Mobile communications device and system

Abstract

A mobile device (7) configured to provide relay capabilities in a communications system (1) by communicating network-level mobile device relaying capabilities and radio-level mobile device relaying capabilities from the mobile device (7) to a communications node (3) of the communications system (1) so that the mobile device (7) can relay communications between the communications node (3) and another mobile device (2). User subscription information related to relaying is also disclosed.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A user equipment (UE) for use in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a controller configured to:
 control the transceiver to transmit, to a base station, UE capability information regarding capability of the UE; and 
 control the transceiver to provide relay communication for another UE; 
   wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and   wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay, is transmitted in a tracking area update (TAU) or attach request message.   
     
     
         39 . The UE according to  claim 38 , wherein the UE capability information further includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and the another UE. 
     
     
         40 . The UE according to  claim 38 , wherein the UE capability information is transmitted to a Mobile Management Entity (MME) via the base station. 
     
     
         41 . The UE according to  claim 38 , wherein the controller is further configured to: control the transceiver to transmit second capability information in a NAS message. 
     
     
         42 . A method for a user equipment (UE), said UE for use in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 transmitting, to a base station, UE capability information regarding capability of the UE; and   providing relay communication for another UE;   wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and   wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay, is transmitted in a tracking area update (TAU) or attach request message.   
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42 , wherein the UE capability information further includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and the another UE. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 42 , further comprising transmitting the UE capability information to a Mobile Management Entity (MME) via the base station. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 42 , further comprising controlling the transceiver to transmit second capability information in a NAS message. 
     
     
         46 . A base station for use in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a controller configured to:
 control the transceiver to receive, from a user equipment (UE), UE capability information regarding capability of the UE in a tracking area update (TAU) or attach request message; 
   wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and   wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay.   
     
     
         47 . The base station according to  claim 46 , wherein the UE capability information further includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and the another UE. 
     
     
         48 . The base station according to  claim 46 , wherein the UE capability information is transmitted to a Mobile Management Entity (MME) via the base station. 
     
     
         49 . The base station according to  claim 46 , wherein the controller is further configured to: control the transceiver to receive second capability information in a NAS message. 
     
     
         50 . A method for a base station, said base station for use in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a user equipment (UE), UE capability information regarding capability of the UE in a tracking area update (TAU) or attach request message;   wherein the UE capability information includes first relay capability information which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to provide network relaying; and   wherein the first relay capability information, which indicates a capability of the UE to act as a Proximity-based Services (ProSe) UE to network relay.   
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 50 , wherein the UE capability information further includes second relay capability information which indicates relay capability between the UE and the another UE. 
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 50 , further comprising transmitting the UE capability information to a Mobile Management Entity (MME) via the base station. 
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 50 , further comprising controlling the transceiver to receive second capability information in a NAS message.