Development and Field Trial of D 2 D Networks for Local Area Information Collection and Distribution

While the standardization on device-to-device (D2D) communications is underway within 3GPP [1] and IEEE802 [2], various research efforts are being made to develop D2D which is regarded as a component of the heterogeneous network [3]–[6]. Research is being conducted to develop D2D communication systems that leverage existing infrastructure, including a part of cellular networks [4][5], and autonomous D2D communication systems, such as a peer aware communication (PAC) network [6]. Direct communications between devices may reduce wireless network load, including that in cellular networks, and increase communication speed between transmission and reception antennas. In addition, they are useful in increasing throughput in hotspots. Furthermore, research is being conducted on the role of D2D communications in IoT and mobile social networks [7][8]. We developed D2D communication network testbeds by focusing on areas where community buses are operated to facilitate local information sharing by the public using a broadcasting mode as a basic communication technique [9][10]. With the collaboration of Minato City, Tokyo and Seika Town, Kyoto, we set up our testbeds in these areas and carried out demonstration experiments there from 2014. The testbeds included the Odaiba Rainbow Bus, a community bus service run by Minato City, the Seika Kururin Bus, a community bus service run by Seika Town, and the routes of these bus services. Information was transmitted between communication devices installed in buses and communication devices within the test terminals installed along the bus routes while the buses were in operation. A variety of community-related information, such as local government information and event announcements, was collected and diffused in these experiments. We later added redundancy to the testbed in Seika Town, en2-7 Development and Field Trial of D2D Networks for Local Area Information Collection and Distribution