Device-To-Device Communication

Abstract

There is provided a solution for improving the quality of service of end-to-end communication between at least two user terminals. The solution comprises applying uplink signaling in which information related to the traffic status of a direct device-to-device communication link is transmitted.

1 . A method, comprising:
 applying, by a mobile communication device, uplink signaling in mobile communication, wherein the signaling comprises information determined by the device as related to a traffic status of a direct communication link between at least two user terminals being the terminating points of the communication; and   transmitting the information in the uplink to a base station from at least one user terminal involved in the direct communication link thereby enabling the base station to control the quality of service of an end-to-end communication between the at least two user terminals based on the received information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information is related to a packet data convergence protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the uplink signaling is applied on a medium access control layer or on a radio resource control layer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transmitting is performed periodically, after a predetermined event, or on request.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting the information simultaneously in a synchronized manner, or at a predefined time offset compared to another user terminal when more than one user terminal transmits the information.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving the information at a base station;   monitoring data volume of ongoing end-to-end communication between at least two user terminals on the basis of the received information; and   controlling the quality of service of end-to-end communication between the at least two user terminals on the basis of the received information.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 redistributing radio resources of the mobile communication on the basis of the received information.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 deciding on the basis of the received information whether to apply conventional radio communication via the base station, the direct communication between the at least two terminals, or both.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 controlling the quality of service of the end-to-end communication between the at least two user terminals by more than one base station; and   communicating with at least one other base station in order to coordinate the quality of service of the end-to-end communication between the at least two terminals.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 managing a virtual radio bearer database corresponding to the radio bearers applied in the direct communication between the at least two user terminals; and   updating the virtual radio bearer database on the basis of the received information.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 controlling re-transmissions of the direct communication link between the at least two user terminals such that the re-transmissions are performed through the conventional radio communication link via the base station.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus, comprising a processor configured to:
 apply uplink signaling in mobile communication, wherein the signaling comprises information determined by the apparatus as related to the traffic status of a direct communication link between at least two user terminals being the terminating points of the communication; and   transmit the information in the uplink to a base station from at least one user terminal involved in the direct communication link thereby enabling the base station to control the quality of service of an end-to-end communication between the at least two user terminals based on the received information.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the information is related to a packet data convergence protocol. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the uplink signaling is applied on a medium access control layer or on a radio resource control layer. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the
 the transmitting is performed periodically, after a predetermined event, or on request.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the interface is further configured to:
 transmit the information simultaneously with another user terminal in a synchronized manner, or at a predefined time offset compared to another user terminal when more than one user terminal transmits the information.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an interface configured to:
 receive the information; and the processor is applicable to a base station and further configured to:   monitor data volume of ongoing end-to-end communication between at least two user terminals on the basis of the received information; and   control the quality of service of end-to-end communication between the at least two user terminals on the basis of the received information.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is applicable to a base station and is further configured to:
 redistribute radio resources of the mobile communication on the basis of the received information.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is applicable to a base station and is further configured to:
 decide on the basis of the received information whether to apply conventional radio communication via the base station or the direct communication between the at least two terminals or not.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is applicable to a base station and further configured to:
 control the quality of service of the communication between the at least two terminals by more than one base station; and   communicate with at least one other base station in order to coordinate the quality of service of the end-to-end communication between the at least two terminals.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is applicable to a base station and further configured to:
 manage a virtual radio bearer database corresponding to the radio bearers applied in the direct communication between the at least two user terminals; and   update the virtual radio bearer database on the basis of the received information.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is applicable to a base station and further configured to:
 control re-transmissions of the direct communication link between the at least two user terminals such that the re-transmissions are performed through the conventional radio communication link via the base station.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A computer program product embodied on a distribution medium readable by a computer and comprising program instructions which, when loaded into an apparatus, execute a method, comprising:
 applying uplink signaling in mobile communication, wherein the signaling comprises information determined by a device as related to the traffic status of a direct communication link between at least two user terminals being the terminating points of the communication; and   transmitting the information in the uplink to a base station from at least one user terminal involved in the direct communication link thereby enabling the base station to control the quality of service of an end-to-end communication between the at least two user terminals based on the received information.