Wireless communications system, base station, and terminal

1. A wireless communications system comprising:

a packet core network, and

a wireless access network including a base station and a plurality of terminals, wherein the base station is configured to be capable of performing a process related to a proximity-based communications service between the plurality of terminals and when a failure in a connection between the base station and the packet core network occurs, the base station causes execution of proximity-based communication between the plurality of terminals by performing authentication and authorization of communication with a terminal connected to the base station among the plurality of terminals by using the process related to the proximity-based communications service, and wherein the base station that causes execution of the proximity-based communication retains, when the failure occurs while the plurality of terminals are communicating with each other by a path through the base station and the packet core network, a parameter related to communication at a terminal connected to the base station, the base station performing the authentication and authorization of the communication based on the retained parameter, the retained parameter being allocated to the terminal prior to execution of the proximity-based communication.

2. The wireless communications system according to claim 1 , wherein the base station that causes execution of the proximity-based communication terminates, when the failure occurs, a process of performing communication of the base station and the terminal connected to the base station with the packet core network.

3. The wireless communications system according to claim 2 , wherein the base station that causes execution of the proximity-based communication receives a reestablishment request from the terminal and based on the received reestablishment request, performs the authentication and authorization of the communication, after terminating the process of performing communication with the packet core network, concerning the base station and the terminal connected to the base station.

4. The wireless communications system according to claim 3 , wherein the reestablishment request is a reestablishment request due to terminating the process of performing communication with the packet core by the base station that causes execution of the proximity-based communications.

5. The wireless communications system according to claim 1 , wherein

a first terminal included among the plurality of terminals, when connecting to the wireless access network after the failure occurs, connects, via the base station that causes execution of the proximity-based communication between the plurality of terminals, to a second base station different from the base station and performs handover from the second base station to the base station,

the second base station transfers to the base station, a parameter related to communication at the first terminal handed over to the base station, and

the base station causes execution of the proximity-based communication between the first terminal and a second terminal different from the first terminal among the plurality of terminals by performing, based on the parameter transferred from the second base station, the authentication and authorization of communication with the first terminal handed over to the base station.

6. The wireless communications system according to claim 5 , wherein

the second base station configures a connection with the packet core network before the failure occurs, and

the first terminal connects to the second base station via the base station after the failure occurs, to virtually connect to the packet core network by a path including the connection and performs handover from the second base station to the base station.

7. A base station of a wireless communications system including a packet core network and a wireless access network including the base station and a plurality of terminals, the base station comprising:

a communications device configured to perform communication with the packet core network and detect a failure in a connection between the packet core network and the base station; and

a controller configured to be capable of performing a process related to a proximity-based communications service between the plurality of terminals and when a failure is detected by the communications device, the controller causes execution of proximity-based communication between the plurality of terminals by performing authentication and authorization of communication with a terminal connected to the base station among the plurality of terminals by using the process related to the proximity-based communications service, wherein

the base station that causes execution of the proximity-based communication retains, when the failure occurs while the plurality of terminals are communicating with each other by a path through the base station and the packet core network, a parameter related to communication at a terminal connected to the base station, the base station performing the authentication and authorization of the communication based on the retained parameter, the retained parameter being allocated to the terminal prior to execution of the proximity-based communication.

8. A terminal of a wireless communications system including a packet core network and a wireless access network including a base station and the terminal, the terminal comprising:

a communications device configured to communicate with another terminal; and

a controller configured to control communication by the communications device based on a control signal from the base station configured to be capable of performing a process related to a proximity-based communications service between a plurality of terminals including the terminal, and

wherein when a failure in a connection between the base station and the packet core network occurs, proximity-based communication between the plurality of terminals is caused to occur based on authentication and authorization of communication between the base station and the terminal, and

wherein the terminal is further configured:

to retain, when the failure occurs while the plurality of terminals are communicating with each other by a path through the base station and the packet core network, a parameter related to communication at the terminal connected to the base station; and

to perform the authentication and authorization of the communication based on the retained parameter, the retained parameter being allocated to the terminal prior to execution of the proximity-based communication.