Method and apparatus for offloading data

摘要

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for enabling efficient allocation of discovery resources for device to device communications. An example method may comprise establishing a cellular network connection to an access point. The method may further comprise establishing a local area network connection to a user equipment. Additionally, the method may comprise either receiving offloaded data for the user equipment from the access point via the cellular network connection and relaying the offloaded data to the user equipment via the local area network connection, or receiving offloaded data for the access point from the user equipment via the local area network connection and relaying the offloaded data to the access point via the cellular network connection. Similar and related example methods, example apparatuses, and example computer program products are also provided.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: establish a cellular network connection to an access point; establish a local area network connection to at least one of a plurality of user equipments with data to be offloaded; receive data for the at least one of the plurality of user equipments from the access point via the cellular network connection, and relay the data to the at least one of the plurality of user equipments via the local area network connection to the at least one of the plurality of user equipments; and receive data for the access point from the at least one of the plural of user equipments via the local area network connection established with the at least one of the plurality of user equipments, and relay the data to the access point via the cellular network connection, wherein communications to or from the at least one of the plurality of user equipments to be offloaded are prioritized by the apparatus, and wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive a probe request from at least one of the plurality of user equipments, wherein the probe request comprises an indication of offloading capability of the of at least one of the plurality of user equipments; provide for transmission of a probe response to the at least one of the plurality of user equipments; andestablish a local area network connection to the at least one of the plurality of user equipments based at least in part on the probe request.