Device-to-device (D2D) communication that enables direct communication between nearby mobiles is an exciting and innovative feature of next-generation cellular networks. It will facilitate the interoperability between critical public safety networks and ubiquitous commercial networks based on e.g. LTE. How should we analyze and design such hybrid networks consisting of both cellular and ad hoc links? WNCG Profs. Jeffrey Andrews and Constantine Caramanis, in collaboration with lead researchers and WNCG students Xingqin Lin and Qiaoyang Ye are working to develop novel models for such hybrid cellular systems and to use them for network performance evaluation and design. This research involved close collaboration with and significant technical inputs from the Head of NSN North America Radio Systems, Amitava Ghosh, and Principal Engineer Mazin Al-Shalash from WNCG Industrial Affiliate Huawei. Their work has impacted 3GPP standards contributions from NSN and Huawei on specific D2D technologies in LTE Release 12.
In principle, exploiting direct communication between nearby mobile devices will improve spectrum utilizat