Methods and apparatus for determining a communications mode and/or using a determined communications mode

A communications device comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• determine a first mode of operation for communication from a first wireless terminal, located in a first base station coverage area, to a second wireless terminal as a function of a direct mode system interference cost estimate and an infrastructure mode system interference cost estimate, said direct mode system interference cost estimate being based on interference which will be caused in a second base station coverage area if said first wireless terminal uses a direct mode of operation to communicate with said second wireless terminal, said infrastructure mode system interference cost estimate being based on interference which will be caused in the second base station coverage area if said first wireless terminal uses an infrastructure mode of operation to communicate with said second wireless terminal, said second base station coverage area corresponding to a second base station located adjacent a first base station to which said first base station coverage area corresponds, said first mode of operation being one of said direct mode of operation and said infrastructure mode of operation;
• and
• communicate to the first wireless terminal the determined first mode of operation to be used for communication from the first wireless terminal to the second wireless terminal;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

A computer program product for use in a communications device, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to determine a first mode of operation for communication from a first wireless terminal, located in a first base station coverage area, to a second wireless terminal as a function of a direct mode system interference cost estimate and an infrastructure mode system interference cost estimate, said direct mode system interference cost estimate being based on interference which will be caused in a second base station coverage area if said first wireless terminal uses a direct mode of operation to communicate with said second wireless terminal, said infrastructure mode system interference cost estimate being based on interference which will be caused in the second base station coverage area if said first wireless terminal uses an infrastructure mode of operation to communicate with said second wireless terminal, said second base station coverage area corresponding to a second base station located adjacent a first base station to which said first base station coverage area corresponds, said first mode of operation being one of said direct mode of operation and said infrastructure mode of operation;
• and
• code for causing the at least one computer to communicate to the first wireless terminal the determined first mode of operation to be used for communication from the first wireless terminal to the second wireless terminal.