Method and apparatus for resource allocation for device-to-device communication

A method of allocating network resources by a base station of a network, the method comprising:

• allocating at least a block of an uplink channel of the network to a first direct communication link between a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE;
• and
• allocating at least the block of the uplink channel to a second direct communication link between a third UE and a fourth UE;
• determining that a rate of data transfer on at least one of the first direct communication link and the second direct communication link is greater than a rate of data transfer for uplink communications between one of the first UE, the second UE, the third UE, the fourth UE, and the base station;
• and
• re-allocating, based on the determining, an uplink block allocated to the first direct communication link and the second direct communication link to at least one of uplink communications by the first UE, the second UE, the third UE, the fourth UE, and other UEs with the base station.

A base station configured to:

• allocate at least two blocks of an uplink channel of the network to a direct communication link between a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE;
• determine that a rate of data transfer on the direct communication link is greater than a rate of data transfer for uplink communications between one of (i) the first UE and base station and (ii) the second UE and the base station;
• and
• re-allocate, based on the determining, at least one of the at least two uplink blocks allocated to the directed communication link to at least one of uplink communications by the first UE, the second UE, or other UEs with the base station.

A base station configured to:

• allocate at least a block of an uplink channel of the network to a first direct communication link between a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE;
• allocate at least the block of the uplink channel to a second direct communication link between a third UE and the fourth UE;
• determine that a rate of data transfer on at least one of the first direct communication link and the second direct communication link is greater than a rate of data transfer for uplink communications between one of the first UE, the second UE, the third UE, the fourth UE, and the base station;
• and
• re-allocate, based on the determining, an uplink block allocated to the first direct communication link and the second direct communication link to at least one of uplink communications by the first UE, the second UE, the third UE, the fourth UE, and other UEs with the base station.