User equipment, base station, and method of enabling usage of resources for a device-to-device discovery

1. A wireless communication system user equipment, comprising:

a user equipment; and

a base station connected to a cellular communication network, the base station comprising a first wireless interface configured to broadcast information on resources allocated for a device-to-device (D2D) discovery signal transmission; and

control circuitry coupled to the first wireless interface, the control circuitry being configured to control the first wireless interface to transmit a message which indicates whether the user equipment is enabled to use the allocated resources for the D2D discovery signal transmission, the control circuitry further configured to

determine whether the user equipment is to be prioritized over other user equipment, and when the user equipment is to be prioritized over the other user equipment, generate a message that i) allocates resources to the user equipment that are different from type 1 D2D discovery resources, ii) allocates type 2 D2D discovery resources to the user equipment, or iii) disables the user equipment from using the type 1 D2D discovery resources, and

when the user equipment is not to be prioritized over the other user equipment, determine a usage level of the type 1 D2D discovery resources, and when the usage level is below a threshold level generate a message that enables the user equipment to use a resource selected from a type 1 D2D discovery resource, and when the usage level is greater than the prescribed threshold level, generate a message that allocates a type 2 D2D discovery resource to the user equipment, or disables the user equipment from selecting a type 1 D2D discovery resource for the transmission of a D2D discovery signal and from using a type 2 discovery resource for the transmission of a D2D discovery signal;

the user equipment comprising

a second wireless interface configured for communication with the base station, the second wireless interface being configured to receive information on resources allocated for D2D discovery signal transmission; and

a processor coupled to the second wireless interface, the processor being configured to

determine whether a message received at the second wireless interface enables the user equipment to use the allocated resources; and

control the wireless interface to transmit a device-to-device discovery signal using the allocated resources depending on whether the message enables the user equipment to use the allocated resources.

2. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the message is a RRC connection establishment signaling message.

3. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is configured to control the second wireless interface to transmit the device-to-device discovery signal using the allocated resources while the user equipment is in idle mode.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit a further RRC signaling message to the base station to request the cellular communication network to enable the user equipment to use the allocated resources.

5. The system of claim 4 ,

wherein the further message is a RRC connection request message.

6. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the information on the allocated resources is included in a broadcast message or in a multicast message.

7. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is configured

to determine whether the message comprises information on other allocated resources different from the allocated resources, and

to selectively control the second wireless interface to transmit the device-to-device discovery signal using the other allocated resources when the message comprises the information on the other allocated resources.

8. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein the message comprising the information on the other allocated resources comprises at least one parameter of the other allocated resources.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the message is an RRC connection establishment signaling message or an RRC connection release signaling message, and wherein the RRC signaling message includes at least one bit which indicates whether the user equipment is enabled to use type 1 device-to-device discovery resources and/or type 2 device-to-device discovery resources.

10. A cellular communication network node, comprising:

a wireless interface configured to broadcast information on resources allocated for a device-to-device (D2D) discovery signal transmission, and

control circuitry coupled to the wireless interface, the control circuitry being configured to

determine whether a user equipment is to be enabled to use the allocated resources for the device-to-device discovery signal transmission, and

control the wireless interface to transmit a message which indicates whether the user equipment is enabled to use the allocated resources for the device-to-device discovery signal transmission,

where in performing the determination the control circuitry is configured to

determine whether the user equipment is to be prioritized over other user equipment, and when the user equipment is to be prioritized over the other user equipment generate a message that i) allocates resources to the user equipment that are different from type 1 D2D discovery resources, ii) allocates type 2 D2D discovery resources to the user equipment, or iii) disables the user equipment from using the type 1 D2D discovery resources, and

when the user equipment is not to be prioritized over the other user equipment, determine a usage level of the type 1 D2D discovery resources, and when the usage level is below a threshold level generate a message that enables the user equipment to use a resource selected from a type 1 D2D discovery resource, and when the usage level is greater than the prescribed threshold level generate a message that allocates a type 2 D2D discovery resource to the user equipment, or disables the user equipment from selecting a type 1 D2D discovery resource for the transmission of a D2D discovery signal and from using a type 2 discovery resource for the transmission of a D2D discovery signal.

11. The cellular communication network node of claim 10 ,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to generate the message such that it includes information on other allocated resources different from the allocated resources.

12. The cellular communication network node of claim 10 ,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to evaluate at least one of:

a load on an air interface of the cellular communication network;

a service level of the user equipment; and/or

whether the user equipment is a public safety user,

to determine whether the user equipment is to be enabled to use the allocated resources for the device-to-device discovery signal transmission.

13. The cellular communication network node of claim 10 ,

wherein the message is a radio resource control, RRC, signaling message.

14. The cellular communication network node of claim 10 ,

wherein the message is a RRC connection establishment signaling message or a RRC connection release signaling message.

15. The cellular communication network node of claim 10 ,

wherein the RRC signaling message includes at least one bit which indicates whether the user equipment is enabled to use type 1 device-to-device discovery resources and/or type 2 device-to-device discovery resources.

16. The cellular communication network node according to claim 10 , wherein the message is an RRC connection establishment signaling message or an RRC connection release signaling message, and wherein the RRC signaling message includes at least one bit which indicates whether the user equipment is enabled to use type 1 device-to-device discovery resources and/or type 2 device-to-device discovery resources.