Network assisted device-to-device communications: Use cases, design approaches, and performance aspects

Abstract

Network assisted device-to-device (D2D) communications have emerged as a means of increasing spectral and energy efficiency, reducing latency and creating a platform for proximity-based services. Application areas of D2D communications include cellular network offloading and coverage extension, proximity-based social networking, and providing national security and public safety (NSPS) in infrastructure-less situations. This broad range of applications has led to a large set of technical requirements that must be taken into account when designing physical layer algorithms, user and control plane protocols, and network architecture. In this chapter we review the key requirements and current approaches to network assisted service and device discovery, radio resource management and tuning the performance of integrated D2D, and cellular networks.