System and method for device-to-device communication overlaid on a cellular network

An embodiment of a system that operates a user equipment as a serving user equipment in a personal cell. The user equipment is configured to receive a communication resource from a base station to operate as a serving user equipment in a personal cell, the communication resource including a personal cell ID, and transmit in a cellular downlink the personal cell ID and control channel information included in the communication resource to a second user equipment. The communication resource can comprise a downlink of a cellular network for data transmission by the user equipment to the second user equipment. The user equipment retains a cellular communication link to a base station.