Device-to-device communications with social awareness [Guest Editorial]

Abstract

High data rate applications have recently become more and more popular in cellular networks (e.g. video calls, interactive gaming, and mobile social networking). To efficiently facilitate more high data rate services among nearby users and devices, device-to-device (D2D) communication has been proposed, and has attracted significant attention in both academia and industry. Since mobile devices are typically carried by people, it is critical to study the impact of social networks on D2D communications. D2D communication with social awareness is an interesting but largely unexploited area that requires intensive research efforts.