Communication system, apparatus and related methods of operation

A user equipment (UE) in a coverage of a network node, the UE comprising:

• a controller and a transceiver, wherein the controller is configured to control the transceiver to:
• communicate with another UE out of the coverage of the network node, directly over a first path of a device to device interface,
• receive, from the network node, configuration information that specifies criteria for performing measurements with respect to the another UE for reselecting, by the another UE, a further UE for communicating via a second path of the device to device interface, wherein the criteria include at least one threshold value, wherein the another UE is configured with the criteria;
• and
• wherein a path of the device to device interface is switched, by the another UE using the criteria, from the UE to the further UE, in a case where signal strength at the another UE is below the at least one threshold.

A network node in a communication system in which a first user equipment (UE) in a coverage of the network node and a second UE out of the coverage of the network node are configured to communicate with each other directly over a first path of a device to device interface, the network node comprising:

• a controller and a transceiver, wherein the controller is configured to control the transceiver to:
• transmit, to the first UE, configuration information that specifies criteria for performing measurements with respect to the second UE for reselecting, by the second UE, a further UE for communicating via a second path of the device to device interface, wherein the criteria include at least one threshold value, wherein the second UE is configured with the criteria;
• and
• wherein a path of the device to device interface is switched, by the second UE using the criteria, from the first UE to the further UE, in a case where signal strength at the second UE is below the at least one threshold.

A method performed by a user equipment (UE), out coverage of a network node, the method comprising:

• communicating with another UE in a coverage of the network node, directly over a first path of a device to device interface;
• receiving, from the network node, configuration information that specifies criteria for performing measurements with respect to the UE for reselecting, by the UE, a further UE for communicating via a second path of the device to device interface, wherein the criteria include at least one threshold value, wherein the UE is configured with the criteria;
• and
• switching a path of the device to device interface, using the criteria, from the another UE to the further UE, in a case where signal strength at the UE is below the at least one threshold value.

A user equipment (UE) out of coverage of a network node, the UE comprising:

• a controller and a transceiver, wherein the controller is configured to control the transceiver to:
• communicate with another UE in a coverage of the network node, directly over a first path of a device to device interface,
• receive, from the network node, configuration information that specifies criteria for performing measurements with respect to the UE for reselecting, by the UE, a further UE for communicating via a second path of the device to device interface, wherein the criteria include at least one threshold value, wherein the UE is configured with the criteria;
• and
• switch a path of the device to device interface, using the criteria, from the another UE to the further UE, in a case where signal strength at the UE is below the at least one threshold.