Enabling Data Offload and Proximity Services Using Device to Device Communication over Licensed Cellular Spectrum with Infrastructure Control

The viability of device to device (D2D) communication on uplink resources [1] as also the benefits accruing from network control over such communication, on licensed spectrum [2], are quite well understood today. We investigate the merits of a particular system instantiation based on these two tenets. The challenge of scheduling communication between two devices using remote schedulers at one or more base stations is addressed with minimal changes to the current signaling mechanisms in a 3GPP LTE based framework. This system maintains as tight a control over device to device communication as is currently maintained over device to infrastructure communication. Furthermore the benefits of such a system range from optimized routing and resource allocation to metered charging for data exchanged on the D2D link to lawful intercept to dynamic local broadcast. We also provide a comparison of this system with the available option of D2D communications over unlicensed spectrum using Wi-Fi.