Method and apparatus for communication mode switching

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for communication mode switching. The method includes: acquiring state information of a device-to-device link between a first UE and a second UE; implementing a switching between a first communication mode and a second communication mode according to the state information of the device-to-device link between the first UE and the second UE, where the first UE and the second UE perform device-to-device communication under the first communication mode, and the first UE communicates with the second UE via a base station under the second communication mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for communication mode switching, comprising:
 receiving, by an apparatus, a first release message from a first user equipment (UE);   switching in responsive to the received first release message, by the apparatus, a first communication mode under which the first UE and a second UE perform device-to-device communication to a second communication mode under which the first UE communicates with the second UE via a base station;   updating, by the apparatus, at least one of a connection between the base station and the first UE and a connection between the base station and the second UE;   releasing, by the apparatus, the connection between the first UE and the second UE.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the apparatus, a second release message to the second UE to result that the second UE releases the connection between the first UE and the second UE.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the apparatus, a device-to-device connection establishment request message from the first UE;   switching, by the apparatus, the second communication mode to the first communication mode;   forwarding, by the apparatus, the device-to-device connection establishment request message to a core network so as to authenticate and authorize the first UE;   configuring, by the apparatus, the connection between the first UE and the second UE after the first UE is authenticated and authorized by the core network;   updating, by the apparatus, at least one of the connection with the first UE and the connection with the second UE;   transmitting, by the apparatus, configuration information of the connection between the first UE and the second UE to the first UE to result that the first UE and the second UE configure the connection between the first UE and the second UE.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the apparatus, measurement control information to the first UE to result that the first UE measures a link quality parameter between the first UE and the second UE.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the apparatus, measurement control information to the first UE to result that the first UE measures a link quality parameter between the first UE and the second UE.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the apparatus, measurement control information to the first UE to result that the first UE measures a link quality parameter between the first UE and the second UE.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for communication mode switching, comprising:
 a receiver, configured to receive a first release message from a first user equipment (UE), switch a first communication mode under which the first UE and a second UE perform device-to-device communication to a second communication mode under which the first UE communicates with the second UE via a base station under the second communication mode; and   a processor, configured to update at least one of a connection between the base station and the first UE and a connection between the base station and the second UE, and release a connection between the first UE and the second UE.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a transmitter, configured to transmit a second release message to the second UE to result that the second UE releases the connection between the first UE and the second UE. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a device-to-device connection establishment request message from the first UE;
 the processor is further configured to switch the second communication mode to the first communication mode, forward the device-to-device connection establishment request message to a core network so as to authenticate and authorize the first UE, configure the connection between the first UE and the second UE after the first UE is authenticated and authorized by the core network, and update the connection with the first UE and/or the connection with the second UE; and   the apparatus further comprises a transmitter, configured to transmit configuration information of the connection between the first UE and the second UE to the first UE to result that the first UE configures the connection with the second UE, according to the configuration information.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a transmitter, configured to transmit measurement control information to the first UE to result that the first UE measures a link quality parameter between the first UE and the second UE.