Device-to-device (D2D) communications with social awareness [Message from the Editor-in-Chief]

Device-to-device, D2D, as specified by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), is a promising technology of the evolving 5G architecture. This Special Issue is dedicated to the social-aware aspects of D2D where mobile devices aim to detect the proximity of other users by exploiting their social structure and how human relationships can impact information dissemination. Coverage of this Special Issue includes social-aware vehicular communications, where moving vehicles can exchange content directly with each other, as well as preserving data mining computing aspects. Other important topics covered are radio resource allocation in D2D networks, social-aware neighbor discovery, and social-aware direct connectivity for D2D communications, sharing computation resources, as well as other interesting aspects of D2D communications that are generally based on social structure.