D2D communications considering different network operators

摘要

There is stored a database of registration information associating UEs with cells under control of different network operators. In response to a inquiry from a first network operator that a first UE desires direct communications with a second UE, the registration information is used to coordinate between the first network operator and the second network operator to facilitate establishment of a direct communication link between the first UE and the second UE. In various embodiments the facilitating is enhancing the inquiry/page by adding a cell ID of the first UE's cell and adding pre-allocated radio resources in the first UE's cell for use by the second UE in responding to the page, and determining a single network which is not highly loaded and which can allocate resources for the D2D communications and directing one or both UEs to that single network.

主权项

1. 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, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform the following: compile a database of registration information for a plurality of user equipments in a plurality of cells under control of a plurality of network operators, the registration information associating a first user equipment with a first cell under control of a first network operator and a second user equipment with a second cell under control of a second network operator different from said first network operator; receive an inquiry from the first network operator that the first user equipment seeks direct communications with the second user equipment, said first user equipment and said second user equipment being in an area defined by an intersection of said first cell and said second cell; and use the database of registration information to coordinate between the first network operator and the second network operator to facilitate establishment of a direct communication link between the first user equipment and the second user equipment in one of the first cell and the second cell, wherein the direct communication link between the first user equipment and the second user equipment, whose establishment is facilitated, is within a single network, and wherein using the database of registration information comprises determining that at least one of the first and the second cells are highly loaded and the single network is not determined to be highly loaded.