Methods to enable WLAN proximity service

1. A method, performed by a network node operating in an evolved packet core (EPC) network, the network node implementing a proximity service (ProSe) function for establishing a wireless local area network (WLAN) proximity service (ProSe) connectivity between a first WLAN ProSe capable wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, the method comprising:

receiving, at the network node implementing the ProSe function, upon the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU determining a predetermined proximity to the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a request from the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU for EPC support to establish a WLAN ProSe connection to the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, the request including at least an application layer identification (ID) that is an identification of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU;

transmitting, by the network node implementing the ProSe function, a configuration message with configuration information associated with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, wherein the configuration information includes: a WLAN ProSe ID that is associated with at least the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a WiFi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK) for the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to use for communicating ad hoc with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a frequency or channel number, a Service Set Identifier (SSID) to be associated with the first and the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRUs, and timing information, wherein the WLAN ProSe ID of the second ProSe capable WTRU and the SSID are used to perform a WLAN ProSe discovery process, and

wherein the configuration message with configuration information associated with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU is an indication from the EPC network to establish the WLAN ProSe connection, and wherein communication over the direct WLAN ProSe connection is to be encrypted based on the WPA-PSK.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining WLAN ProSe capabilities of the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU and the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration message is one of a radio resource control (RRC) or a Non-access stratum (NAS) message.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting identification of established radio bearers that need to be switched to the WLAN ProSe connection.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving address information of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU at the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU.

6. A method in a first WLAN ProSe capable wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for establishing direct wireless local area network (WLAN) proximity service (ProSe) connectivity with a second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, the method comprising:

determining a predetermined proximity to the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU;

transmitting, to a network node implementing a ProSe function operating in an evolved packet core (EPC) network, upon determining the predetermined proximity to the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a request from the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU for EPC support to establish a WLAN ProSe connection with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, the request including at least an application layer identification (ID) that is an identification of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU;

receiving, from the network node implementing the ProSe function, a configuration message with configuration information that is associated with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, wherein the configuration information includes: a WLAN ProSe ID that is associated with at least the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a WiFi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK) to use for communicating ad hoc with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a frequency or channel number, a Service Set Identifier (SSID) to be associated with the first and the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRUs, and timing information,

wherein the configuration message with configuration information is an indication from the EPC network to establish the WLAN ProSe connection;

performing a WLAN ProSe discovery process using the WLAN ProSe ID of the second ProSe capable WTRU and the SSID; and

establishing a direct WLAN ProSe connection with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU based on the configuration message, wherein communication over the direct WLAN ProSe connection is encrypted based on the WPA-PSK.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: transmitting location information of the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to the network node.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the configuration message is one of a radio resource control (RRC) or a Non-access stratum (NAS) message.

9. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) that is a first WLAN ProSe WTRU for establishing direct wireless local area network (WLAN) proximity service (ProSe) connectivity with a second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, the WTRU comprising:

a processor configured to determine a predetermined proximity to the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU:

a transmitter configured to transmit, to a network node implementing a ProSe function operating in an evolved packet core (EPC) network, upon the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU determining the predetermined proximity to the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a request from the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU for EPC support to establish a WLAN ProSe connection with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, the request including at least an application layer identification (ID) that is an identification of the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU;

a receiver configured to receive, from the network node implementing the ProSe function, a configuration message with configuration information that is associated with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, wherein the configuration information includes: a WLAN ProSe ID that is associated with at least the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a WiFi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK) to use for communicating ad hoc with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU, a frequency or channel number, a Service Set Identifier (SSID) to be associated with the first and the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRUs, and timing information,

wherein the configuration message with configuration information is an indication, from the EPC network, to establish the WLAN ProSe connection,

wherein the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU is configured to perform a WLAN ProSe discovery process using the WLAN ProSe ID of the second ProSe capable WTRU and the SSID; and

wherein the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU is configured to establish a direct WLAN ProSe connection with the second WLAN ProSe capable WTRU based on the configuration message, wherein communication over the direct WLAN ProSe connection is encrypted based on the WPA-PSK.

10. The WTRU of claim 9 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit location information of the first WLAN ProSe capable WTRU to a network node.

11. The WTRU of claim 9 , wherein the configuration message is one of a radio resource control (RRC) or a Non-access stratum (NAS) message.