Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140206348 | NETWORK ASSISTED DEVICE-TO-DEVICE DISCOVERY FOR PEER-TO-PEER APPLICATIONS - The techniques introduced here provide for network assisted device-to-device communication for peer-to-peer applications. The techniques include registering a user's peer-to-peer application identifier with a peer-to-peer application server, registering a peer-to-peer application with a device-to-device server, sending a peer-to-peer service request to the peer-to-peer application server, and receiving network assistance in discovering a peer with the desired P2P content/service and establishing a device-to-device communication arrangement for exchange of peer-to-peer services. | 07-24-2014 |
20150103664 | REPORTING OF USER PLANE CONGESTION - Technology for as radio access network (RAN) node that is operable to report user plane congestion (UPCON) is disclosed. The RAN node may include computer circuitry configured to receive, from a Core Network (CN), an information element (IE) including UPCON related Policy and Control Charging (PCC) information. The RAN node may identify a location of an UPCON event, at the RAN node, based on an UPCON event trigger included in the UPCON related PCC information. The RAN node may report Radio Access Network Congestion Information (RCI) about the UPCON event to one or more network elements in the CN. | 04-16-2015 |
20150326302 | LAWFUL INTERCEPT REPORTING IN WIRELESS NETWORKS USING PUBLIC SAFETY RELAYS - A relay device assists in enabling lawful intercept (LI) by reporting, to a LI entity associated with the cellular network, authenticated identities of remote UEs (such as remote UEs connected via proximity services) and identification information that may allow the LI entity to monitor traffic (and/or control statistics related to the traffic) associated with the remote UEs. The authentication of the remote UEs may be performed using a technique that does not require involvement of the cellular network. | 11-12-2015 |
20150350953 | RADIO RESOURCE CONTROL (RRC) PROTOCOL FOR CELL SELECTION AND TRAFFIC STEERING FOR INTEGRATED WLAN/3GPP RADIO ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES - An integrated WLAN/WWAN Radio Access Technology (RAT) architecture is described in which signaling used to control the integration of the WLAN/WWAN architecture is performed over the Radio Resource Control (RRC) plane. The integrated architecture may allow for User Equipment (UE) assistance in cell selection and traffic steering. In particular, UE-assisted RRC signaling is described for managing inter-RAT session transfers and secondary cell (SCell) selection. | 12-03-2015 |
20150350988 | RADIO RESOURCE CONTROL (RRC) PROTOCOL FOR INTEGRATED WLAN/3GPP RADIO ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES - An integrated WLAN/WWAN Radio Access Technology (RAT) architecture is described in which signaling used to control the integration of the WLAN/WWAN architecture is performed over the Radio Resource Control (RRC) plane. The integrated architecture may provide a network-controlled framework for performing traffic steering and radio resource management. | 12-03-2015 |
20150350989 | INTERWORKING/CO-EXISTENCE OF INTEGRATED WLAN/3GPP RAT ARCHITECTURES WITH LEGACY WLAN/3GPP INTERWORKING SOLUTIONS - An integrated WLAN/WWAN architecture is described, in which signaling used to control the integration of the WLAN/WWAN architecture is performed over the Radio Resource Control (“RRC”) plane. The integrated architecture may provide a network-controlled framework for performing traffic steering and radio resource management. Additionally, according to the disclosure provided herein, the integrated architecture may interwork with legacy systems (e.g., architectures that do not support the integrated WLAN/WWAN architecture). | 12-03-2015 |
20150351079 | IN-BAND CONTROL SIGNALING FOR INTEGRATED WLAN/3GPP RAT ARCHITECTURES - An integrated WLAN/WWAN Radio Access Technology (“RAT”) architecture is described, in which signaling used to control the integration of the WLAN/WWAN architecture is performed over the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (“PDCP”) layer, and/or at other layers (e.g., a layer between the PDCP layer and the Internet Protocol (“IP”) layer). When involving the PDCP layer, non-standard PDCP packets, including variable length PDCP packets, may be used. The integrated architecture may provide a network controlled framework for performing traffic steering and radio resource management. | 12-03-2015 |
20150359023 | TARGETED GROUP-BASED DISCOVERY FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES - Techniques described herein may provide for device discovery of direct communication paths, to enable direct mode communication, between communication devices. The discovery of the communication paths may be based on identifiers that may be defined at the application level and included in device discovery requests. In one implementation, the identifiers may be SIP-URIs (session initiation protocol (SIP)-uniform resource identifiers (URIs)). | 12-10-2015 |
20150359033 | PATH SWITCHING PROCEDURE FOR DEVICE-TO-DEVICE COMMUNICATION - Session continuity may be maintained when communication devices transition from communicating through network infrastructure (e.g., through a cellular network) to direct mode communications (e.g., a communication path directly between two communication devices). For example, in switching from an infrastructure mode communication path to a direct mode communication path, a method may include: determining a public-facing address corresponding to the infrastructure path; replacing, for a packet that is to be transmitted over the direct mode communication path to a second communication device, a source address field of the packet with the determined public-facing address; and encapsulating the packet with source and destination address fields corresponding to the first and second communication device through the direct mode communication path respectively. | 12-10-2015 |
20150373510 | MULTICAST-BASED GROUP COMMUNICATIONS IN AD HOC ARRANGEMENTS OF WIRELESS DEVICES - Wireless communication devices may directly communicate within groups of wireless communication devices using Layer-2 communications to implement “push-to-talk” type applications. In one implementation, a method may include generating a floor request signaling message to take control of a communication channel for a group. After transmitting data relating to the communications, a floor release signaling message may be generated and transmitted a number of times. | 12-24-2015 |
20160095036 | SMOOTH UE TRANSFER WITHIN AN EVOLVED PACKET CORE - Techniques described herein may enable Evolved Packet Core (EPC) devices (e.g., Mobility Management Entities (MMEs), Serving Gateways (SGWs), or Packet Data Network Gateways (PGWs)) to transfer a connection with a User Equipment (UE) from one EPC device to another EPC device without a break in service for the UE. The transfer may occur in response to an EPC device being overloaded, an EPC device being added or removed from a logical group of EPC devices, or in response one EPC device becoming more appropriate for the UE than another EPC device (e.g., due to a change in the geographic location of the UE). EPC devices may be implemented as virtual network functions, and the transfer of the UE may occur while the UE is in an active mode or an idle mode. | 03-31-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140036769 | COMMUNICATION PATH SWITCHING FOR MOBILE DEVICES - Methods, systems, and devices for switching internet protocol (IP) flows from a first communication path to a second communication path are disclosed herein. A user equipment (UE) may include an exchange component, a session component, and a communication component. The exchange component exchanges second communication path availability information between the UE and another UE by sending and receiving session initiation protocol (SIP) messages that include second communication path availability information over the first communication path. The session component changes the communication session by re-routing traffic flows to the second communication path based on the exchanged second path availability information. The communication component sends to and receives from the other UE data corresponding to an IP flow over the second communication path. | 02-06-2014 |
20140248901 | NETWORK-LEVEL DEVICE PROXIMITY DETECTION - A technology for network-level device proximity detection is disclosed. In an example, core network (CN) device can include computer circuitry configured to: Store user equipment (UE) information; calculate proximity between two UEs; and assist the two UEs with direct device discovery based on the calculated proximity. The core network device can include a proximity services (ProSe) server, a gateway mobile location center (GMLC), an evolved serving mobile location center (E-SMLC), or a mobility management entity (MME). | 09-04-2014 |
20140378123 | DEVICE-TO-DEVICE DISCOVERY WITH DIRECT RADIO SIGNALS - In embodiments, apparatuses, methods, and storage media may be described for establishing a direct connection between two UEs. Each UE may be provisioned with a temporary identifier by a server of a wireless network of the UE. The UEs may then be configured to broadcast the temporary IDs in radio signals over radio resources that are separate from the radio resources of the network. The temporary IDs may not contain identifying information of the broadcasting UE that is interpretable without receiving further information from the network. | 12-25-2014 |
20150016413 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF LAWFUL INTERCEPTION (LI) IN A CELLULAR NETWORK - Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of Lawful Interception (LI). For example, a device may communicate a message addressed to an Evolved Node B (eNB) over a cellular communication core network, the message including a Lawful Interception (LI) Information Element (IE) indicating that content corresponding to one or more User Equipment (UEs) connected to the eNB is to be subject to LI. | 01-15-2015 |
20150043447 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF STEERING DATA RADIO BEARER TRAFFIC TO A WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK LINK - Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems of steering data radio bearer traffic to a wireless local area network link. For example, a User Equipment (UE) may include a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) transceiver; a cellular transceiver to communicate traffic of a plurality of Data Radio Bearers (DRBs) via a cellular link between the UE and an evolved Node B (eNB); and a controller to establish at least one Point-to-Point (P2P) link with the eNB via a WLAN link between the UE and a WLAN Access Point (AP), and to steer traffic of one or more of the DRBs from the cellular link to the P2P link. | 02-12-2015 |
20150139087 | LAWFUL INTERCEPTION FOR DEVICE-TO-DEVICE (D2D) COMMUNICATION - Technology for a lawful interception of a proximity service (e.g., device-to-device (D2D) communication) provided to user equipments (UEs) is disclosed. In an example, a method can include an evolved Node B (eNB) transmitting a proximity service setup message to a first UE to setup D2D communication with a second UE. The eNB can transmit a lawful interception message to the first UE or the second UE to provide lawful interception of the D2D communication. The eNB can receive packets associated with the D2D communication from the first UE or the second UE. The eNB can communicate the received packets from the first UE and the second UE to the core network (CN) to be copied. | 05-21-2015 |
20150146532 | MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR WIRELESS NETWORK MOBILITY PROCEDURES - Connection management techniques for wireless network mobility procedures are described. In one embodiment, for example, an evolved packet core (EPC) node may comprise a processor circuit to receive a notification of a mobility procedure for a user equipment (UE), determine whether to release a local gateway (L-GW)-provided packet data network (PDN) connection of the UE, and in response to a determination that the L-GW-provided PDN connection is to be released, send either a detach request message or a delete session request message to initiate a process for releasing the L-GW-provided PDN connection. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 05-28-2015 |
20150156702 | COMMUNICATION PATH SWITCHING FOR MOBILE DEVICES - Methods, systems, and devices for switching internet protocol (IP) flows from a first communication path to a second communication path are disclosed herein. A user equipment (UE) may include an exchange component, a session component, and a communication component. The exchange component exchanges second communication path availability information between the UE and another UE by sending and receiving session initiation protocol (SIP) messages that include second communication path availability information over the first communication path. The session component changes the communication session by re-routing traffic flows to the second communication path based on the exchanged second path availability information. The communication component sends to and receives from the other UE data corresponding to an IP flow over the second communication path. | 06-04-2015 |
20150195743 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING OFFLOADABILITY INFORMATION TO A USER-EQUIPMENT (UE) - Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and methods of providing offloadability information to a User Equipment (UE). For example, a core network (CN) may provide to the UE Packet Data Network (PDN) offloadability information corresponding to one or more PDN connections of the UE, the PDN offloadability information indicating which PDN connection of the one or more PDN connections is able to be offloaded to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). | 07-09-2015 |
20150215777 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SECURING COMMUNICATIONS OF A USER EQUIPMENT (UE) IN A WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK - Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems of securing communications of a User Equipment (UE) in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). For example, a cellular node may transmit to a UE a cellular message including a UE security key, and a WLAN access device may communicate with the cellular node security information including the UE security key. The WLAN access device may communicate with the UE based on the UE security key, e.g., to authenticate the UE and/or encrypt communications with the UE. | 07-30-2015 |
20150264726 | BEARER MOBILITY AND SPLITTING IN A RADIO ACCESS NETWORK-BASED, 3RD GENERATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT NETWORK HAVING AN INTEGRATED WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK - A wireless local area network (WLAN) point-to-point communications link between an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network node B (eNB) and a user equipment device (or simply UE) is identified by UE/eNB media access control (MAC) identifiers on a per UE or per data radio bearer (DRB) basis for offloading cellular data from a long term evolution (LTE) link to the WLAN point-to-point communications link. A wireless local area network tunneling protocol (WLTP) includes packet formats and network protocol stack arrangements to support functions facilitated by the WLAN point-to-point communications link, such as, for example, identification of control and data traffic messages, DRB identification for WLTP packets, quality of service (QoS) delay and packet loss measurement, support of bearer splitting, and support of a general framework for offloading cellular traffic at different depths of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network protocol stack. | 09-17-2015 |
20150312841 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND SYSTEM OF ESTABLISHING A CONNECTION BETWEEN A CELLULAR NODE AND A CORE NETWORK - Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of establishing a connection between a cellular node and a core network. For example, a first Evolved Node B (eNB) may include a cellular transceiver to communicate with a User Equipment (UE); an X2 interface to communicate with at least one second eNB; and a controller to send to the second eNB a first message including a core network node discovery request, to receive from the second eNB a second message including a core network node identifier, and to establish an S1 connection between the first eNB and a core network using the core network node identifier. | 10-29-2015 |
20150327114 | UPDATES TO SUPPORT NETWORK BASED INTERNET PROTOCOL FLOW MOBILITY - Various embodiments may be generally directed to techniques for UE initiated and network initiated IP flow mobility. Various embodiments provide techniques for sharing IP flow routing rules and/or filters between a UE and various network infrastructure components using existing network based protocols or extensions thereto. Various embodiments provide techniques for provisioning network based IP flow mobility triggers and for ensuring UE connections to a 3GPP network are maintained in the absence of any 3GPP network IP flows. | 11-12-2015 |
20160007152 | PROXIMITY DETECTION IN A DEVICE TO DEVICE NETWORK - A technology for a user equipment (UE) that is operable to communicate in a device to device (D2D) network. A proximity detection request can be communicated to an evolved packet core (EPC). The proximity detection request can include a window parameter, an identification information of a second UE, and a proximity detection signal indicating whether the proximity detection request is for proximity detection of the second UE or for establishing a D2D connection with the second UE. A proximity alert message can be received from the EPC at the window parameter. | 01-07-2016 |
20160007346 | ESTABLISHMENT OF CONNECTION TO THE INTERNET IN CELLULAR NETWORK - Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods to establish a connection to the Internet via a local gateway (L-GW) function for a LIPA or a SIPTO@LN. The establishment of the connection to the Internet may be performed, for example, by at least one of an E-RAB SETUP procedure, an INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP procedure, an INITIAL UE MESSAGE procedure or an UPLINK NAS TRANSPORT procedure. | 01-07-2016 |
20160050703 | NETWORK ASSISTED DEVICE-TO-DEVICE DISCOVERY FOR PEER-TO-PEER APPLICATIONS - The techniques introduced here provide for network assisted device-to-device communication for peer-to-peer applications. The techniques include registering a user's peer-to-peer application identifier with a peer-to-peer application server, registering a user's peer-to-peer application ID with a device-to-device server, sending a peer-to-peer service request to the peer-to-peer application server, and receiving network assistance in discovering a peer with the desired P2P content/service and establishing a device-to-device communication arrangement for exchange of peer-to-peer services. The network assistance is provided over the user plane. | 02-18-2016 |
20160113036 | COMMUNICATIONS IN AN AD-HOC MULTICAST NETWORK - A technology for a user equipment (UE) that is operable to communicate in an ad-hoc wireless multicast communications network is disclosed. Another UE can be selected to send a request to send (RTS) control frame to. The RTS control frame can be communicated to the other UE. The RTS control frame indicates that the UE requests to send a multicast data frame. A clear to send (CTS) message can be received from the other UE, indicating the UE is clear to send the multicast data frame. The multicast data frame can be transmitted by the UE to a selected group of UEs. | 04-21-2016 |
20160128110 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATING BETWEEN A CELLULAR MANAGER AND A USER EQUIPMENT (UE) VIA A WLAN ACCESS DEVICE - Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of communicating between a cellular manager and a User Equipment (UE) via a Wireless Local Area network (WLAN) access device. For example, an air interface to communicate with a User Equipment (UE) via a cellular link; a controller to route at least part of downlink traffic to the UE via a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access device; and an access device interface to send to the WLAN access device a general packet radio service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol User Plane (GTP-U) packet including the downlink traffic for the UE, and transport bearer information to identify a transport bearer between the eNB and the UE. | 05-05-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140036793 | NETWORK ASSISTANCE FOR DEVICE-TO-DEVICE DISCOVERY - Embodiments of system and method configurations for device discovery and connection establishment in connection with use of device-to-device (D2D) and proximity-based services are generally described herein. In some examples, an evolved packet core (EPC) of a 3GPP Long Term Evolution or 3GPP Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE/LTE-A) network is arranged to assist D2D identification and discovery procedures at user equipment (UEs) connected to the LTE/LTE-A network. Various identification and discovery procedures may be implemented in connection with proximity detection and the establishment of communication times for the establishment of the D2D communication link, between the UEs. Accordingly, the EPC of the LTE/LTE-A network may assist the establishment of a device-to-device communication link between UEs on a wireless network employing a distinct wireless protocol (for example, a direct wireless network connection via a wireless local area network (WLAN) or wireless personal area network (WPAN)). | 02-06-2014 |
20140094119 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEVICE-TO-DEVICE COMMUNICATION IN THE ABSENCE OF NETWORK COVERAGE - A method and system for establishing a secure device-to-device connection between two mobile devices involves the use of a WiFi Direct (LTE Direct or other similar protocols) link paired with an IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) link. A device detects the presence of another device that it wishes to connect to. The devices negotiate a group owner, then authenticate each other using a variety of techniques, such as a centrally issued certificate. Thereafter, the devices derive keys to be used for communication, both over the WiFi Direct link and via the IMS link. A WiFi Direct Link may be paired with a Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) link in order to couple together more than two devices. In such a connection, devices transmit to a group owner, which then sends multicast versions to the rest of the group devices. | 04-03-2014 |
20140119340 | TRAFFIC OFFLOAD VIA LOCAL NETWORK BASED ON APN-SPECIFIC OR NON-APN-SPECIFIC INFORMATION - In order to perform SIPTO@LN for PDN connections, MME performs: receiving, from a HeNB, information about one or more GWs, said information comprising an IP address of each local GW and at least one among APN-specific information for said one or more local GWs and/or a non-APN-specific indication for said one or more local GWs; initiating, based on subscription data and the received information about a particular local GW among said one or more local GWs, deactivation of one or more PDN connections by sending to UE a NAS Deactivate Bearer Request message indicating that reactivation is required for said one or more PDN connections; and selecting, in response to a reactivation attempt by the UE and based on said subscription data and the received information about said particular local GW, said particular local GW to allow SIPTO@LN to be performed via said particular local GW. | 05-01-2014 |
20140192640 | TRAFFIC OFFLOAD VIA LOCAL NETWORK - For traffic offload via a local network, a MME may obtain from a HSS, subscription data including SIPTO related permissions defined on APN basis that indicate SIPTO prohibited, indicate SIPTO allowed excluding SIPTO via Local Network (SIPTO@LN), and/or indicate SIPTO allowed including SIPTO@LN. Then, the MME may obtain information about one or more local Gateways (GWs) capable of offloading selected traffic, such information indicating which of the one or more local GWs provides access to which Packet Data Networks (PDNs), with each PDN being identified by its associated APN. Finally, the MME may process PDN connections and/or PDN disconnections in order to support offloading of the selected traffic. The counterpart UE includes the appropriate means of hardware and/or software that is configured to support and perform SIPTO@LN. | 07-10-2014 |
20140301270 | IDENTIFIERS FOR PROXIMITY SERVICES - Various systems and methods for providing identifiers for proximity services are described herein. A proximity server to provide identifiers for proximity services comprises: a receiving module to receive from a requester user equipment (UE) at a proximity services server, a request to connect the requester UE to a connection UE, the request including a user-defined proximity identifier that identifies the connection UE; a permission module to confirm permission for the requester UE to connect to the connection UE; and an output module to, based on the confirmation, provide a first link layer identifier (LLID) to the connection UE for use in direct discovery between the requester UE and the connection UE. | 10-09-2014 |
20140301289 | NETWORK-ASSISTED TO DIRECT DEVICE DISCOVERY SWITCH - Embodiments for providing network-assisted to direct device discovery switch are generally described herein. In some embodiments, location information is received at an evolved packet core (EPC) from at least a first and a second user equipment (UE). A network-assisted device-to-device (D2D) request is received from the first UE for establishing a D2D wireless connection with the second UE. Proximity of the first UE and the second UE are monitored. Before detecting the second UE being in proximity to the first UE, direct discovery is determined to be more resource efficient than continuing to provide network-assisted D2D discovery. An indication is provided to the first UE and the second UE to perform direct discovery based on information provided in the indication. | 10-09-2014 |
20150029956 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SELECTIVELY PROVIDING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) SESSION CONTINUITY - Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems of selectively providing Internet Protocol (IP) session continuity. In one example, a mobile device may include a radio to communicate with a wireless network, the radio to transmit a session setup request to setup a communication session, and to receive a session setup response in response to the session setup request, the session setup response including a first Internet Protocol (IP) address and a second IP address assigned to the communication session, and an indication that the first IP address is configured to maintain IP session continuity; and a controller to select to use the first IP address for the communication session, if IP session continuity is to be maintained for the communication session, and to select to use the second IP address for the communication session, if IP session continuity is not to be maintained for the communication session. | 01-29-2015 |
20150223133 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENT TRAFFIC OFFLOAD WITHOUT SERVICE DISRUPTION - Methods, systems, and devices for offloading traffic flows without service disruption are disclosed herein. User equipment (UE) is configured to receive an indication that a current packet data network (PDN) connection can be optimized. The current PDN connection is established over a first PDN gateway (PGW). The UE requests connection over a new PDN connection to a same type of service as the current PDN connection without releasing the connection over the first PGW. The UE routes new traffic flows over a second PGW corresponding to the new PDN connection and routes old traffic flows over the first PGW. | 08-06-2015 |
20150223284 | ALWAYS-ON BEARER FOR SMALL DATA TRANSFERS IN LTE SYSTEMS - When a UE in an LTE system enters the RRC_IDLE state, only the S5/S8 EPS bearer context is retained, and the S1-U, S1-AP and radio bearers are released. These bearers have to be re-established on per UE basis when the UE returns to RRC_CONNECTED state. A number of UE applications may send small data frequently, which causes the UE to toggle between IDLE and CONNECTED states. This leads to a great deal of signaling overhead as the radio bearer and the S1-U bearer must be frequently re-established as the UE transitions between IDLE to CONNECTED states. Described herein are methods and systems that provide an always-on S1-U bearer to reduce this signaling overhead. | 08-06-2015 |
20150281998 | NETWORK ACCESS SELECTION BASED ON INTERNET PROTOCOL-MEDIA SUBSYSTEM SERVICE - Embodiments of user equipment and a method for network access selection based on IMS service are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the method includes a UE receiving a message from an ANDSF server comprising an ANDSF MO that includes an inter-system routing policy (ISRP) based on an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) service identifier. The UE may then offload IMS traffic from the cellular network to a non-cellular network based on the IMS service identifier and the ISRP. | 10-01-2015 |
20150305077 | NETWORK ASSISTANCE FOR DEVICE-TO-DEVICE DISCOVERY - Embodiments of system and method configurations for device discovery and connection establishment in connection with use of device-to-device (D2D) and proximity-based services are generally described herein. In some examples, an evolved packet core (EPC) of a 3GPP Long Term Evolution or 3GPP Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE/LTE-A) network is arranged to assist D2D identification and discovery procedures at user equipment (UEs) connected to the LTE/LTE-A network. Various identification and discovery procedures may be implemented in connection with proximity detection and the establishment of communication times for the establishment of the D2D communication link, between the UEs. Accordingly, the EPC of the LTE/LTE-A network may assist the establishment of a device-to-device communication link between UEs on a wireless network employing a distinct wireless protocol (for example, a direct wireless network connection via a wireless local area network (WLAN) or wireless personal area network (WPAN)). | 10-22-2015 |