Channel Configuration in Device-to-Device Communications

Abstract

The present invention provides for a method of configuring a physical channel, such as a physical control channel, for device-to-device communication between mobile terminal devices within a cellular communications network environment and comprising a step of locating a device-to-device control channel within a cellular uplink signalling spectrum, and applying a frequency offset parameter to determine separation of the device-to-device control channel from a cellular uplink control channel, and to related terminal devices and computer program products.

1 . A mobile terminal device which supports device-to-device communication with a further mobile terminal device comprising:
 reception circuit configured to receive control information which includes a first offset from a resource of a first uplink control channel; and   a processor configured to determine a resource for a first device-to-device control channel based on the first offset.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile terminal device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control information further includes information regarding a bandwidth of the first device-to-device control channel. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile terminal device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the processor configured to determine the resource for the first device-to-device control channel based on the information regarding the bandwidth of the first device-to-device control channel. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile terminal device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the information regarding the bandwidth of the first device-to-device control channel comprises the number of Resource Blocks. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile terminal device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein control information which includes a second offset from a resource of a second uplink control channel. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile terminal device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the processor configured to determine the resource for a second device-to-device control channel based on the second offset. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile terminal device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control information is transmitted by a Radio Resource Control message. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a mobile terminal device which supports device-to-device communication with a further mobile terminal device, the method comprising:
 receiving control information which includes a first offset from a resource of a first uplink control channel; and   determining a resource for a first device-to-device control channel based on the first offset.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the control information further includes information regarding a bandwidth of the first device-to-device control channel. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the step of determining the resource for the first device-to-device control channel is a step of determining the resource for the first device-to-device control channel based on the information regarding the bandwidth of the first device-to-device control channel. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the information regarding the bandwidth of the first device-to-device control channel comprises the number of Resource Blocks. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein control information which includes a second offset from a resource of a second uplink control channel. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising: determining the resource for a second device-to-device control channel based on the second offset. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the control information is transmitted by a Radio Resource Control message. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program for causing a computer to perform the step of  claim 8 .