METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DEVICE TO DEVICE COMMUNICATIONS

摘要

Various embodiments are directed to methods and apparatus efficiently utilizing WAN system resources that would otherwise go unused for device to device communications. In one exemplary embodiment the air link resources correspond to Guard Periods (GPs) in Special Sub-Frames of an LTE TDD WAN system. In various embodiments, wireless communications devices e.g., UE devices with device to device communications capability, self-configure to operate using a portion of the GP such as not to interfere with ongoing WAN signaling. Thus the WAN signaling and device to device signaling do not interfere with respect to one another. This approach facilities recurring availability of device to device air link communications resources in a recurring timing structure in a manner that does not interfere with WAN communications and improves the likelihood that transmitted device to device signals will be successfully recovered.

主权项

1. A method of operating a wireless communications device (106) which supports device to device communication, the method comprising:
receiving information indicating a maximum propagation delay TC for a wide area network system; and determining a device to device transmission timing offset relative to a point in time in a recurring wide area network timing structure.