Network-assisted UE detection in direct mode UE-to-UE communication

A base station for a cellular communications network, comprising:

• a radio subsystem;
• and
• a processing subsystem associated with the radio subsystem configured to:
• receive, via the radio subsystem, device-to-device information for a plurality of wireless devices, the device-to-device information comprising information related to availability of the plurality of wireless devices for device-to-device communication;
• transmit, via the radio subsystem, device-to-device configuration information to a first wireless device, the device-to-device configuration information comprising information obtained from the device-to-device information for the plurality of wireless devices;
• receive, via the radio subsystem, a device-to-device request from the first wireless device in a cell served by the base station to establish device-to-device communication, the device-to-device request being received at the base station subsequent to transmitting the device-to-device configuration information to the first wireless device;
• select a second wireless device for device-to-device communication with the first wireless device from the plurality of wireless devices that are available for device-to-device communication based on the device-to-device request and information regarding the plurality of wireless devices that are available for device-to-device communication;
• transmit, via the radio subsystem, a device-to-device request acknowledgement to the first wireless device, the device-to-device request acknowledgement comprising information that enables the first wireless device to establish device-to-device communication with the second wireless device;
• and
• effect transmission of a device-to-device reconfiguration message to the second wireless device, the device-to-device reconfiguration message comprising information that informs the second wireless device that the first wireless device has requested establishment of device-to-device communication.

A method of operation of a wireless device in a cellular communications network, comprising:

• receiving device-to-device configuration information from a base station, the device-to-device configuration information comprising information related to availability of a plurality of wireless devices for device-to-device communication;
• transmitting a device-to-device request to the base station in the cellular communications network, the device-to-device request being based on the device-to-device configuration information received from the base station;
• in response to transmitting the device-to-device request, receiving a device-to-device acknowledgement from the base station, the device-to-device request acknowledgement comprising information that enables the wireless device to establish device-to-device communication with a second wireless device;
• transmitting a device-to-device access request to the second wireless device using the information in the device-to-device request acknowledgement;
• receiving a device-to-device access acknowledgment from the second wireless device in response to the device-to-device access request;
• and
• performing device-to-device communication with the second wireless device.

A wireless device configured to operate in a cellular communications network comprising:

• a radio subsystem;
• and
• a processing subsystem associated with the radio subsystem configured to:
• receive, via the radio subsystem, device-to-device configuration information from a base station, the device-to-device configuration information comprising information related to availability of a plurality of wireless devices for device-to-device communication;
• transmit, via the radio subsystem, a device-to-device request to the base station in the cellular communications network, the device-to-device request being based on the device-to-device configuration information received from the base station;
• receive, via the radio subsystem, a device-to-device acknowledgement from the base station in response to the device-to-device request, the device-to-device acknowledgement comprising information that enables the wireless device to establish device-to-device communication with a second wireless device;
• transmit, via the radio subsystem, a device-to-device access request to the second wireless device using the information in the device-to-device acknowledgement;
• receive, via the radio subsystem, a device-to-device access acknowledgment from the second wireless device in response to the device-to-device access request;
• and
• perform device-to-device communication with the second wireless device.