Network assisted sensing on a shared band for local communications

A method, comprising:

• utilizing parameters in a configuration message communicated downlink between a network access node and a user equipment for setting at least a sensing time during which the user equipment performs spectrum sensing;
• and
• deciding from at least a result of the spectrum sensing whether to utilize a frequency band sensed according to the parameters for direct local communications between the user equipment and at least one paired device,
• in which the method is executed by the user equipment which performs the spectrum sensing utilizing values of the parameters in the configuration message which it receives, and which decides whether to utilize the frequency band for the direct local communications in correspondence with a decision message received from the network access node.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing computer program code;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:
• utilize parameters in a configuration message communicated downlink between a network access node and a user equipment for setting at least a sensing time during which the user equipment performs spectrum sensing;
• and
• decide from at least a result of the spectrum sensing whether to utilize a frequency band sensed according to the parameters for direct local communications between the user equipment and at least one paired device,
• in which the apparatus comprises the network access node which is configured to send the configuration message and to send to the user equipment an indication of the result of the deciding at least for the case the access node approves the frequency band for the direct local communications.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing computer program code;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:
• utilize parameters in a configuration message communicated downlink between a network access node and a user equipment for setting at least a sensing time during which the user equipment performs spectrum sensing;
• and
• decide from at least a result of the spectrum sensing whether to utilize a frequency band sensed according to the parameters for direct local communications between the user equipment and at least one paired device,
• in which the apparatus comprises the user equipment which is configured to perform the spectrum sensing utilizing values of the parameters in the configuration message which the user equipment receives, and which is configured to decide whether to utilize the frequency band for the direct local communications in correspondence with a decision message received from the network access node.