based at least in part on the detected first timing and the second timing, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for radio access offloading is disclosed, wherein the method includes maintaining, in a user terminal pre-configuration information on integrated local area radio access offloading layers. In response to detecting an access point of an available offloading layer, the user terminal may activate a local area radio access offloading mode. The user terminal transmits, to the base station via the access point, an indication indicating that the offloading mode is activated, and receives, from the base station, a confirmation indicating that the activated offloading mode is accepted by the base station. The user terminal then decides, whether or not to switch to the available offloading layer, wherein if the user terminal decides to switch to the available offloading layer, offloading is performed via the access point.

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: The invention relates to an apparatus including: at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: select and configure a commercial user device to operate as a mobile relay agent for public safety usage and/or a public safety device to operate as a mobile relay and/or a mobile gateway for public safety usage, allocate a public safety specific spectrum to device-to-device communications for the public safety usage, and provide mobile backhaul services by using commercial resources.

Abstract: One kind of communication is referred to as device-to-device D2D communication. Misuse is an issue for this type of communication. For example a public safety network may permit D2D communication to operate in an area following a natural or other incident where the controlling network entity loses coverage. However this permission to allow D2D communication without the controlling entity can lead to users of D2D apparatus such as public safety communications devices configured for use in a first region being able to perform D2D communications in a second region in licensed bands that are illegal or not permitted. Furthermore, each device should be configured to setup an ad hoc network using D2D only in those areas where the licensed bands can be used legally by the device. Therefore, each device determines its position and blocks D2D operation when outside of a geographical area to which it was configured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may be configured to monitor a first channel allocated to proximity-based services within a cluster. The method may also include transmitting, if the user device is not receiving transmissions on the first channel, an indication that the receiving user device is not receiving transmissions on the first channel allocated to the proximity-based services within the cluster. The method may also include receiving an indication of a second channel allocated to the proximity-based services within the cluster.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for D2D cluster communication and configurations are provided. One method comprises receiving, at a first cluster head, information of a second cluster head; determining, based on the received information, a possible establishment of inter-cluster relationship with the second cluster; selecting a user equipment of at least one user equipment associated with the first cluster head, based on the received information, to relay information between the first cluster head and the second cluster head; indicating to the selected user equipment of at least one user equipment associated with the first cluster head to relay information between the first cluster head and the second cluster head; and negotiating, via the selected user equipment, an inter-cluster relationship with the second cluster head, wherein the second cluster head is associated with another user equipment for a device-to-device communication.

Abstract: There is provided a method, comprising: establishing, by a first network node, a communication connection to at least one advertising device located in a geographically limited service area; establishing a communication connection to at least one advertisement-receiving device; generating at least one security key for encrypting and decrypting at least part of the data which is to be transmitted in D2D communication links, wherein each security key is valid for a predetermined validity period, and common to those at least one advertising device and at least one advertisement-receiving device within the service area which fulfill predetermined criteria; causing transmission of information indicating the generated at least one security key to those at least one advertising device which fulfill the predetermined criteria; and causing transmission of information indicating at least one of the generated at least one security key to those at least one advertisement-receiving device which fulfill the predetermined c

Abstract: A method for providing an ad-hoc network provided, wherein at least one group of mobile devices operate as a device-to-device cluster having a currently elected cluster head device. The method comprises configuring, in a network apparatus for the device-to-device cluster, a cluster-specific cell-level radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI on the basis of a content-sharing service requested within the device-to-device cluster. C-RNTI is used to act as a cluster-specific virtual radio access user responsible for transmission between a serving base station and the currently elected cluster head device on behalf of the device-to-device cluster.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing access to communication resources in the area of a first access system are disclosed. In a method information is received from at least one device in the area of the first access system, where after it is determined, based on the information, whether at least one mobile device in the area is capable of providing access to communication resources via a second access system. Upon selection of at least one mobile device information is sent to the at least one mobile device for configuration thereof as an access point to communication resources via the second access system. The information is received at the mobile device where after it is configured accordingly for use by other devices for accessing communication resources via the second access system.

Abstract: The present document describes a distributed communication arrangement, wherein a radio access network of a wireless telecommunication system provides a terminal device with two logical communication connections. Both uplink and downlink of a first logical connection are routed between a base station and the terminal device through a relay node. Uplink of a second logical connection is also routed between the base station and the terminal device through the relay node. Downlink of the second logical connection is, however, transmitted directly from the base station to the terminal device. Such an arrangement is used for cooperative communication purposes.