Abstract: A method includes receiving at a relay node a load status indicator from a subordinate relay node, determining a load status of the relay node and forwarding the received load status indicator to a super-ordinate node if the determined load status does not indicate an overload condition, otherwise if the determined load status does indicate an overload condition sending a load status indicator of the relay node to the superordinate node. Another method includes, in a multihop relay network having a plurality of relay nodes, receiving over a communication link at a network access node a load status indicator from a relay node, the load status indicator identifying a nearest relay node, if any, at which a current load exceeds a threshold; and using the received load status indicator at least when making a network admission decision for a user equipment.

Abstract: A method for intra-cluster D2D retransmission comprises: calculating parameters of a first and a second retransmission modes for an acknowledgement device in a cluster at which data from a network node is decoded correctly; reporting the parameters to the network node; and determining whether or not to retransmit the data to at least one non-acknowledgement device in the cluster at which the data from the network node is decoded incorrectly, in response to a selection between the first and the second retransmission modes from the network node based at least in part on the parameters according to a pre-determined criterion.

Abstract: To find a D2D channel, by example a shared channel for offload traffic from an allocated D2D channel, a cellular network access node sends a configuration message with parameters (e.g., sensing time, frequency band, sensing mechanism, cyclic shift) for a D2D device to sense spectrum. From results of this spectrum sensing is decided whether to utilize a frequency band, sensed according to the parameters, for D2D communications. In an embodiment the network selects a subframe configuration to set the sensing time, in which different subframe configurations have different-length guard periods which is the sensing time. In embodiments a first sensing is within a guard period and represents coarse sensing results and if those are not sufficient the network configures a longer sensing time (e.g., spanning multiple subframes) for finer sensing results. The network or alternatively the D2D device decides whether to use the sensed frequency band for offload traffic.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for transmission/reception contention resolution in D2D communication is provided. The method includes detecting, at a device-to-device (D2D) node, re-usable cellular resources based on the scheduling information. The method also includes receiving related information from another D2D node identifying the re-usable cellular resources for the another D2D node, and identifying common and different re-usable cellular resources between the D2D node and the another D2D node. The method also includes receiving updated scheduling information, and determining, from the detected re-usable cellular resources, whether there is a simultaneous transmission/reception contention. When it is determined that there is a simultaneous transmission/reception contention, the method includes resolving the contention by dynamically selecting a direction of communication based on a preconfigured decision criteria, wherein the direction of communication is one of transmission or reception.

Abstract: A method for local selection of a retransmitting user equipment within a cluster comprises: selecting first retransmission indication information according to a first pre-defined criterion, in response to receipt of non-acknowledgement information from at least one non-acknowledgement user equipment at which a data packet from a network node is decoded incorrectly; performing a local selection of a retransmitting user equipment within a cluster based at least in part on the first retransmission indication least one non-acknowledgement user equipment, and at least one acknowledgement user equipment at which the data packet is decoded correctly; and determining whether or not to retransmit the data packet to the at least one non-acknowledgement user equipment, based at least in part on the local selection of the retransmitting user equipment.

Abstract: A modulator and a modulation method for a communication device are disclosed. The modulator is configured to multiplex control symbols and data symbols for transmission in a signal based on information of the distance between the positions of at least two control symbols in a representation of symbol positions in the signal.

Abstract: Device-to-device (D2D) communication is one alternative to communication between devices through a radio access network. One interesting D2D communication method is reuse-mode D2D, where D2D nodes communicate with each other using the same uplink (UL) radio resource that is being used by some other cellular user equipment(s) (UEs). In other words, the UL cellular resources occupied by cellular UEs are reused by D2D nodes in their short-range communications. Centralized control of D2D communication can be performed by appropriate signaling between a D2D-capable UE and an evolved Node B (eNB).

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for setting up cellular controlled device-to-device communications. A method can comprise sending, from a first device to a radio network node, a request to initiate device-to-device communication with a second device, the request comprising an identification of the second device and a first indicator indicating an intention of a device-to-device type of the communication; receiving, from the radio network node, a resource allocation; and transmitting service contents in the device-to-device communication directly between the first device and the second device using the allocated resources.

Abstract: A method can include receiving at a cluster head, a multicast/broadcast packet from a base station. The method can also include monitoring, at the cluster head, to detect whether any members of a cluster of the cluster head responds to the multicast/broadcast packet with a negative acknowledgment directed to the cluster head. The method can further include, when a result of the monitoring is no detection of any negative acknowledgments, and the cluster head successfully received the multicast/broadcast packet, sending, by the cluster head, a general acknowledgment of the multicast/broadcast packet to the base station.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment a network node (such as a base station BS) determines that a plurality of user equipments UEs are available for use as mobile relays MRs, and selects a subset of the plurality of UEs and configures the subset of the plurality of UEs as MRs. In another exemplary embodiment, an indication is sent (for example from a UE) that a UE is willing to operate as a MR, a response is received that the UE is selected to be a MR1 and then periodically there is sent a beacon advertising that the UE is a MR. In this manner UEs are pre-configured in a cell as MRs, regardless of any specific UE need for relay services. Any UE later needing relay service listens for the beacon. The BS can limit which UEs it pre-configures as MRs to avoid closely spaced UEs being both active MRs. Locations need not be signaled.

Abstract: There is provided a sensor network information collection mechanism in which, after a UE has decided to become part of an information collecting operation for collecting information from a local sensor network, a signaling transmitted from a managing node of a local sensor network is received and processed. A communication network control element is informed about the willingness to become an information collector by sending a report message comprising measurement results derived from the signaling received from the managing node of the local sensor network. When receiving a gateway allocation message indicating that the UE is determined to be a gateway element to the local sensor network, the information collecting operation is started wherein sensor nodes of the local sensor network are woke up, and a traffic flow direction in the local sensor network is set in accordance with the managing node identity to which the UE is accessed.

Abstract: A method including sending a multicast packet to a cluster of recipients; receiving information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members of the cluster of recipients; and initiating intracluster retransmission of said multicast packet by sending to the cluster of recipients collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients.

Abstract: Various methods for providing control signaling in a multi-radio access environment are provided. One example method includes implementing radio resource management and a general link layer jointly across at least two radio access technology modules, and selecting one of the radio access technology modules to perform control signaling in a multi-radio environment. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.

Abstract: A method including sending a multicast packet to a cluster of recipients; receiving information indicating receiving status relating to the multicast packet from individual members of the cluster of recipients; and initiating intra-cluster retransmission of said multicast packet by sending to the cluster of recipients collective information about the receiving statuses of the members of the cluster of recipients.

Abstract: There is provided a sensor network information collection mechanism in which, after a UE has decided to become part of an information collecting operation for collecting information from a local sensor network, a signaling transmitted from a managing node of a local sensor network is received and processed. A communication network control element is informed about the willingness to become an information collector by sending a report message comprising measurement results derived from the signaling received from the managing node of the local sensor network. When receiving a gateway allocation message indicating that the UE is determined to be a gateway element to the local sensor network, the information collecting operation is started wherein sensor nodes of the local sensor network are woke up, and a traffic flow direction in the local sensor network is set in accordance with the managing node identity to which the UE is accessed.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method and corresponding apparatus for coordinating the executions of intra-radio handover, wherein the method comprising determining an intra-radio handover is to be executed on a communication device; and coordinating the execution of the intra-radio handover to determine whether to postpone the execution of the intra-radio handover, so that there is at least one active radio on the communication device.

Abstract: A M2M device sends on a random access channel an indication of a small data transmission, and thereafter sends the small data on an initial uplink resource allocated in response to the indication. The network sends a connection rejection message which the M2M device interprets as an acknowledgement of the small data it sent. In one embodiment the indication is explicit and also indicates priority, type and/or size of the small data. In another embodiment the indication is implicit such as a RACH preamble signature sequence reserved for this purpose, where different reserved sequences map to different sizes for the small data. If needed a second indication can be sent with the small data which indicates its type, size and/or priority. The connection rejection message may indicate the acknowledgement via a cause value, and in response the M2M device then automatically enters an idle or a detached mode.

Abstract: There is provided a sensor network information collection mechanism in which, after a UE has decided to become part of an information collecting operation for collecting information from a local sensor network, a signaling transmitted from a managing node of a local sensor network is received and processed. A communication network control element is informed about the willingness to become an information collector by sending a report message comprising measurement results derived from the signaling received from the managing node of the local sensor network. When receiving a gateway allocation message indicating that the UE is determined to be a gateway element to the local sensor network, the information collecting operation is started wherein sensor nodes of the local sensor network are woke up, and a traffic flow direction in the local sensor network is set in accordance with the managing node identity to which the UE is accessed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for selecting between a device-to-device link or a 2-hop cellular link In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include monitoring, at a user equipment, a paging signal, the paging signal including a random access preamble index assigned to another user equipment. The user equipment may be configured to use the random access preamble index assigned to the another user equipment, and receive a signal comprising a random access preamble. The user equipment may measure the received signal to generate an indication representative of a quality of the received signal. Based on the indication rather than a dedicated probe, a determination may be made regarding whether to establish a first connection directly to the another user equipment. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A method includes receiving at a relay node a load status indicator from a subordinate relay node, determining a load status of the relay node and forwarding the received load status indicator to a super-ordinate node if the determined load status does not indicate an overload condition, otherwise if the determined load status does indicate an overload condition sending a load status indicator of the relay node to the superordinate node. Another method includes, in a multihop relay network having a plurality of relay nodes, receiving over a communication link at a network access node a load status indicator from a relay node, the load status indicator identifying a nearest relay node, if any, at which a current load exceeds a threshold; and using the received load status indicator at least when making a network admission decision for a user equipment.