Enhanced Proximity Services Function to Improve Traffic Usage on a Preferred Network

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing an enhanced proximity services. The method includes monitoring, by a proximity controller provisioned in a preferred network, dual subscriber identification module (SIM) dual subscriber (DSDS) devices operating in the preferred network, detecting, by the proximity controller, a DSDS device operating in a non-preferred network, wherein the DSDS devices and the DSDS device are configured to switchably operate in one of the preferred network or the non-preferred network based on coverage, locating, by the proximity controller, from the monitored DSDS devices a DSDS device proximate to the DSDS device operating in the non-preferred network, and enabling, by the proximity controller, the proximate DSDS device and the DSDS device operating in the non-preferred network to establish a sidelink communication channel between the proximate DSDS device and the DSDS device operating in the non-preferred network for offloading data communications from the non-preferred network to the preferred network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for traffic offloading, the method comprising:
 detecting, by a proximity services controller provisioned in a preferred network, a dual subscriber identification module (SIM) dual subscriber (DSDS) device operating in a non-preferred network;   locating, by the proximity services controller, from a plurality of monitored DSDS devices, a DSDS device proximate to the DSDS device operating in the non-preferred network; and   enabling, by the proximity services controller, establishment of a sidelink communication between the proximate DSDS device and the DSDS device operating in the non-preferred network for offloading data communications from the non-preferred network to a preferred network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of monitored DSDS devices operate in the preferred network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , the plurality of monitored DSDS devices and the DSDS device operating in the non-preferred network are configured to switchably operate in one of the preferred network or the non-preferred network based on coverage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 enabling, by the proximity services controller, discovery on the proximate DSDS device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 enabling, by the proximity services controller, discovery on the DSDS device operating in the non-preferred network.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 enabling, by the proximity services controller, the proximate DSDS device to send control signals for detection by the DSDS device operating in the non-preferred network. cm  7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the control signals are synchronization signals.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 transmitting, by the proximity services controller, proximity service availability signals to service provider provided DSDS devices.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 registering, by the proximity services controller, the service provider provided DSDS devices requesting registration as relay hop devices.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the registered service provider provided DSDS devices include the proximate DSDS device and the plurality of monitored DSDS devices. 
     
     
         11 . A service provider network, comprising:
 service provider provided dual subscriber identification module (SIM) dual subscriber (DSDS) devices configured to operate in a service provider owned or controlled network;   a proximity service controller located and configured to operate in the service provider owned or controlled network, the proximity service controller configured to:
 determine whether there is a service provider provided DSDS device from the service provider provided DSDS devices operating in the service provider owned or controlled network proximate to a DSDS device operating outside of the service provider owned or controlled network; and 
   enable the proximate service provider provided DSDS device to be a relay hop for the DSDS device operating outside of the service provider owned or controlled network to offload traffic to the service provider owned or controlled network.   
     
     
         12 . The service provider network of  claim 11 , the proximity service controller configured to:
 initiate discovery on the proximate service provider provided DSDS.   
     
     
         13 . The service provider network of  claim 11 , the proximity service controller configured to:
 initiate discovery on the DSDS device operating outside of the service provider owned or controlled network.   
     
     
         14 . The service provider network of  claim 11 , the proximity service controller configured to:
 permit the proximate service provider provided DSDS device to send device-to-device control signals for detection by the DSDS device operating outside of the service provider owned or controlled network.   
     
     
         15 . The service provider network of  claim 14 , wherein the device-to-device control signals are synchronization signals. 
     
     
         16 . The service provider network of  claim 11 , the proximity service controller configured to:
 register the service provider provided DSDS devices requesting registration as relay hop devices.   
     
     
         17 . A method for offloading data communications, the method comprising:
 determining, by a proximity manager, whether there is a dual subscriber identification module (SIM) dual subscriber (DSDS) operating in a service provider owned network proximate to a DSDS device operating in a paying-for-use network; and   enabling, by a proximity manager, the DSDS device operating in the service provider owned network to be a relay hop for the DSDS device operating in the paying-for-use network to offload data communications to the service provider owned network.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 enabling, by the proximity manager, discovery on the DSDS device operating in the service provider owned network; and   enabling, by the proximity manager, discovery on the DSDS operating in the paying-for-use network.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 enabling, by the proximity manager, the DSDS device operating in the service provider owned network to send synchronization signals for detection by the DSDS device operating in the paying-for-use network.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 registering, by the proximity manager, DSDS devices requesting registration as relay hop devices, the DSDS devices including at least the DSDS device operating in the service provider owned network.