Opportunistic device-to-device communication
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- monitoring, by a network node, a proximity between first and second mobile devices that are in wireless communication with each other;
facilitating, by the network node, a selective transition of a service flow between the first and second mobile devices from being indirect through a radio network access node using a first radio access technology (“
RAT”
) to being direct using a second RAT, responsive to a determination that a first criterion has been met;
facilitating, by the network node, a selective transition of the service flow from being direct using the second RAT to being indirect using the first RAT, responsive to a determination that a second criterion has been met; and
receiving, by the network node, from the first mobile device, information indicative of a capability of the first mobile device to communicate directly with the second mobile device using the second RAT.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of computer-implemented methods, systems, computing devices, and computer-readable media are described herein for opportunistically transitioning service flows of mobile devices between being direct and indirect. In various embodiments, a proximity between first and second mobile devices that are in wireless communication with each other may be monitored. In various embodiments, a selective transition of a service flow between the first and second mobile devices from being indirect through the radio network access node using a first radio access technology (“RAT”) to being direct using a second RAT may be facilitated, e.g., responsive to a determination that a first criterion has been met. In various embodiments, a selective transition of the service flow from being direct using the second RAT to being indirect using the first RAT may be facilitated, e.g., responsive to a determination that a second criterion has been met.
31 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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monitoring, by a network node, a proximity between first and second mobile devices that are in wireless communication with each other; facilitating, by the network node, a selective transition of a service flow between the first and second mobile devices from being indirect through a radio network access node using a first radio access technology (“
RAT”
) to being direct using a second RAT, responsive to a determination that a first criterion has been met;facilitating, by the network node, a selective transition of the service flow from being direct using the second RAT to being indirect using the first RAT, responsive to a determination that a second criterion has been met; and receiving, by the network node, from the first mobile device, information indicative of a capability of the first mobile device to communicate directly with the second mobile device using the second RAT. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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monitoring, by a network node, a proximity between first and second mobile devices that are in wireless communication with each other; facilitating, by the network node, a selective transition of a service flow between the first and second mobile devices from being indirect through a radio network access node using a first radio access technology (“
RAT”
) to being direct using a second RAT, responsive to a determination that a first criterion has been met;facilitating, by the network node, a selective transition of the service flow from being direct using the second RAT to being indirect using the first RAT, responsive to a determination that a second criterion has been met; and instructing, by the network node, the first and second mobile devices to initiate a discovery procedure to wirelessly communicate directly with each other, responsive to a determination that the first and second mobile devices are within a predetermined proximity of each other. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A system, comprising:
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a processor; a memory operably coupled to the processor; and a control module configured to be operated by the processor to; selectively transition a service flow with a remote mobile device from being indirect through a radio network access node using a first RAT, to being direct with the remote mobile device using a second RAT, responsive to a first communication from the radio network access node; selectively transition the service flow from being direct using the second RAT to being indirect through the radio network access node using the first RAT, responsive to a second communication from the radio network access node; and transmit, to the radio network access node, information indicative of a capability of the system to communicate directly with the remote mobile device using the second RAT. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A wireless wide area network node, comprising:
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a processor; a memory operably coupled to the processor; and a control module configured to be operated by the processor to; monitor first and second mobile devices that are in wireless communication with each other; facilitate a selective transition of one or more of a plurality of service flows between the first and second mobile devices from being indirect through the wireless wide area network over a licensed wireless spectrum to being direct over an unlicensed wireless spectrum, responsive to a determination that a first criterion is met; facilitate a selective transition of the one or more of the plurality of service flows from being direct over the unlicensed wireless spectrum to being indirect through the wireless wide area network over the licensed wireless spectrum, responsive to a determination that a second criterion has been met; and receive, from the first communication mobile device, information indicative of a capability of the first mobile device to communicate directly with the second mobile device over the unlicensed wireless spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification