Abstract: A method and apparatus can be configured to update status information on channel resources. The channel resources are configured for device-to-device communication by a cluster-wise manner. The method can also include transmitting the status information by using broadcasting resources.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamic provisioning of quality of service (QoS) for end-to-end (E2E) QoS control in device-to-device (D2D) based UE-to-Network relay transmission are provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising: determining, by a first network node of a cellular communication network, that a transfer of a data block to a second network node of the cellular communication network needs a retransmission; determining whether at least one criterion for a size and/or latency requirements of said data block is met; and as a response to determining that the at least one criterion is met, performing the retransmission according to a first set of rules, otherwise performing the retransmission according to a second set of rules.

Abstract: There are provided measures for lawful interception and security based admission control for proximity service. Such measures could include detecting a requirement for control in relation to setting up or securing a connection of a proximity service between at least two devices, determining availability of at least one lawful interception and security agent capable of performing an operation relating to lawful interception and/or security in relation to the connection of the proximity service, and performing control in relation to setting up or securing the connection of the proximity service when availability of the at least one lawful interception and security agent is determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may include determining, by a network node, that a slave radio-resource-control function is to be initiated. The slave radio-resource-control function may be performed by an access point. The method may also include transmitting a message to the access point. The message includes at least one of a request to initiate the slave radio-resource-control function and a confirmation that the slave radio-resource-control function can be initiated.

Abstract: Methods, devices, systems, techniques, and computer program products are provided in which an eNB, within a wireless communications network, determining network coverage status relating to a cell served by it, where the eNB supports UE-to-Network relay for a remote UE using direct device-to-device communication between the remote UE and a relay UE connected to the serving cell. Based on a determination of network coverage status, at least one UE is initiated and selected to act as a relay UE. The radio interface link quality of the relay UE can be evaluated and the relay UE can be configured to send an indication of the radio interface link quality to the remote UE. Based on the determined network coverage status and selection of a relay UE, the remote UE is controlled by the eNB for the relay UE discovery and selection either directly or via the relay UE.

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. When the at least one resource is not allocable, the method may include preparing a response for the request on the random access response channel, and preparing a transmission of allocation information either on common control channel or dedicated control channel.

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: Embodiments concern managing traffic in a radio device. While classifying user-plane packets from multiple applications according to quality of service requirements, a specific user-plane packet is classified as/determined to be a predetermined special-type packet (e.g., the special-type packets establish a new TCP/IP connection for a newly activated application). Based on that, that specific user-plane packet is mapped to a pre-defined radio bearer associated with a preconfigured priority, for example a highest priority among all bearers to which any of these user-plane packets from the multiple applications are mapped. Then all the mapped user-plane packets are scheduled for transmission according to their respective priorities. For example, the specific user-plane packet could be a SDU having a SYN, SYN-ACK or ACK, and the network convergence sub-layer (NCS) constructs a L2 NCS PDU using a designated format with the SDU in the payload and context information in the header.

Abstract: To reduce handover latency experienced by a user using a user equipment that is served for offloaded user data traffic by a first small cell, a handover between a first macro cell deploying the first small cell and a second macro cell deploying a second small cell is triggered when information indicating that the user equipment has associated with the second small cell not deployed by the first macro cell is received.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from minimization of service interruption. For example, certain wireless communication systems may benefit from support for minimization of service interruption with device-to-device-based user-equipment-to-network relay. A method can include determining that a layer 3 relay is selected for a remote user equipment. The method can also include sending an indication to a serving access node about the relay selection.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising: receiving a request for a content-based delivery service from at least one first user device of a plurality of user devices with device-to-device communications capability for a delivery of an information element; obtaining information in relation to the delivery of the information element; determining based on the obtained information in relation to the delivery, if said information element is to be delivered using an access node or at least one second user device or both the access node and the at least one second user device or if information on absence of the requested information element is conveyed, and in response to the determination, carrying out resource configuration for the delivery of the information element or for conveyance of the information on the absence of the requested information element is conveyed the requested information element by using the content-based delivery service.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for minimizing service interruption during relay reselection in D2D based UE-to-network relay are provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for communication are provided. The solution includes obtaining information of handovers to be performed regarding more than one user equipment connected to the apparatus; requesting the user equipment to form one or more device-to-device clusters; and controlling handovers to be performed utilizing information on the formed device-to-device clusters.

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: There is provided a method, including: receiving, by a target base station, information that a handover of a plurality of user equipment currently connected to a source cell is needed to a target cell; causing a device-to-device, D2D, cluster generation, wherein each generated D2D cluster is controlled by a predetermined user equipment connected to the target cell and acting as a D2D cluster head; determining D2D cluster-specific radio resource commitment information for each generated D2D cluster; indicating corresponding D2D cluster-specific radio resource commitment information to each D2D cluster head; and receiving a handover request from at least one D2D cluster head, wherein the handover request is for handing at least one member of the corresponding D2D cluster over to the target cell.

Abstract: Initial Setting and Configuration of E-UTRAN for Energy-Efficient IOPS Certain embodiments of the invention generally relate to initial setting and configuration of E-UTRAN for energy-efficient isolated E-UTRAN operation for public safety. A method may include determining an initial configuration mode of a network element for setting up a self-controlled radio access network. The method may also include determining an initial downlink transmission power of the network element coupled with the determined initial configuration mode. The method may further include detecting a need of changing downlink transmission power of the network element based on at least one of traffic demands and conditions of the self-controlled radio access network. The method may also include determining a new downlink transmission power. The method may further include indicating the change of at least one of the downlink transmission power and the initial configuration mode to at least one user equipment.

Abstract: First and second level discovery messages for device-to-device discovery are determined to be going to be transmitted, resource(s) are requested for transmission of at least the second level discovery message, and allocated resource(s) of a second type are received. The first level discovery message is transmitted on either a selected resource of the first type or a selected one of the allocated resource(s). The second level discovery message is transmitted on a selected one of the more allocated resource(s) of the second type, A first level discovery message is received on a resource of either a first type or a second type. It is determined whether the received message is of interest or not and if the message is of interest, then it is determined whether a second level discovery message is available and if so, the second level discovery message is received on a resource of the second type.

Abstract: One of the embodiments of the present invention relates to a method for controlling a D2D discovery process at a discovering user equipment. The method comprises determining by the discovering user equipment whether discovery information in a discovering message received from a discovered user equipment is sufficient for performing the D2D discovery process or not. In response to a positive result of the determination, the user equipment continues the discovery procedure without involvement of network node, at least by using the discovery information in the discovering message; in response to a negative result of the determination, the user equipment sends a request to a network node for assistance on further discovery information for performing the D2D discovery process, and then receives the further discovery information from the network node. Embodiments of the present invention also provide methods, apparatuses and computer program products.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising receiving a request from a user equipment for resource allocation for at least one service coverage zone in a coverage area of a first network, the first network comprising a plurality of nodes forming a synchronised sub-network, said nodes configured to provide a user equipment with at least one of instant radio access and cellular access, wherein the sub-network is associated with at least one cellular network which provides cellular access over the first network area and wherein said request comprises first information, allocating instant radio access resources for the user equipment for use within the at least one service coverage zone and providing an indication of said instant radio access resources to said user equipment.