Wireless communication systems and methods

A method of operating a service gateway for controlling access to a device-to-device (D2D) communication service provided by a first D2D device in a communication network, the method comprising:

• assigning a service credential to the first D2D device;
• storing an association between a validity condition and the service credential, wherein the validity condition is dependent on a characteristic of the D2D communication service;
• transmitting data indicative of the service credential for reception by the first D2D device, said service credential being transmitted in a D2D discovery signal directly from the first D2D device to a second, different, D2D device without passing through the service gateway for use in verification of said D2D communication service authorized by the service gateway to be provided by the first D2D device to the second D2D device;
• and
• maintaining an operative state for the D2D communication service in dependence on said association.

An apparatus for use in provisioning a device-to-device (D2D) communication service by a first D2D device within a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

• circuitry configured to
• transmit a D2D discovery signal comprising data indicative of a first service credential for reception by a second, different, D2D device;
• receive a second, different, service credential;
• and
• transmit another D2D discovery signal comprising data indicative of said second service credential, wherein said first and second service credentials are suitable for use in verification that said D2D communication service is authorized for the first D2D device and the second D2D device to communicate directly with each other wirelessly without passing through a network control element.

An apparatus for use in controlling access to a device-to-device (D2D) communication service to make direct communication between two or more D2D devices in a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

• circuitry configured to
• receive a D2D discovery signal comprising data indicative of a service credential corresponding to said D2D communication service;
• selectively transmit a first message comprising data indicative of said service credential so as to verify said D2D communication service is authorized;
• and
• selectively transmit a second message that requests access to said D2D communication service in response to receiving an indication that said D2D communication service is authorized for said communication network wirelessly without passing through a network control element.

A mobile terminal comprising:

• circuitry configured to
• receive, from a base station, a service credential corresponding to a device-to-device (D2D) communication service;
• transmit a D2D discovery signal including the service credential directly to a second mobile terminal without passing through the base station;
• and
• perform D2D communication with the second mobile terminal based on a verification of the service credential by the second mobile terminal.