Patent ID: 8977276
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: communicating, by a first device, with a second device, using a first device-to-device communication in a licensed band; determining, by the first device, whether resources are available in an unlicensed band, wherein the determining is performed in a region local to the first device by listening for an inactive channel, and wherein the determining is performed periodically or triggered at the first device upon receipt of a message from the second device; and initiating, by the first device, a set up of a second device-to-device communication in the unlicensed band, when the resources are determined available in the unlicensed band, wherein the determining whether the resources are available in the unlicensed band comprises negotiating with the second device, and wherein at least one of the negotiating with the second device and the set up of the second device-to-device communication in the unlicensed band is carried via the first device-to-device communication in the licensed band.