Method and apparatus to perform device to device communication in wireless communication network

A method for supporting a device to device communication between electronic devices in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a network node, a request message for the device to device communication from a first electronic device;
• and
• transmitting, by the network node, a response message comprising a key associated with the first electronic device,
• wherein the first electronic device is configured to sign a message using the key and transmit the message to a second electronic device, and
• wherein the second electronic device is configured to obtain the key from the network node and verify the message received from the first electronic device using the key.

A method for performing a device to device communication by a electronic device in a wireless communication network, the method comprises:

• transmitting a request message for the device to device communication to a network node;
• receiving a response message comprising a key associated with the electronic device;
• and
• transmitting a message signed using the key,
• wherein the key is used to verify the message received from the electronic device by at least one other electronic device, and
• wherein the at least one other electronic device is configured to obtain the key from the network node.

An apparatus of a network node for supporting a device to device communication between electronic devices in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprises:

• a communication interface module configured to:
• receive a request message for the device to device communication from a first electronic device, and
• transmit a response message comprising a key associated with the first electronic device;
• and
• a controlling module configured to control the communication interface module,
• wherein the first electronic device is configured to sign a message using the key and transmit the message to a second electronic device, and
• wherein the second electronic device is configured to obtain the key from the network node and verify the message received from the first electronic device using the key.

An apparatus of an electronic device for performing a device to device communication in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

• a communication interface module configured to:
• transmit a request message for the device to device communication to a network node,
• receive a response message comprising a key associated with the electronic device, and
• transmit a message signed using the key;
• and
• a controlling module configured to control the communication interface module,
• wherein the key is used to verify the message received from the electronic device by at least one other electronic device, and
• wherein the at least one other electronic device is configured to obtain the key from the network node.