Method and apparatus for facilitating device-to-device communication

Abstract

A method is provided for facilitating device-to-device communication. The method may include causing a message to be sent to a first device to trigger the first device to transmit a reference signal. The method may further include causing a request for a channel quality indication to be sent to a second device. The request may indicate that the channel quality indication is to be based on measurement of the reference signal. The method may additionally include receiving the channel quality indication in response to the request. The channel quality indication may be indicative of a link quality between the first device and the second device. The method may also include determining based on the received channel quality indication whether to cause establishment of a device-to-device link between the first device. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, implemented by a communication system, comprising:
 transmitting, by a first mobile device, a reference signal to a second mobile device;   determining, by the second mobile device, a channel quality indication based on measurement of the reference signal, the channel quality indication being indicative of a link quality between the first mobile device and the second mobile device; and   causing establishment of a device-to-device link between the first mobile device and the second mobile device or causing service for communication between the first mobile device and the second mobile device to be provided via a network device based at least in part on the measured channel quality indication.   
     
     
         3 . A communication system, comprising:
 a first mobile device configured to transmit a reference signal to a second mobile device; and   a second mobile device configured to determine a channel quality indication based on measurement of the reference signal, the channel quality indication being indicative of a link quality between the first mobile device and the second mobile device; and   processing circuitry configured to cause establishment of a device-to-device link between the first mobile device and the second mobile device or to cause service for communication between the first mobile device and the second mobile device to be provided via a network device based at least in part on the measured channel quality indication.   
     
     
         4 . A mobile device comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to at least:   receive a reference signal transmitted by a second mobile device;   determine a channel quality indication based at least in part on the reference signal, wherein the channel quality indication is indicative of a link quality between the mobile device and the second mobile device; and   establish a device-to-device link to the second mobile device or to cause service for communication to the second mobile device via a network device based at least in part on the measured channel quality indication.