Methods to enable wlan proximity service

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for implementing a wireless local area network (WLAN) Proximity Service (ProSe) connection in a WLAN ProSe capable wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU). The WLAN ProSe capable WTRU requests an establishment of a WLAN ProSe connection with other WLAN ProSe capable WTRU(s), where a ProSe discovery process determines the presence of other WLAN ProSe capable WTRU(s). Configuration information is received, via a non-access stratum or a radio resource control message, from a network node to facilitate the WLAN ProSe connection to the other WLAN ProSe capable WTRU(s). The configuration information includes one of a WLAN ID of the other WLAN ProSe capable WTRU(s), a medium access control ID of the other WLAN ProSe capable WTRU(s), a WLAN access point Service Set Identification (SSID) or Basic SSID, a frequency or channel number, a beacon interval, and timing information.

1 . A method for establishing a wireless local area network (WLAN) proximity service (ProSe) connectivity between a first WLAN ProSe capable wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, the method comprising:
 receiving a request from the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to establish a WLAN ProSe connection to the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, the request including at least an identification of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU;   transmitting a WLAN ProSe ID associated with the identification of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU and a WLAN ProSe ID associated with the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to a WLAN access point (AP) discovered in a predetermined area; and   transmitting a configuration message with information associated with the WLAN AP to the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU and the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to start the WLAN ProSe connection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining WLAN ProSe capabilities of the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU and the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing discovery of at least one WLAN access point (AP);   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving configuration information from the at least WLAN AP.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 querying a ProSe server for a list of WLAN APs and associated configuration information.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration message is an implicit indication to start the WLAN ProSe connection. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration message includes an explicit indication to start the WLAN ProSe connection. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration message is one of a radio resource control (RRC) or a Non-access stratum (NAS) message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting identification of established radio bearers that need to be switched to the WLAN ProSe connection.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting address information of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU.   
     
     
         11 . A method in a first WLAN ProSe capable wireless
 transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for establishing direct wireless local area network (WLAN) proximity service (ProSe) connectivity with a second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, the method comprising:   transmitting a request from the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to establish a WLAN ProSe connection with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU , the request including at least an identification of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU;   receiving a WLAN ProSe ID associated with the identification of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to perform WLAN ProSe discovery;   receiving a configuration message associated with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to start the WLAN ProSe connection; and   establishing a direct WLAN ProSe connection with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU based on the configuration message.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transmitting WLAN ProSe capabilities to a network node.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 performing a discovery process using the WLAN ProSe ID.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 transmitting location information of the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to the network node.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the configuration message is one of a radio resource control (RRC) or a Non-access stratum (NAS) message. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the configuration information includes at least one of: WLAN ID of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU , a medium access control (MAC) ID of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a frequency or channel number, a beacon interval, and timing information. 
     
     
         17 . A WLAN ProSe capable wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a request to establish a WLAN ProSe connection to a second WLAN ProSe WTRU, the request including at least an identification of the second WLAN ProSe WTRU;   a receiver configured to receive a WLAN ProSe ID associated with the identification of the second WLAN ProSe WTRU to perform WLAN ProSe discovery;   the receiver configured to receive a configuration message associated with the second WLAN ProSe WTRU to start the WLAN ProSe connection; and   the transmitter, the receiver and a processor configured to establish a direct WLAN ProSe connection with the second WLAN ProSe WTRU based on the configuration message.   
     
     
         18 . The WTRU of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 the transmitter, the receiver and the processor configured to perform discovery using the WLAN ProSe ID.   
     
     
         19 . The WTRU of  claim 17 , wherein the configuration message is one of a radio resource control (RRC) or a Non-access stratum (NAS) message. 
     
     
         20 . The WTRU of  claim 17 , wherein the configuration information includes at least one of: WLAN ID of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU , a medium access control (MAC) ID of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a frequency or channel number, a beacon interval, and timing information.