Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090040996 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS MODES OF OPERATION - Methods and apparatus for supporting multiple modes of communication operation, e.g., with different parameters and/or frequency bands being used in the different modes of operation are described. One or more adjustments are made based on a signal or signals received in a first frequency band from a second communications device, e.g., an access router with reliable timing. The communications device selects between and operates in either the first frequency band, e.g., a WAN frequency band, or in a second frequency band, e.g., a LAN frequency band. The WAN and LAN frequency bands may be non-overlapping. One or more parameters used in the second frequency band have a predetermined relationship to one or more parameters used for communications in the first frequency band making the adjustment based on the signal received in the first frequency band relevant and useful to support communications in the second frequency band. | 02-12-2009 |
20090316621 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING TIMING SYNCHRONIZATION WITH BASE STATIONS - A wireless terminal using OFDM signaling supporting both terrestrial and satellite base station connectivity operates using conventional access probe signaling in a first mode of operation to establish a timing synchronized wireless link with a terrestrial base station. In a second mode of operation, used to establish a timing synchronized wireless link with a satellite base station, a slightly modified access protocol is employed. The round trip signaling time and timing ambiguity between a wireless terminal and a satellite base station is substantially greater than with a terrestrial base station. The modified access protocol uses coding of access probe signals to uniquely identify a superslot index within a beaconslot. The modified protocol uses multiple access probes with different timing offsets to further resolve timing ambiguity and allows the satellite base station access monitoring interval to remain small in duration. Terrestrial base station location/connection information is used to estimate initial timing. | 12-24-2009 |
20100041355 | METHODS AND APPARATUS OF PROVIDING TRANSMIT AND/OR RECEIVE DIVERSITY WITH MULTIPLE ANTENNAS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS - Transmit and/or receive diversity is achieved using multiple antennas. In some embodiments, a single transmitter chain within a wireless terminal is coupled over time to a plurality of transmit antennas. At any given time, a controllable switching module couples the single transmitter chain to one the plurality of transmit antennas. Over time, the switching module couples the output signals from the single transmitter chain to different transmit antennas. Switching decisions are based upon predetermined information, dwell information, and/or channel condition feedback information. Switching is performed on some dwell and/or channel estimation boundaries. In some OFDM embodiments, each of multiple transmitter chains is coupled respectively to a different transmit antenna. Information to be transmitted is mapped to a plurality of tones. Different subsets of tones are formed for and transmitted through different transmit chain/antenna sets simultaneously. The balance of tones allocated to the subsets for each antenna are changed as a function of predetermined information, dwell information, and/or channel condition feedback information. | 02-18-2010 |
20100110929 | TRANSMISSION WITH HOPPING FOR PEER-PEER COMMUNICATION - Techniques for transmitting signals using time hopping or time and frequency hopping are described. In one design, a terminal selects different slots to use for transmission in multiple frames with time hopping. Each frame includes multiple slots, and each slot covers a particular time duration. The selected slots are at different time locations in the multiple frames. In another design, a terminal selects different resource units to use for transmission in multiple frames with time and frequency hopping. The selected resource units are at different time and frequency locations in the multiple frames. For both designs, the terminal sends a signal (e.g., a peer discovery signal) in the selected slots or resource units in the multiple frames. The terminal may detect for signals (e.g., peer discovery signals) from other terminals in slots not used for transmission by the terminal. | 05-06-2010 |
20100110999 | TRANSMIT POWER CONTROL BASED ON RECEIVER GAIN SETTING IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Techniques for performing transmit power control based on receiver gain setting in a wireless communication network are described. In an aspect, a terminal A may estimate pathloss to another terminal B, e.g., based on a peer discovery signal received from terminal B. Terminal A may then determine a transmit power level for a peer-to-peer (PTP) signal (e.g., a paging signal) based on the estimated pathloss, a receiver gain setting at terminal B, and a target received power level for the PTP signal. Terminal A may send the PTP signal at the determined transmit power level to terminal B. In another aspect, terminal B may use different receiver gain settings in different time intervals to receive PTP signals from other terminals. Terminal A may then select a suitable time interval to send the PTP signal based on the pathloss and the different receiver gain settings used by terminal B. | 05-06-2010 |
20100118701 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TRANSMITTER AND/OR RECEIVER COMMUNICATIONS DECISIONS - Methods and apparatus for making communications decisions are described. In some embodiments, a method includes recovering a quality of service level from a transmission request response signal and making a decision whether or not to transmit traffic data based on the recovered quality of service level. In other embodiments a method includes recovering a first quality of service level from a first transmission request response signal which is in response to a first traffic transmission request signal, and making a decision, based on the recovered first quality of service level, whether or not to transmit a second transmission request response signal in response to a second traffic transmission request signal. In some embodiments, the phase of the transmission request response signal is used to communicate the quality of service level. The device transmitting the transmission request response may also transmit pilots which can be used as phase reference signals. | 05-13-2010 |
20100118702 | METHODS AND APPARATUS SUPPORTING ADAPTIVE DECENTRALIZED TRAFFIC SCHEDULING INCLUDING A DYNAMIC TRANSMITTER YIELDING THRESHOLD - Methods and apparatus relating to scheduling of air link resources, e.g., traffic segments, in a wireless communications system are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited to wireless peer to peer networks in which traffic scheduling is decentralized, e.g. an ad hoc peer to peer network. An individual wireless terminal corresponding to a peer to peer connection which desires to transmit traffic signals make transmitter yielding decisions on a traffic slot by traffic slot basis. The transmitter yielding decision, in some embodiments, includes comparing a link quality estimate corresponding to a higher priority link intending to use the same traffic segment concurrently, to a dynamically generated transmitter yielding threshold. The dynamically generated transmitter yielding threshold is determined based on at least one of: quality of service information corresponding to its own link and historical link quality information corresponding to the higher priority link. | 05-13-2010 |
20100118733 | METHODS AND APPARATUS SUPPORTING ADAPTIVE DECENTRALIZED TRAFFIC SCHEDULING FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - Methods and apparatus relating to scheduling of air link resources, e.g., traffic segments, in wireless communications are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited to wireless peer to peer networks in which traffic scheduling is decentralized, e.g. an ad hoc peer to peer network. A first wireless terminal receives a transmission request and quality of service information from a second wireless terminal corresponding to a connection. The first wireless terminal decides not to receiver yield, determines a request response transmission power level as a function of the received quality of service information, and transmits, at the determined power level, a generated request response signal. By controllably adjusting the transmission power level of a request response, transmitter yielding decisions of lower priority links are impacted, since lower priority links measure and use received power level information corresponding to request responses of higher priority links in their transmitter yielding decisions. | 05-13-2010 |
20100118761 | METHODS AND APPARATUS SUPPORTING ADAPTIVE DECENTRALIZED TRAFFIC SCHEDULING INCLUDING A DYNAMIC RECEIVER YIELDING THRESHOLD - Methods and apparatus relating to scheduling of air link resources, e.g., traffic segments, in a wireless communications system are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited to wireless peer to peer networks in which traffic scheduling is decentralized, e.g. an ad hoc peer to peer network. An individual wireless terminal corresponding to a peer to peer connection which desires to communicate traffic signals makes a receiver yielding decision. The receiver yielding decision, in some embodiments, includes comparing a link quality estimate corresponding to its own link, to a dynamically generated receiver yielding threshold. The dynamically generated receiver yielding threshold is determined based on at least one of: quality of service information corresponding to its own link and historical link quality information corresponding to its own link. | 05-13-2010 |
20100120445 | COMMUNICATIONS DECISION METHODS AND APPARATUS - Methods and apparatus for making communications decisions are described. In some embodiments, a method includes recovering a first quality of service level from a first transmission request signal directed to a second communications device, and making a decision whether or not to transmit traffic data to a third communications device based on the recovered first quality of service level. In other embodiments a method includes recovering a first quality of service level from a first transmission request signal, and making a decision whether or not to transmit a first transmission request response signal in response to a second transmission request signal based on the recovered first quality of service level. In some embodiments, the phase of the transmission request signal is used to communicate the quality of service level. The device transmitting the transmission request signal may also transmit pilots which can be used as phase reference signals. | 05-13-2010 |
20100124185 | RELAY COMMUNICATIONS METHODS AND APPARATUS - Methods and apparatus relating to interference mitigation in a wireless communications system including multi-sector base stations and relay stations are described. Different types of transmission slots are used, e.g., base station-relay station slots, relay station-access terminal slots, and base station-access terminal slots. Relay station to access terminal slots of a first schedule are non-overlapping with relay station to access terminal slots of a second schedule. A deployment pattern associates each particular base station sector and its associated relay station with one particular schedule. At least some different sectors of the same base station intentionally use different schedules. An access terminal determines and uses the schedule corresponding to the base station sector or relay station from which it intends to receive downlink signals. By utilizing multiple slot type allocation schedules and a particular schedule deployment pattern in the system, interference experienced by access terminals in boundary regions can be mitigated. | 05-20-2010 |
20100124331 | SPECTRUM AUTHORIZATION AND RELATED COMMUNICATIONS METHODS AND APPARATUS - Various embodiments relate to wireless communications, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for authorizing use of spectrum, e.g., through the issuance of spectrum access keys, and/or preventing or discouraging the unauthorized use of licensed spectrum. Peer to peer wireless communications between authorized users of licensed spectrum may involve scrambling/descrambling of information communicated between authorized devices. In some embodiments air interface timing and/or other information received from a second device, e.g., a beacon or GPS transmitter, is incorporated into a computation of a pseudo-random bit sequence which is also computed based on a spectrum access key communicated to authorized spectrum users. In some embodiments authorized peer to peer devices scramble communicated information based on the generated pseudo random bit sequence thereby preventing or discouraging communication with devices which are not authorized to use the spectrum and lack a spectrum access key used to generate the pseudo random bit sequence. | 05-20-2010 |
20100124880 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING IN A SYSTEM INCLUDING RELAY STATIONS - Methods and apparatus relating to communicating in a system including relay stations are described. Various described methods and apparatus are directed to improved performance and/or mitigating interference in relay station boundary areas. Relay station transmission power is controlled based on at least one of time or frequency such that a transmission power level for a frequency is varied in a predetermined manner with time or such that different transmission power levels are used for different carrier frequencies. Different adjacent relay stations are intentionally configured to use different transmission power levels for the same carrier and/or have different time varying transmission power level profiles for the same carrier. A relay station performs access terminal scheduling based on access terminal location with respect to relay station boundary regions and transmission power level information. | 05-20-2010 |
20100130220 | WIRELESS TIMING AND POWER CONTROL - The use of multiple states of mobile communication device operation to allow a single base station to support a relatively large number of mobile nodes is described. The various states require different amounts of communications resources, e.g., bandwidth. Four supported states of operation are an on-state, a hold-state, a sleep-state, and an access-state. Each mobile node in the on-state is allocated communication resources to perform transmission power control signaling, transmission timing control signaling and to transmit data as part of a data uplink communications operation. Each mobile node in the hold-state is allocated communication resources to perform transmission timing control signaling and is provided a dedicated uplink for requesting a state transition and a shared resource for transmitting acknowledgements. In the sleep state a mobile node is allocated minimal resources and does not conduct power control signaling or timing control signaling. Data may be received in the on and hold states. | 05-27-2010 |
20100142365 | BEACON CODING IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS - Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate transmitting beacon symbols of a beacon message such that a sequence of symbols can satisfy a linear constraint over a field where the field elements can be identified with carriers. In this regard, a coding scheme can be applied to a beacon message; the coding scheme can produce a plurality of beacon symbols to transmit on given subcarriers. A receiving device of the beacon symbols can decode a beacon message by receiving less than the total number of symbols in a beacon message and determining the remaining symbol subcarriers based on the linear constraint. Thus, more efficient decoding of beacons is facilitated as well as resolving beacon ambiguity by figuring out which symbols satisfy linear constraints for the symbols, and resolving time and frequency shift by detecting an offset that would result in satisfaction of the linear constraint. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142556 | METHOD AND APPARATUS RELATED TO PACKET FRAGMENTATION AND RECONSTRUCTION - Methods and apparatus related to packet fragmentation and reconstruction are described. A sequence of bits is generated including at least one header and at least partial packet payload prior to a determination of the actual data rate to be used in a communications segment. In some embodiments, the generated sequence of bits corresponds to a prepared information bit stream for a best case scenario in which the highest data rate is selected for segment. Various embodiments allow for the selection of the data rate to be used for the communications segment to be delayed until just prior to the transmission. Thus the selection of the data rate for the communications segment, and thus the segment capacity, can be based on more current channel condition information than would otherwise be possible if the communications device needed to know the data rate for the segment before performing header and packet fragmentation operations. | 06-10-2010 |
20100144282 | METHODS AND APPARATUS OF PROVIDING TRANSMIT DIVERSITY IN A MULTIPLE ACCESS WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus for providing channel diversity to wireless terminals (WTs) in a manner that reduces the latency between the time a WT encounters satisfactory channel conditions are described. A plurality of communications channels with different physical characteristics are maintained in a cell by a base station (BS). Each WT monitors multiple channels and maintains multiple channel estimates at the same time so that rapid switching between channels is possible. Channel quality information is conveyed from each WT to the BS. The WT or BS selects a channel based on the measured channel quality. By supporting multiple channels and by introducing periodic variations into the channels in various embodiments, the time before a WT encounters a channel with good or acceptable channel conditions is minimized even if the WT does not change location. Multiple antennas are used at the BS to support numerous channels simultaneously, e.g., by controlling antenna patterns. | 06-10-2010 |
20100150080 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REUSE OF A WIRELESS RESOURCE - Methods and apparatus related to reuse of a wireless resource are described. Various methods and apparatus are well suited to wireless communications systems lacking centralized control, e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer wireless communications system. A wireless device, corresponding to a second connection, evaluates whether or not it can reuse a resource associated with a first connection. The first connection is, e.g., an existing active connection and the second connection is, e.g., a potential connection. The wireless device receives one or more control signals from one or more first connection devices. The wireless device determines, based on the received control signals, one or more estimated SINRs characterizing expected results in the system if the two connections should use the same resource concurrently. The wireless device makes a resource reuse decision based on the determined estimated one or more SINRs and a threshold criteria. | 06-17-2010 |
20100151897 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FACILITATING AND/OR MAKING WIRELESS RESOURCE REUSE DECISIONS - Methods and apparatus related to reuse of a wireless resource are described. Various methods and apparatus are well suited to wireless communications systems lacking centralized control, e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer wireless communications system. A first wireless device of a first connection generates and transmits one or more control signals to be used by a wireless device of a second connection to make a resource reuse decision. The first connection is, e.g., an existing active connection and the second connection is, e.g., a potential connection. A transmission power level of a control signal is set based upon a predetermined relationship to at least one other signal previously communicated on the first connection, e.g., a peer discovery or paging signal. In some embodiments, the control signal is a single tone signal. The transmitted control signal facilitates the estimation of an expected SINR by a device of the second connection. | 06-17-2010 |
20100178942 | EFFICIENT PAGING IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus for efficient two-stage paging wireless communications systems are described. Wireless terminals are assigned to paging groups. A few first paging message information bits are modulated (using non-coherent modulation) into a first paging signal and communicated from a base station to wireless terminals. WTs wake-up, receive the first paging signal and quickly ascertain whether its paging group should expect a second paging signal, if so, the WT is operated to receive the second paging signal; otherwise, the WT goes back to sleep conserving power. The base station modulates (using coherent modulation) a number of second message information bits into a second paging signal and transmits the signal to WTs. From the information in first and second paging signals, a WT can determine that it is the paged WT and process the paging instructions. The intended paged WT can transmit an acknowledgement signal on a dedicated uplink resource. | 07-15-2010 |
20100189188 | AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL (AGC) FOR OFDM-BASED TRANSMISSION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Techniques for performing automatic gain control (AGC) at a receiver are described. The receiver may receive an OFDM-based symbol composed of a cyclic prefix and a useful portion. The receiver may scale the OFDM-based symbol with an initial receiver gain, adjust the initial receiver gain based on the cyclic prefix, apply the adjusted receiver gain prior to the useful portion, and process the useful portion to recover at least one signal sent by at least one transmitter. The receiver may select the initial receiver gain, e.g., based on a predicted received power level for the at least one transmitter, a pattern of different receiver gains, etc. The receiver may apply the initial receiver gain at the start of the OFDM-based symbol. The receiver may measure the power of a set of samples in the cyclic prefix and may adjust the receiver gain based on the measured power and a target power. | 07-29-2010 |
20100190459 | AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Techniques for performing automatic gain control (AGC) at a terminal in a wireless communication network are described. In an aspect, the terminal may use different receiver gain settings to receive different types of signals in different time intervals. The terminal may determine a receiver gain setting for each signal type and may use the receiver gain setting to receive signals of that signal type. In another aspect, the terminal may determine a receiver gain setting for a future time interval based on received power levels for peer terminals expected to transmit in that time interval. The terminal may measure received power levels of signals received from a plurality of terminals. The terminal may determine a set of terminals expected to transmit in the future time interval and may determine the receiver gain setting for the future time interval based on the measured received power levels for the set of terminals. | 07-29-2010 |
20100190514 | EFFICIENT PAGING IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus for efficient two-stage paging wireless communications systems are described. Wireless terminals are assigned to paging groups. A few first paging message information bits are modulated (using non-coherent modulation) into a first paging signal and communicated from a base station to wireless terminals. WTs wake-up, receive the first paging signal and quickly ascertain whether its paging group should expect a second paging signal, if so, the WT is operated to receive the second paging signal; otherwise, the WT goes back to sleep conserving power. The base station modulates (using coherent modulation) a number of second message information bits into a second paging signal and transmits the signal to WTs. From the information in first and second paging signals, a WT can determine that it is the paged WT and process the paging instructions. The intended paged WT can transmit an acknowledgement signal on a dedicated uplink resource. | 07-29-2010 |
20100202434 | COMMUNICATIONS METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING COMMUNICATIONS WITH PEERS USING MULTIPLE ANTENNA PATTERNS - Methods and apparatus for communicating information, e.g., peer discovery information, to peer communications devices using multiple antenna patterns at different times are described. One exemplary method includes transmitting first peer discovery information during a first period of time using a first antenna pattern, and transmitting second peer discovery information during a second period of time using a second antenna pattern which is different from the first antenna pattern. In at least some embodiments the first antenna pattern is a beam antenna pattern and the second antenna pattern is an omni-directional antenna pattern. In some embodiments, an omni-directional antenna pattern is used at least 50% of the time. This allows devices near the transmitting device to quickly obtain peer discovery information while devices further away make take longer to obtain the peer discovery information since they may need for a beam pattern facing their direction to be used. | 08-12-2010 |
20100250673 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMBINED PEER TO PEER AND WIDE AREA NETWORK BASED DISCOVERY - A first wireless communications device includes a wide area network (WAN) interface and a peer to peer interface. The first device discovers the presence of a second wireless communications device via a peer discovery signal, received via its peer to peer interface. The second device has been transmitting, e.g., periodically, certain information, e.g., its location and/or shopping preferences, to a node within the WAN. The detected first signal triggers an application alert in the first device. The first device recovers past information about the second device through a second signal received via its WAN interface. The first device uses information communicated in the first signal, e.g., device identifier information, and information communicated in the second signal, e.g., past location and/or shopping information, to generate a targeted message for the second device. The first device communicates the targeted message via its peer to peer interface in a peer to peer traffic channel. | 09-30-2010 |
20100254308 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PEER DISCOVERY IN A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus supporting enhanced discovery operations in peer to peer networks are described. Peer discovery, based on direct peer to peer discovery between two mobile nodes can be somewhat limited, e.g., due to power limitations, processing power, and/or channel conditions. An access point, e.g., base station, monitors for and receives peer discovery signals conveying a set of identifiers from a wireless communications device. The access point retransmits at least one identifier in the set in a wireless peer to peer communications channel. Thus the access point effectively extends the peer discovery range for wireless communications devices utilizing the peer to peer network. Wireless communications devices can monitor for and recover the rebroadcast peer discovery signals from access points. Thus, via access point signaling a wireless communications device can be made situationally aware of other devices of interest which would be otherwise outside its discovery detection range. | 10-07-2010 |
20100272029 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION - Methods and apparatus for efficiently communicating small amounts of information relatively frequently in a wireless communications system are described. An access point's uplink timing frequency structure includes a set of dedicated uplink communications resources, e.g., expression advertisement interval air link resources, which may be in addition to regular traffic channel resources. The set of dedicated uplink communications resources comprises a small fraction of the total uplink communications resources. An individual one of the set of dedicated uplink communications resources can carry a small amount of information bits. An expression advertisement interval occurs relatively frequently. A wireless communications device, registered with the access point, is allocated one of the set of dedicated uplink resources. The wireless communications device can transmit information using its allocated resource in both a sleep state and an active state. | 10-28-2010 |
20100272081 | COMMUNICATION METHODS AND APPARATUS - Methods and apparatus well suited for efficiently communicating small amounts of information relatively frequently in a wireless communications system are described. An uplink timing frequency structure for an access point includes a set of dedicated uplink communications resources, e.g., expression advertisement interval air link resources. Different ones of the set of dedicated uplink communications resources correspond to different individual wireless communications devices currently registered with the access point. In the downlink timing frequency structure for the access point there are dedicated downlink broadcast communications resources, e.g., expression broadcast interval air link resources and neighbor expression broadcast interval air link resources. Information received on dedicated uplink air link resources is echoed back or selectively echoed back on the dedicated downlink air link resources. Wireless communications devices monitor downlink dedicated air link resources to recover expression information being communicated by other wireless communications devices in its local vicinity. | 10-28-2010 |
20100279724 | MITIGATING INTERFERENCE IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Aspects relate to mitigating interference in a communication network that does not employ a centralized scheduler. A transmission sent on a subset of resources is evaluated to determine a number of communication pairs that have selected that subset of resources on which to transmit. If there are a large number of communication pairs transmitting on that subset, the transmission is ignored by a receiving device. The number of degrees of freedom that contain energy on the subset is evaluated to determine if an expected number of degrees of freedom that should have energy is met or exceeded. If the expected threshold number is met or exceed, the transmission is decoded by the receiving device, else the transmission is not decoded. | 11-04-2010 |
20100291872 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING COMMUNICATION OVER DIFFERENT RANGES IN A WIRELESS NETWORK - Methods and apparatus well suited for supporting communications over different ranges in, for example, a peer to peer wireless communications system, are described. In the peer to peer network at least some of the types of signals, e.g., peer discovery signals and/or paging signals, are transmitted with no closed loop power control. An exemplary peer to peer timing structure includes air link resources allocated for a particular type of signaling in which the resources are segmented into multiple blocks which do not overlap in time, different ones of the multiple blocks being associated with different ranges. The characteristics of the basic transmission units of the multiple blocks based on range are different, e.g., tone size and symbol width are different. A wireless communications device implements the peer to peer timing structure and uses resources from different range based blocks at different times. Data traffic transmission units may be the same regardless of the range. | 11-18-2010 |
20100309781 | SWITCHING BETWEEN MIMO AND RECEIVER BEAM FORMING IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - Aspects describe different multiple antenna techniques that can be utilized in a peer-to-peer network based on a network congestion level. A MIMO scheme where a transmitter sends to a receiver multiple spatial streams at substantially the same time in the same traffic segment can be utilized when network congestion level is low. A receiver beam forming scheme where transmitter sends a single stream in a traffic segment and receiver uses multiple receive antennas to maximize signal to noise ratio can be utilized when network congestion level is high. The connection pair (transmitter and receiver) occupy more control resources in the MIMO scheme than the receiver beam forming scheme. The decision related to which technique to utilize can be made at about the same time as a communication is initiated. Further, if network conditions change during a communication, the antenna technique that is utilized can be switched to a different technique during the communication exchange. | 12-09-2010 |
20100309853 | PROGRESSIVE INFORMATION BEACON SYMBOLS - Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate transmitting beacon symbols comprising static and dynamic information about the beacon and/or a transmitter thereof (or substantially any information a beacon transmitter desires to send). In this regard, the beacon symbol transmitter can select a subcarrier of bandwidth for transmitting the beacon symbol where the subcarrier is indicative of data and is in one of a plurality of subcarrier groups related to the total available subcarriers. Thus, the groups can have common virtual subcarriers such that a subcarrier index can be found in each group. In this way, the selected group can indicate additional information that can change based on what group is selected for transmitting a given beacon symbol. | 12-09-2010 |
20100309854 | INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT WITH MIMO IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - Aspects relate to interference management in a multiple-input-multiple-output peer-to-peer network utilizing connection scheduling. When channel side information is available at both transmitter and receiver, both devices determine transmit/receiver beamforming vectors. Transmitter sends a first transmission request signal with first transmit beamforming vector and a second transmission request signal with second transmit beamforming vector in a transmission request block. Receiver estimates SINRs of the MIMO channels associated with the receive beamforming vectors and determines whether to return request response signals. Based on received request response signals, transmitter decides to transmit streams of data using the corresponding transmit beamforming vectors in the data burst. When channel side information is available only at receiver, transmitter sends one transmission request signal. Receiver estimates the SINRs of the MIMO channels associated with receive beamforming vectors using MMSE and/or successive interference cancellation (SIC), and returns request response signals in the request response block. | 12-09-2010 |
20100310004 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AMPLIFYING AND TRANSMITTING SIGNALS - A wireless communications device transmits during a first time using a single tone and during a second time using a plurality of tones. The wireless communications device uses linear power amplification for transmitting multi-tone signals and non-linear power amplification for transmitting at least some single tone signals. In some embodiments a linear amplification range on a first amplifier's characteristic curve is used for the linear amplification and a non-linear amplification range on the first amplifier's characteristic curve is used for the non-linear amplification. Filtering subsequent to the amplification is controlled to accommodate the type of amplification being used. In some embodiments, the decision as to whether to use linear amplification or non-linear amplification is a function of whether the intended transmitted signal is to be a single tone signal or a multi-tone signal. In some embodiments, the decision is also a function of intended range. | 12-09-2010 |
20100330915 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH MULTIPLE ANTENNAS - Wireless communications methods and apparatus for a device using multiple antennas are described. A first wireless communications device receives signals from a second communications device. The first device generates receiver interference estimates corresponding to different antennas and selects one antenna to receive signals from the second device, as a function of the generated receiver interference estimates. The first device receives signals from one or more additional devices to which first device transmission may cause interference. The first device generates transmitter interference estimates corresponding to different antennas and selects one antenna to transmit signals to the second device as a function of the generated transmitter interference estimates. The first device may, and sometimes does, select different receive and transmit antennas for communicating with the second device. | 12-30-2010 |
20110019541 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING POWER EFFICIENCY AND LATENCY OF MOBILE DEVICES USING AN OUT OF BAND WIRELESS RESOURCE - Methods and apparatus of using a licensed spectrum to transmit data when an unlicensed spectrum is congested are disclosed. The method includes transmitting a first signal from a first mobile device to a second mobile device using an unlicensed spectrum, determining, at the first mobile device, whether a first response signal has been received by the first mobile device using the unlicensed spectrum, and transmitting a second signal from the first mobile device to the second mobile device using a licensed spectrum when the first response signal has not been received by the first mobile device using the unlicensed spectrum. | 01-27-2011 |
20110019601 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING POWER EFFICIENCY AND LATENCY OF MOBILE DEVICES USING AN EXTERNAL TIMING SOURCE - Methods and apparatus for increasing power efficiency and decreasing latency of communication of a mobile device operating in an unlicensed spectrum using global timing data are disclosed. The method includes receiving, at the mobile device, the global timing data from an external timing source, the mobile device communicating in the unlicensed spectrum, obtaining, at the mobile device, a time from the global timing data, and determining, at the mobile device, a wake time to switch the mobile device from a sleep state to an active state based on the time obtained from the global timing data. | 01-27-2011 |
20110021235 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING USING MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION POWER LEVELS - Methods and apparatus for communicating information using different transmission power levels during different time periods are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in a peer to peer wireless communication system. A device uses a high transmission power level for transmitting during a first predetermined period, so that information can be transmitted to at least some devices which are not reachable using lower transmission power levels. The high transmission power level used during the first predetermined period of time exceeds a maximum average permitted power level permitted for a second predetermined period of time. In some embodiments a device refrains from transmitting for a period of time after transmitting at the high transmission power level. In some embodiments the device transmits at a lower transmission power level during a third period of time following the first period of time. | 01-27-2011 |
20110075639 | UPLINK ACCESS REQUEST IN AN OFDM COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT - The claimed subject matter relates to acquiring channel access in a wireless communication environment. A wireless terminal may transmit first and second sets of tones over respective first and second contiguous transmission periods. The first and second tone sets may be disjoint from each other and may each comprise a number of contiguous tones. The terminal may then refrain from transmitting during a third time period in order to receive a grant signal from a base station in response to the access request. The beginnings of the first time period and the second time period may be a function of a determined uplink transmission time. | 03-31-2011 |
20110085453 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND TRANSMITTING PILOTS - Sets of communications resources, e.g., sets of peer discovery resources, in a peer to peer communications system may be use concurrently by multiple transmitting devices. The communications system supports a plurality of different pilot sequences. Multiple transmitting devices may transmit their signals on the same set of communications resources, but with different pilot sequences. This approach allows receiving devices to distinguish between multiple signal sources, e.g., wireless terminals, using a shared communications resource. A wireless communications device monitors a plurality of different sets of communications resources and selects, e.g., based on received energy levels, a set of communications resources from said plurality of different sets of communications resources to use for communication. The communications device further selects one of a plurality of different pilot sequences to use for said communication and transmits pilot signals using the selected pilot sequence and at least a portion of the selected set of communications resources. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085455 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CHANNEL UTILIZATION - Methods and apparatus for determining a portion of a channel, e.g., a peer discovery channel, to use in a communications network, e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer network, are described. In the communication network, the channel includes a recurring set of time/frequency resources. A device monitors the congestion level and decides to use a whole channel or a fraction of a channel (e.g., ½. ¼) as a function of the congestion level. The device may change the fraction of the channel it occupies as the congestion level changes. The device broadcasts control information indicating the fraction of the channel it occupies. The device may be a mobile wireless terminal. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085620 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION USING NON-COHERENT AND COHERENT MODULATION - Non-coherent modulation is used to communicate coding information via pilot signals using a first subset of resources, and coherent modulation is used to generate data signals. This allows for a stronger global code while keeping individual signaling complexity low. First and second communications devices communicate information using a set of communications resources. By performing non-coherent demodulation on pilot signals received on a first subset of said set of communications resources coding information is recovered. First and second channel estimates are generated from the pilot signals received on the first subset of said communications resources. Coherent demodulation is performed on data signals received on a second subset of said set of communications resources using said first and second channel estimates and said coding information to recover information communicated by said first communications device and to recover separate information communicated by said second communications device. | 04-14-2011 |
20110086664 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SCALING TRANSMIT POWER OF SIGNALS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - Methods and apparatus of varying transmit power of signals for increasing system throughput and spectral reuse in an unlicensed spectrum are disclosed. One method includes transmitting from a first mobile device to a second mobile device a request to send (RTS) signal having a first transmit data power level based on a channel gain between the first mobile device and the second mobile device, receiving, at the first mobile device, a clear to send (CTS) signal from the second mobile device, and transmitting data at the first transmit data power level from the first mobile device to the second mobile device. | 04-14-2011 |
20110086679 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SCALING TRANSMIT POWER OF SIGNALS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - Methods and apparatus of varying transmit power of signals for increasing system throughput and spectral reuse in an unlicensed spectrum are disclosed. One method includes transmitting from a first mobile device to a second mobile device a request to send (RTS) signal having a first transmit data power level based on a channel gain between the first mobile device and the second mobile device, receiving, at the first mobile device, a clear to send (CTS) signal from the second mobile device, and transmitting data at the first transmit data power level from the first mobile device to the second mobile device. | 04-14-2011 |
20110087768 | CODING METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR BROADCAST CHANNELS - Methods and apparatus related to selecting and/or using different coding methods for a broadcast channel are described. The coding method to be used is selected as a function of an estimated level of congestion. Various methods and apparatus are well suited for use in peer to peer wireless communications systems including broadcast peer discovery channels. A wireless communications device, e.g., a mobile terminal supporting peer to peer signaling, detects peer discovery signals from other devices and estimates a level of congestion. The wireless communications device selects one of a plurality of alternative coding methods as a function of the estimated level of congestion. Two different coding methods which may be used, in some embodiments, vary in at least one of: coding rate, convolution code used, and amount of resources used. The wireless device transmits information indicating the selected coding method and coded peer discovery data in accordance with the selected coding method. | 04-14-2011 |
20110142150 | USER SPECIFIC DOWNLINK POWER CONTROL CHANNEL Q-BIT - Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate controlling transmission power of a wireless terminal. A downlink power control channel segment may include an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) tone-symbol that may comprise a first component and a second component. The first component may be an in-phase (I) component and the second component may be a quadrature (Q) component, for example. A power command may be transmitted in the first component. Further, information associated with a wireless terminal may be transmitted in the second component. The information associated with the wireless terminal may be, for instance, a portion of a scrambling mask associated with the wireless terminal. | 06-16-2011 |
20110149799 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING MULTI-HOP PEER DISCOVERY IN PEER-TO-PEER WIRELESS NETWORKS - Methods and apparatus for supporting multi-hop peer discovery in peer-to-peer wireless networks are disclosed. One method supports multi-hop peer discovery using a first peer having a first unique identification code. The method includes decoding a second peer discovery signal to obtain a second unique identification code and a second local identification code of a second peer received during a peer-to-peer discovery channel, determining whether to select the second peer based on a predetermined criterion; and transmitting a first peer discovery signal having the first unique identification code, the second local identification code and a hop count when the predetermined criterion is satisfied. | 06-23-2011 |
20110170431 | MITIGATION OF INTERFERENCE DUE TO PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATION - Techniques for mitigating interference due to peer-to-peer (P2P) communication are described. In an aspect, a P2P UE may measure the signal strength of downlink signals from base stations and may set its transmit power based on (e.g., proportional to) the measured signal strength in order to mitigate interference to WWAN UEs communicating with base stations. In another aspect, the P2P UE may measure the signal strength of uplink signals from WWAN UEs and may set its transmit power based on (e.g., inversely proportional to) the measured signal strength in order to mitigate interference to the WWAN UEs. In one design, the P2P UE may measure the signal strength of an uplink signal from a WWAN UE, estimate the pathloss between the two UEs based on the measured signal strength, and determine its transmit power based on the estimated pathloss. | 07-14-2011 |
20110170465 | TIMING SYNCHRONIZATION METHODS AND APPARATUS - Various methods and apparatus are directed to achieving timing synchronization and propagating timing information pertaining to an external, e.g., non Wi-Fi, timing signal source. In some embodiments, a mobile communications device receives and processes a timing signal, e.g., a first Wi-Fi beacon, which is propagating timing information about an external timing signal from a device which directly received the external timing signal. Thus, a mobile wireless communications device achieves timing synchronization with respect to an external timing signal which it is unable to receive directly. In various embodiments, the mobile communications device may, and sometimes does, further propagate the timing information about the external timing signal, e.g., via a second Wi-Fi beacon signal which it generates and transmits. Synchronization with respect to an external signal source facilitates longer sleep states and decreased power consumption. | 07-14-2011 |
20110205887 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION USING VARIOUS TRANSMISSION POWER LEVELS - A wireless communications device supports a constant transmission power mode of operation and a time varying transmission power mode of operation for transmitting data, e.g., peer discovery data. The device determines an amount of network congestion and switches between the two modes of operation as a function of the determined amount of network congestion. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in a peer to peer ad hoc wireless communications system in which a limited amount of air link resources are available for peer discovery signaling and the same peer discovery resources are, at times, used concurrently by multiple devices. When network congestion is low, the device operates in the constant transmission power mode. When network congestion is high, the device operates in the time varying power mode. Devices sharing a common peer discovery resource in a local area intentionally select different time varying transmission patterns. | 08-25-2011 |
20110216657 | METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATED TO SIGNALING REQUEST TO TRANSMIT TRAFFIC IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - Methods and apparatus related to the communication of traffic in peer to peer communications are described. A peer to peer communications system includes traffic slots, and for a pair of devices (first and second) having a connection a first transmission request resource and a second transmission request resource are associated with a traffic transmission interval of the traffic slot, the first request resource preceding the second request resource. The first device can utilize the first resource to transmit a request to transmit traffic to the second device, and when it does, it also uses the second resource to transmit additional information corresponding to the request and/or traffic. If the second device doesn't detect a request on the first resource, then it can use the second resource to transmit a request to first device to transmit traffic to the first device. | 09-08-2011 |
20110222515 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN GROUPS OF DEVICES - Methods and apparatus related to supporting rapid synchronization between groups of wireless communications devices are described. Described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in peer to peer wireless communications systems in which a plurality of ad hoc peer to peer networks may be formed, each ad hoc network operating with its own notion of time. As two groups of devices, having different notions of time, come within proximity of one another, a wireless communications device of a first group detects the presence of a member of a second group. The wireless device determines that network timing re-synchronization is to be performed by one of the first and second groups and transmits a re-synchronization alert signal on a dedicated resource. Subsequently, the wireless device transmits a timing synchronization signal in accordance with new timing. Intended devices, which detect the alert signal and timing synchronization signal, adjust their internal timing. | 09-15-2011 |
20110228691 | METHODS AND APPARTUS FOR CONTROLLING INTERFERENCE TO BROADCAST SIGNALING IN A PEER TO PEER NETWORK - Methods and apparatus related to broadcasting data and interference management in a peer to peer wireless communications network are described. Scheduling of traffic air link resources is performed on a slot by slot basis in a decentralized manner. Wireless devices intending to broadcast traffic signals transmit broadcast request signals, sometimes alternatively referred to as broadcast indicator signals. A priority level is associated with each of the broadcast request signals. A receiver device intending to receive broadcast signals detects the broadcast request signals and makes an interference determination as to whether the higher priority broadcast traffic signal can be successfully recovered in the presence of lower priority broadcast traffic signals. If the determination is that the expected interference from the lower priority broadcast traffic is unacceptable, the receiver device generates and transmits an interference control signal communicating to the lower priority device a command or request not to broadcast. | 09-22-2011 |
20110244893 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PAGING IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS - Paging congestion control in a wireless communications system is described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in a peer to peer wireless communications system, e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer wireless network in which decisions are made in a decentralized manner. Wireless terminals, e.g., mobile nodes, monitor other paging activities going on and make back-off, e.g., yielding, decisions with regard to paging based on the results of the monitoring. During a first time interval paging indicator signals are transmitted on paging indicator resources by devices intending to transmit paging signals. During a second time interval paging signals are transmitted on paging signaling resources. Monitored and processed detected paging indicator signals are used by a wireless terminal in deciding whether or not to transmit a paging indicator signal and/or a paging signal. | 10-06-2011 |
20110244899 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A COMMUNICATIONS MODE AND/OR USING A DETERMINED COMMUNICATIONS MODE - Methods and apparatus for determining a mode of wireless communications to be used by a wireless terminal, e.g., a direct communications mode or an infrastructure communications mode are described. In some embodiments, the mode to be used is determined by a control node based on interference which will be caused to the system taking into consideration at least an area, e.g., cell, in which the wireless terminal seeking to communicate is not located. System interference cost estimates for each mode under consideration are generated and compared. Interference cost estimates may, and do, correspond to different frequency bands when the direct mode uses a different frequency band than the infrastructure communications mode. Separate interference cost estimates and mode determinations are made for different communications directions in some embodiments. The determined mode to be used is communicated to the devices seeking to communicate, e.g., via one or more base stations. | 10-06-2011 |
20110249631 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CHANNEL SELECTION IN A PEER TO PEER NETWORK - Various embodiments relate to using available spectrum for peer to peer communications and for selecting which of several possibly available channels should be used. Various methods and apparatus are well suited to peer to peer networks in which channel usage decisions are made in a decentralized manner. A wireless terminal generates a list of potential available channels to be used for peer to peer communications, e.g., based on FCC information and/or local sensing. Channels are filled in accordance with a predetermined channel ordering. A wireless terminal migrates between the channels in accordance with changes in the number of peer devices using a channel. The network, in a distributed manner, changes the number of channels in use at a location in response to changes in numbers of active peer devices at a location. | 10-13-2011 |
20110250916 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AND ASSIGNING SPECTRUM FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - Methods and apparatus for determining band availability and/or allocating one or more frequency bands to a communications device for wireless communications are described. In different locations and/or at different times different frequency bands, e.g., band corresponding to unused TV channels, may be available for allocation. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for supporting local peer to peer networks in an environment in which a plurality of different technologies are supported. A centralized control device determines and allocates a frequency band to a wireless terminal for use at a given location and at a given time, e.g., for peer to peer communications using a particular technology supported by the wireless terminal. The centralized control device uses database information and information received from a plurality of wireless terminals in making frequency band allocation decisions, performing load balancing, and/or performing interference management. | 10-13-2011 |
20110292884 | METHODS AND APPARATUS SUPPORTING LOAD BALANCING IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus supporting load balancing in a wireless communications system implementing decentralized control are described. Different channels, e.g., unused TV channels, are available in different locations for use for communications. Various communications technologies, e.g., WiFi, 3G Blue-Tooth, etc., may be supported by a communications device and may be allowed to be used on the available channels. A wireless communications device evaluates its current local environment, e.g., estimating potential rates that it may use and/or estimating latency, for each of a plurality of available alternative channel/technology combinations. The wireless communications device selects a channel and technology combination to use as a function of its estimates. The wireless communications device uses its selected channel and technology combination for communications, e.g., for peer to peer communications including direct peer to peer traffic signaling as part of a local peer to peer network. | 12-01-2011 |
20110305208 | METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATED TO CONTROLLING ACCESS TO COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES - Various methods and apparatus relate to controlling access to communications resources in a wireless communications system. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in a peer to peer network in which resource access control is implemented in a distributed manner and wireless terminals compete for communications resources, e.g., compete for a peer to peer traffic segment. A wireless terminal generates QoS tokens within said wireless terminal at a rate which is a function of a QoS level associated with the wireless terminal and uses a generated token to control access to a communications resource. Generated tokens within the wireless terminal may be shared among the applications of the wireless terminal. | 12-15-2011 |
20110310879 | OPPORTUNISTIC UPLINK SCHEDULING - Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate scheduling uplink transmissions. For instance, a time sharing scheme can be utilized such that differing mobile devices can be scheduled to transmit during differing time slots; however, it is also contemplated that a static scheme can be employed. Pursuant to an illustration, an interference budget can be combined with a time varying weighting factor associated with a base station; the weighting factor can be predefined and/or adaptively adjusted (e.g., based upon a load balancing mechanism). Moreover, the weighted interference budget can be leveraged for selecting mobile devices for uplink transmission (e.g., based at least in part upon path loss ratios of the mobile devices). Further, disparate interference budgets can be utilized by differing channels of a sector at a particular time. Also, for example, a base station can assign a loading factor to be utilized by wireless terminal(s) for generating channel quality report(s). | 12-22-2011 |
20110310882 | OFDM CONTROL SIGNALING IN THE PRESENCE OF TIMING ASYNCHRONIZATION IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - Systems and methodologies are described that facilitates mitigating the affects of asynchronous behavior when transmitting a data signal. According to various aspects, the system and methods are employed for selectively appending an appropriate time-shifting mechanism to a data signal in order to rectify the negative affects of asynchronous time behavior during a logical data burst. | 12-22-2011 |
20110319114 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING AND/OR IMPLEMENTING CONTROL CHANNELS IN WHITE SPACE - Methods and apparatus related to control channels in a wireless communications system are described. Different white space bands may be available at different locations. A wireless terminal monitors control information from multiple potentially available communications channels. Control time slots corresponding to some different channels are intentionally time offset from one another. Some embodiments implement predetermined control slot timing synchronized with respect to an external timing source. In other embodiments, a wireless terminal selects a control time slot on a new channel as a function of control slot timing on channels already in use. A wireless terminal selects one of a plurality of communications channels for use in communicating information and determines a position of a control time slot to be used on the selected communications channels. The wireless terminal uses the control time slot on the selected communications channel to transmit and receive control information. | 12-29-2011 |
20120008570 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLEXING OR TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING IN WIRELESS PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS - A method of operating a wireless device includes determining a preferred subset of bands of a set of bands for communicating with a first node, communicating a scheduling request with the first node, and determining whether to schedule a data transmission on each band of the set of bands based on the preferred subset of bands and the scheduling request. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008571 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION AND RESOLUTION OF RESOURCE COLLISION IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - A method of operating a wireless device includes selecting a connection identifier with a first node, receiving a scheduling control signal on a resource associated with the connection identifier, and determining a presence of a second node transmitting on the same resource associated with the connection identifier based on the received scheduling control signal. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008618 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TIMING SYNCHRONIZATION USING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT TIMING SIGNAL SOURCES - A wireless terminal detects timing signals from different local timing signal sources. The wireless terminal selects from the plurality of detected timing signal sources two timing signal sources in accordance with a predetermined timing signal source priority ordering. In some embodiments, the wireless terminal intentionally selects two timing signal sources which are not synchronized with respect to one another. The wireless terminal determines a first set of peer communications time intervals corresponding to a first selected timing signal source and a second set of peer communications time intervals corresponding to a second selected timing signal source. The wireless terminal transmits a peer to peer signal, e.g., a peer discovery signal, during at least one of the first set of peer communications time intervals. The wireless terminal transmits a peer to peer signal, e.g., a peer discovery signal, during at least one of the second set of peer communications time intervals. | 01-12-2012 |
20120014463 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND USING COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus for determining, e.g., selecting, communications resources, e.g., tones, to use in a communications system are described. The methods are well suited for use in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Devices seeking to transmit information select tones in pairs for use in transmitting the information. Each tone pair includes a tone and the corresponding image tone. By restricting a communications device to select communications frequencies in pairs, the problem of interference and reduced dynamic range at a receiver due to IQ imbalance is reduced, as compared to the case where devices may use a tone independent of the corresponding image tone for transmission purposes, since the path loss from the transmitter to the receiver is likely to be the same for both tones and the transmission power level is controlled by an individual device using both of the tones. | 01-19-2012 |
20120014471 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZING INTER-SYMBOL INTERFERENCE IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK BACKGROUND - The methods and apparatus described herein are used to operate a wireless device. One method of operating a wireless device includes filtering a first set of digital samples using a first filter at a first time to generate a first signal, transmitting the first signal, filtering a second set of digital samples using a second filter at a second time to generate a second signal, and transmitting the second signal. In one embodiment, an apparatus for operating a wireless device includes a processor configured to filter, at a first wireless device, a first set of digital samples using a first filter at a first time to generate a first signal, transmit, from the first wireless device, the first signal, and filter, at the first wireless device, a second set of digital samples using a second filter at a second time to generate a second signal. | 01-19-2012 |
20120015678 | METHODS AND APPARATUS OF TRANSMISSION POWER CONTROL IN THE PRESENCE OF INTERFERENCE - A method of operating a wireless device is provided in which an interference level on a resource is determined. In addition, a signal is transmitted on the resource with a first power when the interference level is low. The first power is such that the signal is received with a first SNR. Furthermore, the signal is transmitted on the resource with a second power when the interference level is high. The second power is such that the signal is received with a second SNR less than the first SNR. | 01-19-2012 |
20120020234 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN PEER TO PEER COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES AND/OR SYSTEMS RELATING TO RATE SCHEDULING, TRAFFIC SCHEDULING, RATE CONTROL, AND/OR POWER CONTROL - Methods and apparatus related to peer to peer communication networks are described. Embodiments directed to methods and apparatus for establishing traffic data transmission rates and/or transmission power levels between wireless terminals is described. Embodiments direct to methods and apparatus of making decisions whether or not to transmit as a function of the received power of the received response signals are also described. Transmission of pilot signals after granting of a transmission request and a decision to transmit traffic data has been made occurs in some embodiments. Rate information to be used in determining a traffic rate may be received in response to the pilot signal from a peer to peer (P2P) device. | 01-26-2012 |
20120034921 | Expedited Handoff - Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate handing off from a first sector to a second sector. An established link to the first sector may be employed to communicate with the second sector. A handoff request from a wireless terminal to the second sector and an associated handoff response from the second sector to the wireless terminal may both traverse the first sector. | 02-09-2012 |
20120057475 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PERFORM JAMMING BASED ON SIGNAL AND INTERFERENCE IN PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided in which a signal is received on a resource, a signal quality of the signal is determined, a signal energy of the signal is determined, and the resource is jammed based on the signal quality and the signal energy by transmitting a signal on the resource. | 03-08-2012 |
20120057646 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING AND TRANSMITTING MOBILE DEVICE LOCATION INFORMATION - Methods and apparatus for communicating the location of a mobile wireless communications device are described. Codewords, e.g., values or sets of bits, are selected from a codebook mapping different codewords to corresponding pieces of location information. In a first approach location information is communicated by using codewords from different codebooks with the product, e.g., intersection of location information provided by the codewords, providing relatively detailed location information using relatively few bits. In a second approach user specific codebooks are defined for individual users. The codewords in the codebook corresponding to a particular user map to locations the individual specific user is likely to frequent. In another approach codewords are transmitted at different power levels and/or using different coding rates. Received codewords corresponding to a device may be used in combination to determine the location or refine the understanding of the device location. | 03-08-2012 |
20120058745 | ADVERTISING METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus related to communicating advertisements and/or service announcements to devices in a communications system are described. In various embodiments mobile devices are used as mobile advertisement transmission platforms. Advertisements may be downloaded to the wireless communications device along with transmission constraints. Transmission of an advertisement is made when a transmission constraint, e.g., target audience constraint is satisfied. The wireless terminal may change its transmission frequency, coding rate and/or other transmission characteristics to satisfy a transmission constraint and/or optimize revenue. The mobile device reports advertisements transmissions to a network device, e.g., advertisement server and the owner of the device is compensated for the transmissions. Transmission constraints may involve a number of devices to be reached, the type of devices to be reached, and/or other constraints relating to the demographics of device users. Information may be obtained from peer discovery signals and used to determine if a constraint is satisfied. | 03-08-2012 |
20120059935 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO SELECT AND TO RESELECT A RESOURCE FOR PEER DISCOVERY IN PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided in which signals are received on each of a plurality of resources and an energy of each of the signals of a set of the plurality of resources is determined. In addition, a resource is determined based on a probability for each of the resources in a subset of the set. The probability for selecting a resource with a lower determined energy is less than one and greater than the probability for selecting a resource with a higher determined energy. Furthermore, a signal is transmitted on the selected resource. | 03-08-2012 |
20120082039 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING DIRECTIONAL INFORMATION FOR PEER DISCOVERY IN PEER-TO-PEER WIRELESS NETWORKS - Methods and apparatus for operating a local device to discover proximal information is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal from a remote device, determining an identification and a relative bearing of the remote device based on the signal and displaying the identification and the relative bearing of the remote device. The apparatus for operating a local device to discover proximal information includes a processor configured to receive a signal from a remote device and determine an identification and a relative bearing of the remote device based on the signal and a display coupled to the processor, the display configured to display the identification and the relative bearing of the remote device. | 04-05-2012 |
20120087253 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR PEER-TO-PEER DATA IN NON PEER-TO-PEER RESOURCES - A method of operating a wireless device includes communicating in one of peer-to-peer data resources or non peer-to-peer resources. The peer-to-peer data resources include a first set of peer-to-peer resources with a first bandwidth and a second set of peer-to-peer resources with a second bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth. The first set of peer-to-peer resources is parallel in time with the non peer-to-peer resources. In addition, the method includes estimating a signal quality for a data transmission on the peer-to-peer data resources. Furthermore, the method includes determining whether to send the data transmission in one of the first set of peer-to-peer resources or the second set of peer-to-peer resources based on the estimated signal quality. | 04-12-2012 |
20120087347 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR JOINT SCHEDULING OF PEER-TO-PEER LINKS AND WIRELESS WIDE AREA NETWORK LINKS IN CELLULAR NETWORKS - A wireless device, a method, and a computer program product in a wireless device are provided in which a scheduling control signal is received in peer-to-peer resources. In addition, whether to yield a data transmission is determined based on the received scheduling control signal. Furthermore, the data transmission is sent to a base station on the peer-to-peer resources upon determining not to yield the data transmission. A base station, a method, and a computer program product in a base station are also provided in which a scheduling control signal is received in peer-to-peer resources. In addition, whether to yield a data transmission is determined based on the received scheduling control signal. Furthermore, the data transmission is sent to a wireless device on the peer-to-peer resources upon determining not to yield the data transmission. | 04-12-2012 |
20120088450 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING COMMUNICATION OVER DIFFERENT RANGES IN A WIRELESS NETWORK - Methods and apparatus well suited for supporting communications over different ranges in, for example, a peer to peer wireless communications system, are described. In the peer to peer network at least some of the types of signals, e.g., peer discovery signals and/or paging signals, are transmitted with no closed loop power control. An exemplary peer to peer timing structure includes air link resources allocated for a particular type of signaling in which the resources are segmented into multiple blocks which do not overlap in time, different ones of the multiple blocks being associated with different ranges. The characteristics of the basic transmission units of the multiple blocks based on range are different, e.g., tone size and symbol width are different. A wireless communications device implements the peer to peer timing structure and uses resources from different range based blocks at different times. Data traffic transmission units may be the same regardless of the range. | 04-12-2012 |
20120089682 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING SHARING OF PRIVILEGES IN A PEER TO PEER SYSTEM - Various methods and apparatus relate to sharing QoS privileges between devices having a higher service level subscription and devices having lower service level subscription. QoS privileges are associated with a QoS service level which is in turn tied to devices, e.g., based on a service level subscription of the device. Devices with higher service level subscription are entitled to superior QoS privileges than the devices with lower service level subscription. In various embodiments a first device with higher QoS service level provides, to a second device having lower QoS service level, information used to obtain a QoS privilege to which the first device is entitled. Thus the second device entitled to lower QoS privileges is provided with the superior QoS privileges on a limited basis, e.g., for communicating with the first device corresponding to the higher QoS service level. | 04-12-2012 |
20120106751 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS MICROPHONE SYNCHRONIZATION - Methods and apparatus related to timing synchronization used in a wireless microphone system to reduce and/or minimize interference are described. A wireless microphone receiver in some embodiments performs open loop timing control based on signals from an adjacent wireless microphone receiver and participates in closed loop timing control of wireless microphone transmitters which communicate with the particular wireless microphone receiver. The closed loop timing control includes instructing individual wireless microphone transmitters to advance or retard their symbol timing so that symbols transmitted by different wireless microphone transmitters are received in a synchronized manner at the wireless microphone receiver. The closed loop timing control allows a wireless microphone receiver to control wireless microphone transmitters to take into consideration their different distances to the receiver and the differing transmission times associated with the wireless microphone transmitters at different locations. | 05-03-2012 |
20120108282 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR POWER CONTROL AND INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT IN WIRELESS MICROPHONE TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - A wireless microphone receiver is used to control transmission power and/or channel configuration of wireless microphones which communicate audio data to the wireless microphone receiver. In some embodiments the wireless microphone receiver searches for available channels, e.g., on a periodic or other basis. Based on wireless microphone receiver loading and interference considerations, channel availability may be determined and channel assignments are made. In some embodiments channel assignments are made based on wireless microphone battery status. Channel assignments to wireless microphones are communicated via a control channel. In addition to channel assignments, wireless microphone transmitter power can be controlled by the wireless microphone receiver. Commands to increase or decrease transmission power may occur as channel conditions change and/or on a recurring periodic basis. The rate of power control transmission may be relatively infrequent, e.g., a second apart in some embodiments, given that wireless microphones tend to be relatively stationary during use. | 05-03-2012 |
20120114134 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROL AND TRAFFIC SIGNALING IN WIRELESS MICROPHONE TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - Methods and apparatus for controlling the communications between a wireless microphone receiver and one or more wireless microphone transmitters are described. In accordance with some embodiments a common control channel is used for communicating control signals between the wireless microphone receiver and one or more wireless microphone transmitters, while separate audio data channels are used to carry audio data traffic from each individual wireless microphone transmitter to the microphone receiver. In accordance with some other embodiment, a time division approach is used in which there are microphone transmit time periods and control signaling time periods. During the microphone transmit time periods, wireless microphone transmitters transmit audio data signals and, in some embodiment, control signals, to the wireless microphone receiver using separate frequency subbands within a frequency band. During control signaling time periods, the wireless microphone receiver transmits a control signal to a wireless microphone transmitter using the frequency band. | 05-10-2012 |
20120117155 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS TO SUPPORT PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATIONS IN CELLULAR NETWORKS - A method of operating a wireless device associated with a first cell includes receiving information on a first set of resources for intracell peer-to-peer communication and on a second set of resources for intercell peer-to-peer communication. In addition, the method includes utilizing at least one of the first set of resources to communicate with a second wireless device within the first cell or the second set of resources to communicate with the second wireless device within a second cell based on the received information. | 05-10-2012 |
20120124231 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING SWITCHING BETWEEN RESOURCES AND/OR COMMUNICATING RESOURCE CHANGE INFORMATION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus for controlling switching between resources and/or communicating resource change information in a wireless communications system are described. Various methods and apparatus are well suited for use in a decentralized wireless communications network, such as a decentralized peer to peer wireless network, where an individual communications device self allocates resources and makes resource switching decisions. A first communications device may decide that there is a need to switch from the first communications resource corresponding to a first identifier to a second communications resource corresponding to a second identifier, e.g., because of interference. The first communications device generates and transmits a broadcast change signal indicating a change from the first communications resource associated with the first identifier to a second communications resource associated with the second identifier. In some embodiments, the resource change signal is transmitted on at least one of the first and second communications resources. | 05-17-2012 |
20120134456 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR SYNCHRONIZATION OF WIRELESS DEVICES IN WIRELESS NETWORKS - To maintain a synchronized wireless peer group, timing signals may be periodically transmitted by one or more devices in the wireless peer group. These periodic timing signals may be transmitted by different wireless devices in the peer group, distributing (sharing) the transmit power burden among the different wireless devices, increasing the useful operation time of the individual wireless devices. Similarly, the wireless peer group may monitor for timing signals received from devices that are not part of the wireless peer group. This monitoring burden may also be distributed (shared) among the devices in the peer group allowing for a greater sleep time for individual wireless devices, increasing the useful operation time of the individual wireless devices. | 05-31-2012 |
20120147745 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION OF RESOURCE COLLISION IN WIRELESS PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATION NETWORKS - A method of operating a wireless device includes selecting a CID with a first node and receiving a signal including an LID on a resource. At least one of the signal or the resource is based on the selected CID. The method further includes determining a presence of a second node using the selected CID based on the LID in the received signal. Another method of operating a wireless device includes selecting a CID with a first node and sending a signal including an LID on a resource. At least one of the signal or the resource is based on the selected CID. | 06-14-2012 |
20120147823 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SCHEDULING OF PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATION IN A WIRELESS WIDE AREA NETWORK SPECTRUM - A method of wireless communication includes determining peer-to-peer scheduling resources. The peer-to-peer scheduling resources are parallel in time to and multiplexed with non peer-to-peer resources. The peer-to-peer scheduling resources include a plurality of serial scheduling resource segments. Each of the serial scheduling resource segments provides contention resolution for a set of peer-to-peer links. In addition, the method includes communicating in one of the serial scheduling resource segments and/or the non peer-to-peer resources. | 06-14-2012 |
20120182890 | ADAPTIVE PEER DISCOVERY BASED ON NON PEER DISCOVERY TRANSMISSIONS AND DEVICE DENSITY FOR WI-FI - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided in which a number of wireless devices communicating peer discovery information are estimated. In addition, a transmission time period for transmitting peer discovery information is determined based on the estimated number of wireless devices. | 07-19-2012 |
20120182907 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING PEER TO PEER COMMUNICATIONS - A wireless communications system supports both cellular communications and direct peer to peer communications. The cellular communications use FDD downlink and uplink bands for control and traffic signaling. An access point employs control over direct peer to peer communications. Peer to peer mode control signals from the access point are transmitted to wireless terminals using the FDD cellular downlink band. Peer to peer mode control signals from wireless terminals are transmitted to an access point using the FDD cellular uplink band. Peer to peer traffic signals between wireless terminals are communicated using a TDD band. In one embodiment, the access point communicates priority information to peer to peer network wireless terminals, and the wireless terminals make peer to peer traffic transmission decisions in a decentralized manner using the received priority information. In another embodiment, the access point directly schedules peer to peer traffic in the peer to peer network. | 07-19-2012 |
20120182962 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SCHEDULING PEER TO PEER TRAFFIC IN CELLULAR NETWORKS - A wireless terminal receives peer to peer resource control information from a base station. The peer to peer resource control information is used by the wireless terminal in a peer to peer network to control transmission scheduling and/or resource utilization. The base station sends the control signals at a first rate which is slower than the rate at which wireless terminals make transmission decisions for traffic slots. During the intervals between receipt of the base station control signals, wireless terminals make transmission decisions with regard to multiple traffic segments. The decisions are also influenced based on peer to peer signaling occurring between the wireless terminals in the network for each traffic slot. Resource utilization feedback information is provided from the wireless terminal to the base station. Based on the feedback information the base station updates the resource utilization control information and sends updated resource utilization control signals to the wireless terminals. | 07-19-2012 |
20120184286 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE DEVICE LOCATION DETERMINATION - Methods and apparatus for resolving an ambiguity with regard to a mobile device's location are described. In various embodiments, when a level of ambiguity with regard to the location of a mobile device is detected, and the level of ambiguity is above a threshold, an ambiguity resolution request signal is generated and transmitted. In this manner, a wireless terminal needing help in determining its location reliably may request such help but at other times may determine its own location without assistance. In some embodiments the ambiguity resolution request signal includes information, e.g., location probabilities, on one or more locations which are under consideration as possible locations of the mobile device. A device responding to the ambiguity resolution request provides information allowing the mobile device confronted with a location ambiguity to eliminate at least on location under consideration or to generate a new probability for one or more locations under consideration. | 07-19-2012 |
20120185583 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING RELAYING OF PEER DISCOVERY SIGNALS - A method of operating a first wireless device includes receiving a peer discovery signal from a second wireless device on a first resource in a set of resources associated with a particular identifier. In addition, the method includes determining whether to relay the peer discovery signal. Furthermore, the method includes sending the peer discovery signal on a second resource in the set of resources upon determining to relay the peer discovery signal. The second resource is associated with the particular identifier and is the same resource on which the peer discovery signal is sent by the second wireless device. | 07-19-2012 |
20120185605 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AND/OR USING A COMMUNICATIONS MODE - Methods and apparatus for determining whether two or more communications devices, e.g., wireless terminals, in a communications system should communicate using direct peer to peer communications or via one or more infrastructure elements, e.g., base stations, are described. The determination whether a given pair of communications devices should communicate using direct peer to peer communications, rather than via the infrastructure element(s), is determined by a control device. The control device instructs various wireless terminals to make various signal measurements and/or transmit signals to be measured. Based on the signal measurements the control device estimates interference caused by the direct peer to peer link to the existing communications devices, the direct peer to peer link channel quality and/or interference caused to such a direct peer to peer link by existing communications devices which are communicating using peer to peer signaling and makes a mode decision based on such information. | 07-19-2012 |
20120191966 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING THE DUTY CYCLE OF MOBILE DEVICE DISCOVERY BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION - A method of operating a wireless device includes adjusting at least one duty cycle at which peer discovery signals are sent or received based on environmental information of an environment of the wireless device. In addition, the method includes sending or receiving the peer discovery signals in time based on the at least one duty cycle. | 07-26-2012 |
20120249372 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TRIGGERING COOPERATIVE POSITIONING OR LEARNING IN A WIRELESS NETWORK - One or more bits are used in peer discovery signals to signal a device's ability and/or willingness to participate in a cooperative manner with regard to one or more mobile device location determination related operations. In some embodiments, the one or more bits are located at predetermined locations within a header portion of a peer discovery signal. Different bits, in some embodiments, are associated with different specific cooperative location determination related operations. The peer discovery signal is transmitted, e.g., broadcast, periodically or on some predetermined basis by a mobile wireless communications device. In this manner, a device listening to the peer discovery signals can determine other devices' willingness to perform particular location discovery related operations with very little signaling overhead. | 10-04-2012 |
20120250531 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RELAYING PEER DISCOVERY INFORMATION IN WWAN - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided in which a peer discovery signal is received from a second apparatus. At least one of a path loss to a serving base station or a path loss to a neighboring base station is determined. Whether to relay the peer discovery signal is determined based on the at least one of the path loss to the serving base station or the path loss to the neighboring base station. The peer discovery signal is sent upon determining to relay the peer discovery signal. | 10-04-2012 |
20120252510 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSIGNING RESOURCES TO SCHEDULE PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATIONS IN WWAN - A method of operating a wireless device includes determining an energy on each of a plurality of resources for broadcasting CIDs, sending information to a base station based on the determined energy for each of the CIDs, and receiving a CID from the base station. The received CID is one of the CIDs determined based on the information. A method of wireless communication includes receiving first information about a first plurality of CIDs from a first wireless device, receiving second information about a second plurality of CIDs from a second wireless device, comparing the first information and the second information to determine a subset of CIDs based on the first plurality of CIDs and the second plurality of CIDs, selecting a CID based on the subset of CIDs, and sending the selected CID to at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device. | 10-04-2012 |
20120263249 | MITIGATING INTERFERENCE IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Aspects relate to mitigating interference in a communication network that does not employ a centralized scheduler. A transmission sent on a subset of resources is evaluated to determine a number of communication pairs that have selected that subset of resources on which to transmit. If there are a large number of communication pairs transmitting on that subset, the transmission is ignored by a receiving device. The number of degrees of freedom that contain energy on the subset is evaluated to determine if an expected number of degrees of freedom that should have energy is met or exceeded. If the expected threshold number is met or exceed, the transmission is decoded by the receiving device, else the transmission is not decoded. | 10-18-2012 |
20120269072 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING INTERFERENCE FROM PEER DISCOVERY IN WWAN - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided in which at least one of a peer-to-peer transmit power or a peer-to-peer duty cycle is adjusted based on at least one of a path loss to a serving base station or a path loss to at least one neighboring base station. In addition, a peer-to-peer signal is sent with the peer-to-peer transmit power or the peer-to-peer duty cycle. | 10-25-2012 |
20120269115 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTIVE RESOURCE MULTIPLEXING IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - A method of wireless communication includes determining resources available for peer discovery. The resources include first peer discovery resources with a first time interval and second peer discovery resources with a second time interval less than the first time interval. The method further includes communicating peer discovery signals through a first subset of peer discovery resources of the first peer discovery resources and a second subset of peer discovery resources of the second peer discovery resources. The second subset of peer discovery resources includes less resource elements than the first subset of peer discovery resources. | 10-25-2012 |
20120269178 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TIMING SYNCHRONIZATION FOR PEER TO PEER DEVICES OPERATING IN WWAN SPECTRUM - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided in which a clock timing is determined for utilizing resources including peer-to-peer resources based on a WWAN downlink receive timing and a WWAN uplink transmit timing. In addition, the clock timing is utilized for peer-to-peer communication with the peer-to-peer resources. | 10-25-2012 |
20120269250 | PEER DISCOVERY IN A WIRELESS WIDE AREA NETWORK SYSTEM - A method of wireless communication of a wireless device includes receiving a signal indicating WWAN resources that can be utilized for communicating peer discovery signals. In addition, the method includes communicating an OFDM peer discovery signal in the WWAN resources. A method of wireless communication of a base station includes transmitting a signal to a wireless device indicating WWAN resources dedicated for a silence interval that can be utilized for communicating peer discovery signals. The WWAN resources dedicated for a silence interval include a first subset of resources and a second subset of resources. The method further includes measuring noise in the first subset of resources and refraining from measuring noise in the second subset of resources. | 10-25-2012 |
20120276863 | AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Techniques for performing automatic gain control (AGC) at a terminal in a wireless communication network are described. In an aspect, the terminal may use different receiver gain settings to receive different types of signals in different time intervals. The terminal may determine a receiver gain setting for each signal type and may use the receiver gain setting to receive signals of that signal type. In another aspect, the terminal may determine a receiver gain setting for a future time interval based on received power levels for peer terminals expected to transmit in that time interval. The terminal may measure received power levels of signals received from a plurality of terminals. The terminal may determine a set of terminals expected to transmit in the future time interval and may determine the receiver gain setting for the future time interval based on the measured received power levels. | 11-01-2012 |
20120307698 | TIMING SYNCHRONIZATION METHODS AND APPARATUS - Various methods and apparatus are directed to achieving timing synchronization and propagating timing information pertaining to an external, e.g., non Wi-Fi, timing signal source. In some embodiments, a mobile communications device receives and processes a timing signal, e.g., a first Wi-Fi beacon, which is propagating timing information about an external timing signal from a device which directly received the external timing signal. Thus, a mobile wireless communications device achieves timing synchronization with respect to an external timing signal which it is unable to receive directly. In various embodiments, the mobile communications device may, and sometimes does, further propagate the timing information about the external timing signal, e.g., via a second Wi-Fi beacon signal which it generates and transmits. Synchronization with respect to an external signal source facilitates longer sleep states and decreased power consumption. | 12-06-2012 |
20130010603 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING MULTICAST COMMUNICATIONS - Methods and apparatus for supporting multicast groups in networks, e.g., wireless peer to peer networks, are described. A member of a multicast group, that does not intend to transmit in a traffic interval, generates and transmits a signal on a traffic transmission request resource indicating that the device transmitting the signal does not intend to transmit multicast traffic data to the multicast group. A member of the multicast group, that intends to transmit in the traffic interval, refrains from transmitting a signal and monitors. The devices in the group which did not transmit decide which one is allowed to proceed with its intended multicast traffic transmission based on relative priority within the group. | 01-10-2013 |
20130010618 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY IN PEER DISCOVERY RANGE AND FREQUENCY OF UPDATES - A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus transmits a first peer discovery signal with a first periodicity/temporal frequency in a first set of peer discovery resources. The apparatus determines an energy on an allocated peer discovery resource of a second set of peer discovery resources. The apparatus refrains from transmitting a second peer discovery signal in the second set of peer discovery resources when the energy is greater than a threshold. The apparatus transmits the second peer discovery signal in the second set of peer discovery resources with a second periodicity/temporal frequency less than the first periodicity/temporal frequency when the energy is less than the threshold. The apparatus may utilize the first set of peer discovery resources every period and the second set of peer discovery resources once every N periods in which once every N periods is the second periodicity. | 01-10-2013 |
20130010661 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OFDM PEER DISCOVERY - A method of wireless communication includes splitting data into n data sets, where n is greater than or equal to two. In addition, the method includes selecting n different resources associated with a resource identifier based on a hopping pattern for sending each of the data sets within a set of resources of one full set of transmissions. The selected n resources have a hopping pattern such that there is at least one resource of the n resources that is non-overlapping in time with resources associated with resource identifiers other than said resource identifier. Furthermore, the method includes sending m data sets on m selected resources in m transmissions within the one full set of transmissions, where m is less than or equal to n. | 01-10-2013 |
20130010767 | COEXISTENCE OF PRIORITY BROADCAST AND UNICAST IN PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS - A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. In one configuration, the apparatus transmits a first broadcast signal including information indicating an intention to use a unicast resource for a broadcast. In addition, the apparatus transmits a second broadcast signal in the unicast resource. In another configuration, the apparatus, which is a first wireless device, receives a first broadcast signal from a second wireless device including information indicating an intention to use a unicast resource for a broadcast. In addition, the apparatus receives a first scheduling signal from the second wireless device in a scheduling resource. The first scheduling signal is for indicating a second intention to use the unicast resource for transmitting a second broadcast signal. Furthermore, the apparatus refrains from transmitting a second scheduling signal in the scheduling resource in response to the first scheduling signal. | 01-10-2013 |
20130010774 | SYNCHRONOUS TRANSMISSION METHODS AND APPARATUS - Methods and apparatus for use in a wireless system are described where initiation of packet transmission is constrained in accordance to control actual packet transmission in a manner that reduces contention and possible collisions beyond that provided by lower layer resource contention mechanisms, e.g., 802.11 carrier sensing and/or transmission back-off timing mechanisms. Through higher level, e.g., MAC constraints, on packet transmission initiation, an air interface which employs carrier sensing can be used and controlled in a manner which reduces collisions and interference in applications where small packets, e.g., packets which can be transmitted in a fraction of the maximum permitted transmission time. The methods allow small packets in such systems to be transmitted on a periodic or semi-periodic basis in many cases. | 01-10-2013 |
20130013181 | ROAD-TRAFFIC-BASED GROUP, IDENTIFIER, AND RESOURCE SELECTION IN VEHICULAR PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS - A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus adjusts a number of sets of identifiers in a plurality of sets of identifiers based on traffic information. In addition, the apparatus selects an identifier from a set of identifiers of the plurality of sets of identifiers based on the traffic information. Furthermore, the apparatus communicates using resources associated with the selected identifier. The traffic information may include at least one of direction of travel, map information, velocity, whether approaching an intersection, whether departing an intersection, location, a number of vehicles within a particular area, information from other vehicles, type of intersection, whether the intersection includes stop lights or stop signs, at least one computed value based on acquired traffic information, or information from other wireless devices. | 01-10-2013 |
20130016678 | SIGNALING METHOD IN AN OFDM MULTIPLE ACCESS SYSTEM - A method for reducing the peak-to-average ratio in an OFDM communication signal is provided. The method includes defining a constellation having a plurality of symbols, defining a symbol duration for the OFDM communication signal, and defining a plurality of time instants in the symbol duration. A plurality of tones are allocated to a particular communication device, and a discrete signal is constructed in the time domain by mapping symbols from the constellation to the time instants. A continuous signal is generated by applying an interpolation function to the discrete signal such that the continuous signal only includes sinusoids having frequencies which are equal to the allocated tones. | 01-17-2013 |
20130058218 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING MULTIPLE DEVICES TO SHARE A DATA TRANSMISSION PERIOD - Various embodiments are directed to changes in protocols, e.g., an enhanced 802.11 based protocol, that enables SIR based yielding and/or improves spatial reuse in networks, e.g., 802.11 based networks. Various methods and apparatus enable multiple devices using an 802.11 based protocol to communicate, e.g., transmit, during the same time interval. In various embodiments, the methods and apparatus use transmission timing constraints and/or Signal Interference Ratio (SIR) based yielding to avoid excessive interference between devices within communication range of each other. | 03-07-2013 |
20130064089 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TRAFFIC CONTENTION RESOURCE ALLOCATION - Methods and apparatus for allocating traffic contention resource units in a wireless communications system in which decisions are made in a distributed manner are described. A wireless communications device, corresponding to a link, self allocates resource units for traffic contention. Decisions regarding initially acquiring resources, relinquishing acquired resources, and/or acquiring additional resources for traffic contention are based on detected levels of network congestion and/or detected changes in network congestion. A wireless communications device detects a level of network congestion and determines a number of resource units to acquire for traffic contention based on the detected level of network congestion. | 03-14-2013 |
20130064187 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR WAN ASSISTED CONTENTION DETECTION & RESOLUTION IN PEER TO PEER NETWORKS - Various methods and apparatus are directed to collision detection and/or avoidance regarding peer to peer connection identifiers. A wireless communications device broadcasts a signal indicating its acquired connection identifier in one of two alternative blocks. A base station monitors peer to peer signaling in its coverage area and tracks the usage of peer to peer connection identifiers by pairs of devices. The base station detects when multiple pairs of devices are using the same peer to peer connection identifier. The base station provides assistance to the peer to peer network to avoid a collision or facilitate rapid collision detection by the peer to peer devices. In one approach the base station sends an instruction for a connection to switch its connection identifier. In another approach the base station sends a connection a message to bias its selection as to which of the two alternative blocks to use for transmission. | 03-14-2013 |
20130064214 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INTERFERENCE BASED JOINT SCHEDULING OF PEER TO PEER LINKS WITH WWAN - A method of operating a first wireless device includes receiving a grant from a base station for peer-to-peer communication with a second wireless device using time-frequency resources utilized by a third wireless device for WWAN communication with the base station. In addition, the method includes receiving a transmit power for the peer-to-peer communication with the grant. The transmit power is determined based on an interference that can be caused to transmissions received by the base station from the third wireless device. Furthermore, the method includes communicating with the second wireless device at a power less than or equal to the received transmit power using peer-to-peer communication on the time-frequency resources. | 03-14-2013 |
20130065625 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTIVE PAGING IN PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS - A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus determines paging resources of a plurality of paging resources allocated for listening to paging messages. In addition, the apparatus transmits information indicating the allocated paging resources in a peer discovery signal. The apparatus may determine the paging resources on which to listen based on information received in peer discovery signals received from other wireless devices. The received information indicates the paging resources allocated to the other wireless devices. | 03-14-2013 |
20130066966 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PEER DISCOVERY INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT IN A WIRELESS WIDE AREA NETWORK - A method of operating a wireless device is provided in which the wireless device determines to use one grouping of peer discovery resources of a plurality of groupings of peer discovery resources based on one of a path loss or a distance to a base station. The plurality of groupings include a first grouping of resources having a first plurality of identical subsets of resources and a second grouping of resources having a second plurality of identical subsets of resources. Each of the first plurality of identical subsets of resources extends over at least one of a different time period or a different number of subcarriers than each of the second plurality of identical subsets of resources. The wireless device transmits a peer discovery signal on one subset of the identical subsets of said one grouping of peer discovery resources. | 03-14-2013 |
20130083679 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILTERING AND PROCESSING RECEIVED VEHICLE PEER TRANSMISSIONS BASED ON RELIABILITY INFORMATION - Methods and devices for processing and retransmitting highway communication system transmissions include determining a reliability of a received message and including an indication of the reliability in retransmitted transmissions. Reliability of received messages may be based on a signal strength of the received peer transmission, comparison of the signal strength to a distance to the transmitter based on message contents, the age of the received message, the signal quality of the received message, and other parameters. An indication of the determined reliability may be included in retransmissions of the message to enable other vehicles and receiver units in the highway communication system to benefit from the reliability determination. Message reliability may be used as part of prioritizing messages for processing. Messages may be processed according to priority so that high priority messages are processed before lower priority messages. | 04-04-2013 |
20130100947 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TIMING SYNCHRONIZATION USING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT TIMING SIGNAL SOURCES - A wireless terminal detects timing signals from different local timing signal sources. The wireless terminal selects from the plurality of detected timing signal sources two timing signal sources in accordance with a predetermined timing signal source priority ordering. In some embodiments, the wireless terminal intentionally selects two timing signal sources which are not synchronized with respect to one another. The wireless terminal determines a first set of peer communications time intervals corresponding to a first selected timing signal source and a second set of peer communications time intervals corresponding to a second selected timing signal source. The wireless terminal transmits a peer to peer signal, e.g., a peer discovery signal, during at least one of the first set of peer communications time intervals. The wireless terminal transmits a peer to peer signal, e.g., a peer discovery signal, during at least one of the second set of peer communications time intervals. | 04-25-2013 |
20130122947 | METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATED TO POWER CONTROL AND/OR INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT IN A MIXED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus related to the sharing of wide area network (WAN) uplink bandwidth with peer to peer communication signaling usage are described. A base station transmits a signal to be used by a peer to peer wireless terminal in controlling its peer to peer transmit power level. The peer to peer wireless terminal receives and measures the strength of the base station signal. The measurement information is used in determining whether or not peer to peer signal transmission is permitted and/or in determining a peer to peer transmission power level. Current service level information and/or encoded information, e.g., an interference level indicator value, conveyed by the received base station signal are, in various embodiments, also utilized in determining a peer to peer transmission power level. | 05-16-2013 |
20130138831 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CHANGE PEER DISCOVERY TRANSMISSION FREQUENCY BASED ON CONGESTION IN PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS - A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus determines a resource congestion level based on signals received on a plurality of resources of a peer discovery channel. In addition, the apparatus adjusts a duty cycle of a peer discovery transmission based on the determined congestion level. Furthermore, the apparatus transmits peer discovery signals at the adjusted duty cycle. | 05-30-2013 |
20130148642 | ENHANCED DISCOVERY PROCEDURES IN PEER-TO-PEER WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORKS (WLANS) - Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally provide methods and apparatus for enhanced discovery procedures in peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless local area networks (WLANs). With these procedures, discovery duration may be decreased, battery power consumption may be reduced during discovery, provided services may be ascertained during the device discovery phase without performing a separate service discovery phase, and/or the discovery range may be extended in an effort to discover a greater number of devices. | 06-13-2013 |
20130148643 | ENHANCED DISCOVERY PROCEDURES IN PEER-TO-PEER WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORKS (WLANS) - Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally provide methods and apparatus for enhanced discovery procedures in peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless local area networks (WLANs). With these procedures, discovery duration may be decreased, battery power consumption may be reduced during discovery, provided services may be ascertained during the device discovery phase without performing a separate service discovery phase, and/or the discovery range may be extended in an effort to discover a greater number of devices. | 06-13-2013 |
20130150055 | Method of Creating and Utilizing Diversity in a Multiple Carrier Communication System - In many cellular systems, reusing spectrum bandwidth, creates problems in boundary regions between the cells and sectors where the signal strength received from adjacent base stations or adjacent sector transmissions of a single base station may be nearly equivalent. The invention creates a new type of diversity, referred to as multiple carrier diversity by utilizing multiple carriers, assigning different power levels to each carrier frequency at each base station, and/or offsetting sector antennas. The cell and/or sector coverage areas can be set so as to minimize or eliminate overlap between cell and/or sector boundary regions of different carrier frequencies. Mobile nodes traveling throughout the system can exploit multiple carrier diversity by detecting carriers and selecting to use a non-boundary carrier based on other system criteria in order to improve performance. Boundary carriers may, but need not be, identified and excluded from consideration for use by a wireless terminal. | 06-13-2013 |
20130155900 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING DISCOVERY AND PAGING MESSAGES - Methods, devices, and computer program products for transmitting and receiving discovery and paging messages are described herein. In one aspect, an apparatus operable in a wireless communication system includes a transmitter and receiver. The transmitter transmits a discovery packet during a first discovery interval of a plurality of discovery intervals. The discovery packet advertises a service provided in a wireless communications network, and the plurality of discovery intervals include recurring time intervals when a plurality of devices are configured to transmit and receive discovery packets. The receiver receives a paging packet from a first device during a first paging interval of a plurality of paging intervals. The paging packet indicates interest in the service, and the plurality of paging intervals include recurring time intervals when the plurality of devices are configured to transmit and receive paging packets. The plurality of paging intervals do not overlap the plurality of discovery intervals. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155905 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING DISCOVERY AND PAGING MESSAGES - Methods, devices, and computer program products for transmitting and receiving discovery and paging messages are described herein. In one aspect, an apparatus operable in a wireless communication system includes a receiver and transmitter. The receiver receives a registration packet from a first device. The registration packet indicates interest in a service provided by another device in a wireless communications network. The receiver further receives a discovery packet from a second device during a first discovery interval of a plurality of discovery intervals. The discovery packet advertises a service provided by the second device, and the plurality of discovery intervals include recurring time intervals when a plurality of devices are configured to transmit and receive discovery packets in the wireless communications network. The transmitter transmits a notification packet configured to enable the first device and the second device to communicate directly. | 06-20-2013 |
20130176856 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING CHANNEL ACCESS IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A transmission initiation interval timing structure is used in combination with a lower layer timing structure, e.g., physical layer timing structure. A device selects a subset of packet transmission initiation intervals and then limits initiation of packet transmission to those intervals thereby reducing the potential for collisions. Packet transmission may occur outside the initiation interval in which the transmission is initiated. In some embodiments, packet transmission length is intentionally limited to sizes which can be transmitted in a fraction of the amount of time the physical layer allows a single device to continuously transmit, e.g., in an amount of time which is equal to or less than the duration of a packet transmission initiation interval. This increases the probability that multiple devices will be able to successfully transmit small packets at short intervals on a regular basis even when carrier sensing techniques are used. | 07-11-2013 |
20130183905 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING A WIRELESS NETWORK WITH AN EXTERNAL TIMING SOURCE - A communications device synchronizes itself with respect to an external reference signal, e.g., a GPS signal. The communications device detects timing reference signals, e.g., beacon signals, from a communications network. If the communications device determines that the network is not synchronized to the external timing reference signal, the communications device operates as a master timing control device. In various embodiments, when operating as a master timing control device the wireless communications device communicates time stamps, e.g., in beacon signals, which indicate a greater passage of time than the actual passage of time. When operating as a master timing control device the communications device transmits network timing reference signals at a higher rate than is being used by the network to seize control of network timing and become the master timing control device. The communications device drives the network timing to synchronize network timing to the external timing reference. | 07-18-2013 |
20130183906 | ENHANCED DISTRIBUTED SYNCHRONIZATION FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - Methods and apparatus are described which increase the probability and/or frequency that devices with comparatively faster clocks in a network than other devices in the network will transmit beacon signals are described. As a result, devices with faster clocks will tend to drive system synchronization to convergence faster than if all devices transmitted beacons at the same rate, thus facilitating more reliable maintenance of system synchronization since the devices with faster clocks will tend to transmit more frequently. | 07-18-2013 |
20130184030 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND/OR USING A SIGNAL SUPPRESSION UTILITY METRIC - Methods and apparatus are described for efficiently suppressing transmission of signals from devices which are using a first protocol, in order to allow the frequency spectrum being used by devices using the first protocol to be used briefly for communication between devices using an alternative communications protocol. In some embodiments, the first protocol is WiFi and the alternative signaling protocol is a non-WiFi peer to peer communications protocol. A wireless communications device, e.g., a peer to peer wireless communications device, generates a signal suppression utility metric (SSUM). The signal suppression utility metric provides an indication of how useful transmitting a transmission suppression signal, e.g., a S-CTS signal which may be a CTS to self signal, will be at a given point in time. The wireless communications device decides whether or not to transmit a transmission suppression signal as a function of the signal suppression utility metric. | 07-18-2013 |
20130188760 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING AND/OR ELIMINATING THE EFFECTS OF SELF-INTERFERENCE - Methods and apparatus for reducing and/or eliminating the effect of self-interference are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in DSRC WAVE systems in which a wireless communications device may acquire and use two DSRC channels, e.g., use one channel for reception while using another channel for transmission at the same time. A wireless communications device which is receiving a signal of interest on a first channel supports concurrent transmission on second channel, e.g., an adjacent channel. Controlled transmission timing synchronization with respect to the received signal of interest facilitates interference estimation and removal. Interference due to spillover energy from the transmission on the adjacent channel is estimated and removed from a received signal to facilitate recovery of the signal of interest. | 07-25-2013 |
20130210460 | Apparatus and method for controlling transmission and reception of basic safety messages by pedestrian users - Safety message monitoring operations and/or safety message transmission operations are controlled for a mobile wireless communications device. The periodicity with regard to safety message monitoring and/or safety message transmissions is varied based on the environment of the mobile wireless device. The transmission power level with regard to safety message transmissions is varied based on the environment of the mobile wireless device. In some embodiments, safety message monitoring and transmission operations are disabled when the mobile device is determined to be inside a building or inside a vehicle. In some embodiments, safety message monitoring rate and safety message transmission rate is varied as a function of proximity to vehicular traffic and/or the level of detected vehicular traffic. In some embodiments, safety message transmission power level is varied as a function of proximity to vehicular traffic and/or the level of detected vehicular traffic. | 08-15-2013 |
20130242888 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING TRANSMISSION BACKLOG INFORMATION - An uplink dedicated control channel reporting structure includes a plurality of different bit size reports, e.g. 1 bit, 3 bit and 4 bit reports, for reporting a wireless terminal's backlog information of uplink traffic request group queues. Smaller bit size reports are transmitted more frequently than larger reports. A 1 bit request report indicates whether or not there are any MAC frames of information to be communicated in a set of two request group queues. A 3 bit request report indicates an amount of backlog information corresponding to a first set of request group queues and a second set of request group queues. A 4 bit request report indicates an amount of backlog information corresponding to a set of request group queues. The 4 bit request report is capable of reporting information on any of a plurality of uplink traffic channel request group queues being maintained by the wireless terminal. | 09-19-2013 |
20130259231 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR BASE STATION ASSISTED PEER DISCOVERY THROUGH AGGREGATION OF EXPRESSIONS - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which a UE is equipped to generate an expression associated with a wireless device for use in a peer discovery signal, generate an expression set from the expression, a first temporal frequency, and a first time duration, and transmit the generated expression set to a base station to allow the base station to broadcast each of the expressions included in the expression set at the first temporal frequency over the first time duration. Another method, apparatus, and computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which a base station is equipped to receive an expression set from a wireless device, process the received expression set to determine each of one or more instances of an expression, and transmit each of the one or more instances of the expression. | 10-03-2013 |
20130260812 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING DEVICES WITH NO OR LIMITED WWAN CAPABILITY IN PEER TO PEER COMMUNICATION - In a wireless wide area network (WWAN) scenario, communication between UEs is facilitated through uplink/downlink channels between the UEs and a base station (i.e., WWAN link or WWAN communication). In the case that two communicating UEs are in the vicinity of each other, direct peer-to-peer communication without passing through the base station may reduce a base station load. In some scenarios, it is beneficial for devices, with no or limited WWAN capability to also participate in peer-to-peer communication. Accordingly, a method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which control information from a user equipment (UE) is received, the control information including information indicating resources for peer-to-peer communication, a peer-to-peer link with the UE to receive authentication information for using the resources is established, and the resources are used to communicate with a peer device. | 10-03-2013 |
20130272145 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPPORTUNISTIC SCHEDULING OF PEER TO PEER LINKS IN WIDE AREA NETWORK - A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus determines an availability of a wireless wide area network (WWAN) subframe, and utilizes the WWAN subframe for peer-to-peer communication when the WWAN subframe is available. Accordingly, peer mobile terminals or devices may establish direct peer-to-peer links for communicating small amounts of information without affecting the quality of existing WWAN communications. In the wireless wide area network (WWAN) scenario, communication between mobile terminals is facilitated through uplink/downlink channels between the mobile terminals and a base station (i.e., WWAN link). Therefore, for various types of applications, an efficient means of communicating a small amount of information frequently is provided that does not require large amounts of signaling overhead. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272443 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO IMPROVE CHANNEL ESTIMATION IN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus generates a codeword, determines at least one puncture to the codeword based on allowing a legacy receiver to decode the codeword without knowledge of the at least one puncture, replaces each of the at least one puncture with a pilot, and transmits the codeword. The apparatus may also generate an IEEE 802.11 codeword having pilots in a first set of subcarriers, and puncture the codeword with additional pilots unknown to a legacy receiver in a second set of subcarriers. Accordingly, when an original set of pilot symbols is insufficient or inappropriately placed in a resource structure, a codeword may be transmitted with a new pilot structure capable of being decoded by legacy receivers not aware of the new pilot structure. | 10-17-2013 |
20130273951 | METHODS AND APPARATUS BY WHICH PERIODICALLY BROADCASTING NODES CAN RESOLVE CONTENTION FOR ACCESS TO A SMALLER POOL OF BROADCASTING RESOURCES - A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus transmits broadcast information in a first broadcast resource from a first set of broadcast resources. In addition, the apparatus determines based on the broadcast information a need for a second broadcast resource from a second set of broadcast resources. Furthermore, the apparatus selects the second broadcast resource based on a priority associated with the first broadcast resource. | 10-17-2013 |
20130281142 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CHANNEL SELECTION IN A PEER TO PEER NETWORK - Various embodiments relate to using available spectrum for peer to peer communications and for selecting which of several possibly available channels should be used. Various methods and apparatus are well suited to peer to peer networks in which channel usage decisions are made in a decentralized manner. A wireless terminal generates a list of potential available channels to be used for peer to peer communications, e.g., based on FCC information and/or local sensing. Channels are filled in accordance with a predetermined channel ordering. A wireless terminal migrates between the channels in accordance with changes in the number of peer devices using a channel. The network, in a distributed manner, changes the number of channels in use at a location in response to changes in numbers of active peer devices at a location. | 10-24-2013 |
20130295976 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING INTERFERENCE IN A WIRELESS SYSTEM - Techniques for performing interference reduction are described. In a design of an apparatus, system, method and computer program of the present disclosure, a mobile device may at least partially identify an interfering resource using at least energy received from the interfering resource, and the mobile device may report the interfering resource to a base station for mitigation of the interference. The identifying may include extracting, from the received energy, information distinguishing the interfering resource from other devices. The interfering resource may interfere in one of a communication time slot, and a communication frequency. | 11-07-2013 |
20130303223 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INDEX BASED PEER DISCOVERY - Base station assisted peer to peer discovery methods are described. A wireless terminal communicates peer discovery expression information to a base station and information identifying a peer discovery resource that it intends to use but which may also be used by other devices. The base station associates the peer discovery expression and peer discovery resource with an index value to be communicated on the peer discovery resource. The base station transmits the peer discovery expression and information associating the peer discovery expression with the peer discovery resource and the index value. The wireless terminal transmits the index value on the peer discovery resource. A wireless terminal receiving the index value determines the peer discovery expression being communicated using information from the base station. Use of different indexes allows multiple devices to use the same discovery resource. | 11-14-2013 |
20130308524 | DISTRIBUTED INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT ALGORITHM - A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. In a first configuration, an AP receives a transmission request from a UE in a communication link with the AP. The AP determines whether to yield a transmission request response to the transmission request based on one or more transmission requests received from at least one communication link with at least one other AP, but not from UEs in communication links with the AP. In a second configuration, an AP receives a transmission request response from a UE in a communication link with the AP. The AP determines whether to yield a data transmission to the UE based on one or more transmission requests responses received from at least one communication link with at least one other AP, but not from UEs in communication links with the AP. | 11-21-2013 |
20130308549 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCE SCHEDULING - A wireless communications device supporting peer-to-peer communications acquires peer-to-peer communications resources for an extended period of time. In some embodiments, a base station assigns the resources to the device, while in other embodiments, the device reserves, e.g., self-assigns peer-to-peer communications resources for an extended period of time. The wireless communications device decides that it will not be using an acquired peer-to-peer communications resources, e.g., a particular acquired peer-to-peer traffic segment. The wireless communications device transmits a resource availability indicator indicating that it will not be using the particular peer-to-peer communications resource. Another wireless communications device, which detects the resource availability indicator, may use the peer-to-peer communications resource which is not be used by the device to which it is assigned. | 11-21-2013 |
20130308552 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING D2D SYSTEM INFORMATION TO A UE SERVED BY A HOME EVOLVED NODE-B - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which a network entity may be operable to communicate D2D resource allocations to a UE supported by a HeNB. In one example, the network entity may be operable to determine whether a HeNB is operable to communicate system information to a UE. As used herein, system information may include, but is not limited to, D2D resource allocations, paging information, etc. When the network entity determines that a HeNB is operable to communicate system information to a UE, then it may transmit the system information to the HeNB to allow the HeNB to convey the system information to the UE. When the network entity determines that a HeNB is not operable to communicate system information to a UE, then it may transmit the system information to the UE via one or more other network entities. | 11-21-2013 |
20130308598 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING WAN AND D2D COMMUNICATION RLC LAYER HANDOVER - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for supporting RLC layer handover between WAN supported D2D communications and direct D2D communications. In one example, a first UE may be operable to transmit a WAN handover request including a peer identifier and a cell identifier associated with a second UE to an eNB, where the first UE and the second UE are engaged in direct D2D communications. The eNB may be equipped to communicate the WAN handover request to a second eNB associated with the second UE and receive a RLC parameter indicating a last successful reception by the second UE. The eNB may transmit the RLC parameter to the first UE. The first UE may be equipped to determine a subsequent content item based on the received RLC parameter and may transmit the subsequent content item to the second UE via the eNB. | 11-21-2013 |
20130315100 | CODING METHODS OF COMMUNICATING IDENTIFIERS IN PEER DISCOVERY IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate identifying peers based upon encoded signals during peer discovery in a peer to peer network. For example, direct signaling that partitions a time-frequency resource into a number of segments can be utilized to communicate an identifier within a peer discovery interval; thus, a particular segment selected for transmission can signal a portion of the identifier, while a remainder can be signaled based upon tones communicated within the selected segment. Moreover, a subset of symbols within the resource can be reserved (e.g., unused) to enable identifying and/or correcting timing offset. Further, signaling can be effectuated over a plurality of peer discovery intervals such that partial identifiers communicated during each of the peer discovery intervals can be linked (e.g., based upon overlapping bits and/or bloom filter information). | 11-28-2013 |
20130316757 | METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATED TO INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT WHEN SHARING DOWNLINK BANDWIDTH BETWEEN WIDE AREA NETWORK USAGE AND PEER TO PEER SIGNALING - Methods and apparatus related to the sharing of wide area network (WAN) downlink bandwidth with peer to peer communication signaling usage are described. A WAN, e.g., cellular, wireless communications device using a base station attachment point, transmits a signal to be used by a peer to peer wireless communications device for controlling its peer to peer transmit power level. The peer to peer wireless communications device receives and measures the strength of the power control signal from the WAN wireless communications device. The measurement information is used by the peer to peer wireless communications device in determining whether or not peer to peer signal transmission is permitted and/or in determining a peer to peer transmission power level. Thus the WAN device is able to manage interference from the peer to peer devices in its vicinity which impacts its recovery of WAN base station downlink signals. | 11-28-2013 |
20130322351 | UPLINK DOWNLINK RESOURCE PARTITIONS IN ACCESS POINT DESIGN - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which information indicating a partitioning between uplink and downlink resources is received, and communication with an access point to determine at least one of whether a downlink resource will be used for uplink or whether an uplink resource will be used for downlink is performed. Accordingly, a synchronous network may be provided where partitioning of uplink-downlink resources may be dynamically selected, which is more efficient than a synchronous network where uplink-downlink resource partitioning is global and semi-static. | 12-05-2013 |
20130329707 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTIVITY - Methods and apparatus which allow a wireless terminal ( | 12-12-2013 |
20130343283 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHODS AND APPARATUS SUPPORTING DIFFERENT TYPES OF WIRELESS COMMUNCIATION APPROACHES - A wireless terminal supports both peer to peer communications and access node based communications. The wireless terminal considers and evaluates communications link alternatives and selects between (i) communication using a peer to peer link and (ii) communications using a link, with a base station serving as an access node, Received signals corresponding to each of the link alternatives are used in performing link quality determinations. In one example, a received user beacon signal from a peer wireless terminal is the received signal used for the peer to peer link evaluation and a: base station beacon signal is the received signal used for the access node link evaluation. A link is selected as a function of quality determination, predicted data throughput, link maintenance energy requirements, and/or least cost routing determination information. | 12-26-2013 |
20140024378 | METHOD OF USING UE DISCOVERY FOR PAGING OPTIMIZATION - Methods and apparatus are described for refining, e.g., reducing, a paging area corresponding to a user equipment device, e.g., a cellular inactive UE device. Various embodiments are well suited for communications systems in which user equipment devices participate in peer to peer communications networks in which direct user device to user device communications are employed. A user equipment device participating in a peer to peer network transmits discovery signals. A femto base station and/or a cellular active UE device in the local vicinity of the UE device transmitting the peer to peer discovery signal eavesdrops on the peer discovery signaling and detects the presence of the cellular inactive UE device. The detection of the cellular inactive UE device is reported to a MME. The MME determines a paging area corresponding to the detected UE device based on the reported information and the location of the reporting device. | 01-23-2014 |
20140029471 | NETWORK-ASSISTED PEER DISCOVERY - Techniques for transmitting information in a long term evolution (LTE) wireless communication network are disclosed. A base station may receive a first user equipment (UE) expression and first UE location information of a UE seeking peers. The base station may also receive a second UE expression and second UE location information of at least one of the peers. In accordance with the first and second UE expressions and the first and second UE location information, the base station may match ones of the peers proximate to the UE. The base station may transmit, using a data exchange efficiency technique, information to alert the UE to the presence of the peers. This transmission may comprise wide area network (WAN)-specific signaling. | 01-30-2014 |
20140029596 | AUTONOMOUS DISCOVERY FOR ENHANCED WIFI DEVICES - Techniques for discovering one or more nodes in a communication system are provided. A node may receive one or more discovery messages during a first occurrence of a periodic discovery interval. The node may determine a duration of a subsequent occurrence of the periodic discovery interval based on the one or more received discovery messages. The node may adjust the duration for the subsequent occurrence of the periodic discovery interval based on the determined duration. | 01-30-2014 |
20140051346 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING SAFETY MESSAGE INFORMATION - Various embodiments, relate to a communications system in which communications devices of users and communications devices of vehicular systems communicate safety messages through a cellular communications band or the DSRC (Dedicated short-range communications) vehicular communications band or a combination of both. Various methods and apparatus are directed to communicating safety messages between vehicles and pedestrians/cyclists through the use of a cell phone, thus improving the impact of vehicular communications. In some embodiments, at least some cell phones in a communications system includes both a DSRC communications capability and a cellular communications capability. | 02-20-2014 |
20140051470 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING UPLINK DATA SIGNALS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH DEVICE TO DEVICE DATA SIGNALS - A wireless communications device, e.g., a mobile wireless terminal, is controlled by a base station to simultaneously: (i) transmit uplink data signals in an uplink spectrum to a base station and (ii) transmit device to device data signals in the uplink spectrum to another wireless communications device. In various embodiments, the uplink data signals are communicated in a first multi-antenna stream corresponding to a first multi-antenna configuration and the device to device data signals are communicated in a second multi-antenna stream corresponding to a second multi-antenna configuration. Control information communicated from the base station to the wireless communications device being controlled include, e.g., a selected first antenna configuration for uplink data signaling, a selected second antenna configuration for device to device data signaling, a selected first maximum transmission power level for uplink data signaling and a selected second maximum transmission power level for device to device data signaling. | 02-20-2014 |
20140064147 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR WAN ENABLED PEER DISCOVERY - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided in connection with WAN entity enabled discovery to for P2P communications. In one example, a WAN entity is equipped to obtain location information associated with a UE, allocate a peer discovery resource to the UE for use during peer discovery based at least in part on the obtained location information, and send a control message to the UE including the allocated peer discovery resource and one or more attributes associated with the peer discovery resource for use during peer discovery. In another example, a UE is equipped to send location information associated with a physical location of the UE to a WAN entity, receive a control message including a peer discovery resource and one or more attributes associated with the peer discovery resource, and use the peer discovery resource during peer discovery. | 03-06-2014 |
20140064163 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PAGING BASED PEER DISCOVERY - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with LTE based paging for peer discovery. In one example, an eNodeB is equipped to receive a message including a D2D discovery notification for a UE, determine that the UE is in an idle mode, and transmit a paging notification to the UE including the D2D discovery notification. In another example, a UE is equipped to receive, from an eNodeB, a paging notification including a D2D discovery notification, determine, while in idle mode, that the D2D discovery notification is successfully decoded, and transmit an ACK to the eNodeB using a RACH sequence on a PRACH. | 03-06-2014 |
20140066119 | D2D RELAYS AS AN UNDERLAY IN LTE UPLINK - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus obtains at least one of a pathloss measurement to a base station or a maximum tolerable interference to the base station, determines a maximum transmission power for an access link to a user equipment (UE) based on the at least one of the pathloss measurement or the maximum tolerable interference to the base station, and communicates on the access link to the UE at a transmission power less than the determined maximum transmission power. | 03-06-2014 |
20140086158 | SCHEDULING ASSIGNMENT AND ACK/NACK REPORTING TO FACILITATE CENTRALIZED D2D SCHEDULING - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a resource assignment from a serving base station for a device-to-device (D2D) link with a transmitter, attempts to receive a data packet from the transmitter based on the resource assignment, sends an acknowledgment (ACK) only to the serving base station when reception of the data packet succeeds, and sends a negative acknowledgment (NACK) only to the transmitter when the reception of the data packet fails. In an aspect, the apparatus receives a resource assignment from a serving base station for a D2D link with a receiver, sends a data packet to the receiver based on the resource assignment, and assumes the data packet is successfully received at the receiver unless a NACK is received from the receiver, wherein the NACK indicates a failed reception of the data packet at the receiver. | 03-27-2014 |
20140098807 | CODING METHODS OF COMMUNICATING IDENTIFIERS IN PEER DISCOVERY IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate identifying peers based upon encoded signals during peer discovery in a peer to peer network. For example, direct signaling that partitions a time-frequency resource into a number of segments can be utilized to communicate an identifier within a peer discovery interval; thus, a particular segment selected for transmission can signal a portion of the identifier, while a remainder can be signaled based upon tones communicated within the selected segment. Moreover, a subset of symbols within the resource can be reserved (e.g., unused) to enable identifying and/or correcting timing offset. Further, signaling can be effectuated over a plurality of peer discovery intervals such that partial identifiers communicated during each of the peer discovery intervals can be linked (e.g., based upon overlapping bits and/or bloom filter information). | 04-10-2014 |
20140105120 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONOUSLY CODED SUBCARRIERS IN OFDMA SYSTEMS - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may be a serving base station. The serving base station receives channel feedback from a plurality of UEs. The channel feedback is based on predetermined phase rotations used by the serving base station. The serving base station selects at least one UE of the UEs for a data transmission based on the received channel feedback. The serving base station maps at least one data stream to a set of resource blocks. The serving base station transmits the set of resource blocks to the at least one UE with a phase rotation determined based on the predetermined phase rotations. | 04-17-2014 |
20140105121 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDBACK COMPUTATION AND DECODING WITH SYNCHRONOUSLY CODED SUBCARRIERS IN OFDMA SYSTEMS - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The UE receives pilot signals from a serving base station and at least one interfering base station. The UE determines phase rotations used by the serving base station and the at least one interfering base station for transmitting resource blocks. The UE determines channel feedback based on the received pilots signals and the determined phase rotations for each of the serving base station and the at least one interfering base station. The UE sends the channel feedback to the serving base station. The UE receives data based on the determined phase rotations. | 04-17-2014 |
20140112158 | ARCHITECTURE FOR RELAYS IN LTE USING D2D - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives downlink data from a base station via a downlink resource, sends the downlink data to a user equipment (UE) via an uplink resource, receives uplink data from the UE via the uplink resource, and sends the uplink data to the base station via the uplink resource. The apparatus also determines at least one of an observed downlink signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) or an observed uplink interference. The apparatus then broadcasts a relay availability based on the determination that the at least one of the downlink SINR observed is greater than a first threshold or the uplink interference at the relay is less than a second threshold. | 04-24-2014 |
20140112162 | POWER EFFICIENT RELAY DISCOVERY PROTOCOL - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives discovery resource information from a base station, sends a discovery signal based on the discovery resource information, and receives from at least one user equipment (UE) a request for relaying with the base station based on the discovery signal. The apparatus may also receive a discovery signal from a relay, and send to the relay a request for relaying with a base station based on the discovery signal. The apparatus may further receive a discovery signal from each of a plurality of relays, determine to select one of the plurality of relays based on the discovery signal from each relay, and send to a selected relay a request for relaying with a base station based on the discovery signal when one of the plurality of relays is determined to be selected. | 04-24-2014 |
20140112163 | SUPPRESSING WIRELESS BROADCAST/MULTICAST DATA TRANSMISSIONS - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are described. The apparatus wirelessly transmits a reservation signal intended for a plurality of receivers for scheduling a broadcast/multicast data transmission, monitors for a confirmation signal from at least one of the plurality of receivers, wirelessly transmits the broadcast/multicast data transmission to the plurality of receivers if the confirmation signal is received, and suppresses transmission of the broadcast/multicast data to the plurality of receivers if the confirmation signal is not received. In some embodiments, the apparatus further determines at least one of a number of received confirmation signals or a signal strength of a received confirmation signal from the at least one of the plurality of receivers, and suppresses transmission of the broadcast/multicast data based on the determined at least one of the number of received confirmation signals or the signal strength of the received confirmation signal. | 04-24-2014 |
20140119262 | COORDINATED TRANSMISSION RATE AND CHANNEL SCHEDULING FOR WIRELESS MULTICAST AND BROADCAST - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives indication of a transmission scheme for decoding multicast/broadcast data transmitted from a sender, receives a reservation signal for the multicast/broadcast data from the sender, determines whether the receiver is capable of decoding the multicast/broadcast data at the indicated transmission scheme, and transmits a confirmation signal for the multicast/broadcast data to the sender after determining that the receiver is capable of decoding the multicast/broadcast data at the indicated transmission scheme. The apparatus receives the multicast/broadcast data according to the transmission scheme after the confirmation signal is transmitted. Alternatively, the apparatus suppresses transmission of the confirmation signal when it is determined that the receiver is not capable of decoding the multicast/broadcast data at the indicated transmission scheme. | 05-01-2014 |
20140126432 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) COMMUNICATION IN LTE TIME DIVISION DUPLEX (TDD) SYSTEM - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a configuration indicating multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes within a radio frame. The configuration indicates a number of symbols of an MBSFN subframe for receiving a wide area network (WAN) control signal and remaining symbols of the MBSFN subframe dedicated for peer-to-peer communication. The apparatus communicates with a peer via the symbols dedicated for peer-to-peer communication. Alternatively, the apparatus receives a configuration indicating a portion at a beginning and/or end of a guard period of a special time division duplex (TDD) subframe. The portion is reserved for an uplink timing advance and/or switching from transmission to reception and/or reception to transmission. The configuration also indicates a remaining portion of the guard period of the special TDD subframe for peer-to-peer communication. The apparatus communicates with a peer via the remaining portion. | 05-08-2014 |
20140126437 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATION MODE SELECTION BASED ON CONTENT TYPE - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with selection of a communication mode based on traffic type information. In one example, a network entity (e.g., a WiFi router, Picocell, Fentocell, an eNB, etc.) is equipped to obtain traffic type information for content to be transmitted by a network entity, determine a communication mode to use for transmission of the content based on the traffic type information, and transmit the content using the determined communication mode. In an aspect, the traffic type information may indicate that the content is a best effort traffic type, a latency sensitive traffic type, or no traffic type is available. | 05-08-2014 |
20140126455 | ENCODING INFORMATION IN BEACON SIGNALS - Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate transmitting at least two different types of information in a single signal, whereby the different types of information can be encoded and decoded independently. Thus, changes to one type of information does not affect a second type of information. | 05-08-2014 |
20140126911 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION USING VISIBLE LIGHT SIGNALS AND/OR RADIO SIGNALS - A user equipment (UE) device includes a VLC receiver including a photodiode and a radio receiver. The UE device supports a plurality of alternative technologies, communications protocols, and/or frequencies. During a first mode of operation, e.g., a discovery mode, a low reverse bias voltage value is applied to the photodiode. The low reverse bias voltage is adequate to support the recovery of small amounts of communicated information, and the power consumed by the battery of the UE device is relatively low. During discovery, information communicated includes, e.g., a light transmitter ID, an access point ID, services available at the access point, configuration information for a light receiver and/or for an auxiliary radio receiver. During a second mode of operation, e.g., a data traffic mode, the reverse bias voltage applied to the photodiode is set to a high reverse bias voltage to support higher data rate using VLC. | 05-08-2014 |
20140133478 | BEACON ASSISTED CELL SEARCH IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Techniques for transmitting synchronization signals to assist user equipments (UEs) perform cell searches are described. In one design, a base station for a cell may generate and transmit a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal, which may be used by the UEs for initial cell search at power up. The base station may also generate and transmit one or more beacon signals, which may be used by the UEs for neighbor cell search to detect for neighbor cells. The number of beacon signals to transmit and the set of subcarriers usable for each beacon signal may be determined based on the system bandwidth. Each beacon signal may be mapped to one subcarrier in the set of subcarriers in each beacon symbol period. This one subcarrier may be determined based on a beacon hopping pattern or a beacon code and may be dependent on a cell identifier (ID). | 05-15-2014 |
20140140269 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING DISTRIBUTED FREQUENCY SYNCHRONIZATION - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with enabling distributed frequency synchronization based on an average clock rate. In one example, a UE is equipped to receive a synchronization signal from each of one or more UEs, perform an averaging process to generate an average clock rate based at least on the received synchronization signals, and adjust an internal clock rate based on the average clock rate. In another example, a UE is equipped to adjust an internal clock rate of a UE based on timing information provided by a GPS, select a sequence to communicate a synchronization signal transmission from a subset of sequences reserved for GPS connected UEs, and transmit the synchronization signal based on the adjusted internal clock rate. | 05-22-2014 |
20140140456 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING DISTRIBUTED FREQUENCY SYNCHRONIZATION - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with enabling distributed frequency synchronization based on a fastest node clock rate. In one example, a first UE is equipped to determine that a fastest clock rate is faster than an internal clock rate of the first UE by more than a first positive offset, and adjust the internal clock rate based on the determined fastest clock rate. In an aspect, the fastest clock rate is associated with a second UE of one or more other UEs from which synchronization signals may be received. In another example, a UE is equipped to obtain GPS based timing information, adjust an internal clock rate based on the GPS based timing information, and transmit a synchronization signal at an artificially earlier time in comparison to a scheduled time of transmission associated with the adjusted internal clock rate. | 05-22-2014 |
20140153923 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATIONS USING VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATIONS SIGNALING IN COMBINATION WITH WIRELESS RADIO SIGNALING - Various exemplary methods and apparatus are directed to using Visible Light Communication (VLC) in a downlink, e.g., a supplemental downlink, in combination with a wireless radio downlink/ uplink pair. A gateway is coupled, via a wireline link, to a VLC access point. In some embodiments, the gateway includes a wireless radio base station. A user equipment device detects a visible light signal from the VLC access point, and transmits a radio signal to a communications device, e.g., a gateway including a base station or a macro base station, indicating that the UE device is in a VLC coverage area. The gateway configures the VLC access point to serve as a supplemental wireless cell which supports downlink communications. The gateway sends traffic signals to the VLC access point, via the wireline, which are converted by the VLC access point into VLC signals which are transmitted. The UE device receives VLC downlink traffic signals and transmits a corresponding acknowledgment signal via an uplink radio channel. | 06-05-2014 |
20140161095 | TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION TIMING FOR DEVICE-TO-DEVICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM EMBEDDED IN A CELLULAR SYSTEM - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus determines at least one time-frequency resource among resources of a cellular communication system to be used for device-to-device (D2D) communication, identifies a propagated start point of a first portion of the at least one time-frequency resource, and begins transmission of the D2D signal from a transmission start point. The transmission start point is based on the propagated start point and a cellular communication system downlink timing offset to the propagated start point. The apparatus also identifies a propagated end point of a last portion of the at least one time-frequency resource and ends transmission of the D2D signal at a transmission end point. The transmission end point is based on the propagated end point and a cellular communication system downlink timing advance to the propagated end point. | 06-12-2014 |
20140181245 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTENT DELIVERY OVER A BROADCAST NETWORK - Techniques are provided for expedited Internet content delivery. For example, there is provided a method that involves receiving, at a communication device, a broadcast transmission outside of a spectrum allocated for Internet communications and outside of a spectrum allocated for real time programming content, wherein the broadcast transmission includes unsolicited content pushed to a group of such communication devices. The method may involve storing a portion of the unsolicited content, and receiving a request for content from a user. The method may involve providing the portion of the unsolicited content to the user, in response to the requested content matching the portion. The method nay involve determining whether the requested content is stored on another communication device of the group, in response to the requested content not matching the portion. | 06-26-2014 |
20140181246 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENT WIRELESS COMMUNICATION OF FILE INFORMATION - Efficient methods for wirelessly communicating file content under varying conditions are described. A wireless device determines, based on mobility and/or geographic location, if the wireless device is to operate in a first mode of communication operation in which received portions of said file are re-transmitted or a second mode of communication operation in which combinations of portions of said file are transmitted. The wireless device transmits packets communicating received file portions when it is determined that the wireless device is to operate in said first mode of operation and transmits packets communicating combinations of file portions, e.g., linear combinations of file portions, when it is determined that the wireless device is to operate in said second mode of operation. The contents of a file may be obtained from some packets which communicate distinct portions of the file and other packets which communicate combinations of distinct portions of the file. | 06-26-2014 |
20140192712 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS POINTS COUPLED TO A COMMON POWER SOURCE - Power efficient methods and apparatus for detecting wireless terminals in a relatively small geographic area are described. Wireless terminals transmit discovery signals and/or other signals which may be detected by an access point. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for embodiments where multiple access points, which obtain power from a common power source and/or via a common power bus, with limited power delivery capability. To address power constraints, access points are controlled by a gateway device coupled to the access points so that one or more access points perform monitoring at different times with one or more access points having their receivers powered off while another access point monitors for wireless terminal signals. Power consumption from the common power source is managed by controlling power consumption associated with monitoring operations performed by one or more access points coupled to a common power source. | 07-10-2014 |
20140194130 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENT CO-EXISTENCE OF MACRO AND SMALL CELLS - A femto base station (BS) maintains two different timings: a femto BS downlink timing and a femto BS uplink timing. A femto base station's uplink reference timing is based on the macro uplink timing being used by one or more UE devices in the local vicinity of the femto BS. In some embodiments, the femto BS synchronizes its femto uplink timing to the macro uplink timing being used by the closest UE device transmitting uplink signals to the macro BS. In other embodiments, the femto BS determines its femto base station uplink timing based on one or more uplink signals from UE devices in its vicinity transmitting to the macro BS. In various embodiments, femto cell uplink signals and macro cell uplink signals are received at a femto cell BS in synchronization. This approach facilitates frequency division multiplexing (FDM) in the uplink between a macro cell and a femto cell. | 07-10-2014 |
20140200010 | HYBRID INTERFERENCE ALIGNMENT FOR MIXED MACRO-FEMTO BASE STATION DOWNLINK - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus is a first BS. The apparatus determines a first channel between a second BS and a first UE served by a third BS, determines a second channel between the first base station and the first UE, and determines a first direction vector to be used by the second base station for sending a data transmission. The apparatus transmits a set of resource blocks to a second UE served by the first base station with a second direction vector determined based on the first channel, the second channel, and the first direction vector to be used by the second base station. | 07-17-2014 |
20140204773 | OPPORTUNISTIC INTERFERENCE ALIGNMENT FOR MULTI-CELL MULTI-USER UPLINK - A UE receives information indicating a receive direction vector for a serving BS and a set of receive direction vectors for at least one interfering BS. The UE determines a channel between the UE and the serving BS and a set of channels between the UE and each of the at least one interfering BS. The UE determines a transmit direction vector to apply to modulated symbols for mapping to a set of resource blocks for an uplink transmission based on the channel, the set of channels, the receive direction vector, and the set of receive direction vectors. The UE determines an interference caused to the at least one interfering BS by the uplink transmission based on the transmit direction vector, the set of channels, and the set of receive direction vectors. The UE transmits information indicating the interference to the serving BS. | 07-24-2014 |
20140241730 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POWER-EFFICIENT JOINT DIMMING AND VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided. The apparatus obtains a message for communication using visible light communication (VLC) through a light emitting diode (LED) luminary device and formats the message using a synchronization signal followed by one or more data signals. The synchronization signal and/or the one or more data signals are modulated using a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) modulation scheme. The apparatus further receives a dimming level value associated with a brightness of light to be emitted from the LED luminary device, generates a waveform with frequencies based on the formatted message and a duty cycle for the LED luminary device based on the dimming level value, and sends the generated waveform to the LED luminary device for communication using VLC. | 08-28-2014 |
20140247898 | OFDM COMMUNICATIONS METHODS AND APPARATUS - OFDM signal communication methods and apparatus are described. In accordance with the invention OFDM signals are generated in the time domain with symbols being mapped to specific points in time. Training symbols may be included in the transmitted OFDM signal to facilitate symbol recovery. An exemplary receiver of the invention receives the OFDM signal from the communications channel, converts it into the frequency domain, and then filters it in the frequency domain to eliminate tones corresponding to other users. The filtered signal free of MAC interference is then converted into the time domain where channel estimation and compensation operations are performed. After channel compensation symbol recovery is performed in the time domain. | 09-04-2014 |
20140254564 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL INTERFERENCE - Methods and apparatus for controlling interference with regard to important control signals, e.g., synchronization signals and broadcast channel signals, are described. A configurable base station monitors for and receives signals from other base stations in its local vicinity and determines the implemented frame timings corresponding to the other deployed base stations. If possible, the configurable base station selects to use a frame timing offset which is different from the frame timing offsets being used by the other base stations. In some embodiments, symbol level and subframe level synchronization are maintained between the base stations; however, frame level synchronization may, and sometimes does vary. Different adjacent base stations may, and sometimes do, intentionally offset their frame boundaries by multiples of a subframe. | 09-11-2014 |
20140255036 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR USING VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATIONS FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO AN AREA - Methods and apparatus for controlling access to secure areas are described. Time varying values are generated from access device identifiers, e.g., door identifiers. The time varying value, e.g., a hashed door identifier value, is transmitted as a VLC signal by a luminaire near the door to which the hashed identifier corresponds. A mobile detects the transmitted hashed door identifier value and sends an access request via a wireless signal, e.g., a radio signal. The access request includes a value generated from the received hashed door identifier and a mobile device identifier. A control device determines, from information in the access request and stored information indicating which mobile devices have authority to access which doors, if access should be granted to the door corresponding to the hashed access device identifier from which the received information was generated. The received information may be hash of the mobile identifier and hashed door identifier. | 09-11-2014 |
20140256328 | COMMUNICATIONS METHODS AND APPARATUS THAT FACILITATE HANDOVER DECISIONS AND RELATED MEASUREMENTS - Methods and apparatus that facilitate handover related measurements and decision making in a communications system including user equipment (UE) devices, a macro base station and femto base stations (femtocells) are described. In some embodiments a UE device transmits pilots along with identification information using UE device selected transmission resources from a set of recurring UE pilot transmission resources dedicated by a macro base station for UE pilot signal and related device information transmission purposes. Femto base stations measure the UE transmitted pilot signals and report the signal strength measurement results and corresponding device identifiers to a handoff decision control entity, e.g., an eNodeB or control node, which makes handover decisions. By relying on UE transmitted pilots measured by multiple base stations, e.g., femto base stations, the need for femto cells to transmit pilots can be reduced while well informed UE handoff decisions still being possible. | 09-11-2014 |
20140269464 | COMMUNICATIONS METHODS AND APPARATUS THAT FACILITATE DISCOVERY OF SMALL COVERAGE AREA BASE STATIONS - A communications system includes a plurality of different types of small coverage area base stations, e.g., femto cell base stations, WiFi access points and Bluetooth access points within a macro cell. Different user equipment (UE) devices, e.g., different smartphones, include different capabilities. In order for UE devices and small coverage area base stations with compatible capabilities to efficiently discover one another, the various small coverage area base stations and various UE devices utilize the macro cell communications band and macro cell communication protocol to coordinate device discovery and exchange discovery information and control information which allows a UE device to access a compatible small coverage area base station and subsequently communicate user data, e.g., traffic data, with the UE device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140274079 | COMMUNICATIONS METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND HANDOVER RELATED MEASUREMENTS - Methods and apparatus for allocation of resources for handover related measurements in a communications system including user equipment (UE) devices, a macro base station and small base stations (e.g., femtocells) are described. Some embodiments are well suited for systems where the number of femtocells may equal or outnumber the number of UE devices. In some embodiments a macro base station allocates periodic communications resources for transmission of pilots by UEs or femtocells. The macro base station configures either femtocells or active UEs to transmit pilots using the allocated communications resources based on the relative number of femtocells to active UEs in the coverage area of the macro base station, devices which are lower in number transmitting the pilots. Transmitters (UE devices or femtocells) transmit pilots along with identification information using the allocated resource(s) and receivers measure the pilot signals. The pilot signal measurements may be used to make handover decisions. | 09-18-2014 |
20140301326 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR WAN ASSISTED CONTENTION DETECTION & RESOLUTION IN PEER TO PEER NETWORKS - Various methods and apparatus are directed to collision detection and/or avoidance regarding peer to peer connection identifiers. A wireless communications device broadcasts a signal indicating its acquired connection identifier in one of two alternative blocks. A base station monitors peer to peer signaling in its coverage area and tracks the usage of peer to peer connection identifiers by pairs of devices. The base station detects when multiple pairs of devices are using the same peer to peer connection identifier. The base station provides assistance to the peer to peer network to avoid a collision or facilitate rapid collision detection by the peer to peer devices. In one approach the base station sends an instruction for a connection to switch its connection identifier. In another approach the base station sends a connection a message to bias its selection as to which of the two alternative blocks to use for transmission. | 10-09-2014 |
20140302872 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING BASE STATION POSITION INFORMATION AND USING POSITION INFORMATION TO SUPPORT TIMING AND/OR FREQUENCY CORRECTIONS - A wireless terminal receives base station position over an airlink, determines its relative position with respect to the base station and determines a timing adjustment correction. The determined timing correction is applied to control uplink signaling timing and achieve synchronization at the base station's receiver. The wireless terminal determines its relative velocity with respect to the base station and determines a Doppler shift adjustment which it adds to the uplink carrier frequency or to its baseband A wireless terminal determines position of a moving base station and determines timing and/or frequency corrections. Base station position is determined from the current time and stored information correlating the base station position with time, for a geo-synchronous satellite. Base station position information is determined from broadcast information, e.g., GPS base station position, for an aircraft base station. Wireless terminals maybe mobile and include a GPS receiver for WIRELESS TERMINAL position determination. | 10-09-2014 |
20140321270 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CHANNEL UTILIZATION - Methods and apparatus for determining a portion of a channel, e.g., a peer discovery channel, to use in a communications network, e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer network, are described. In the communication network, the channel includes a recurring set of time/frequency resources. A device monitors the congestion level and decides to use a whole channel or a fraction of a channel (e.g., ½. ¼) as a function of the congestion level. The device may change the fraction of the channel it occupies as the congestion level changes. The device broadcasts control information indicating the fraction of the channel it occupies. The device may be a mobile wireless terminal. | 10-30-2014 |
20140328200 | MITIGATION OF INTERFERENCE DUE TO PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATION - Techniques for mitigating interference due to peer-to-peer (P2P) communication are described. In an aspect, a P2P UE may measure the signal strength of downlink signals from base stations and may set its transmit power based on (e.g., proportional to) the measured signal strength in order to mitigate interference to WWAN UEs communicating with base stations. In another aspect, the P2P UE may measure the signal strength of uplink signals from WWAN UEs and may set its transmit power based on (e.g., inversely proportional to) the measured signal strength in order to mitigate interference to the WWAN UEs. In one design, the P2P UE may measure the signal strength of an uplink signal from a WWAN UE, estimate the pathloss between the two UEs based on the measured signal strength, and determine its transmit power based on the estimated pathloss. | 11-06-2014 |
20140328241 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION OF SAFETY MESSAGES FOR A GROUP OF USER EQUIPMENTS - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with communication of safety messages by a device on behalf of other devices in a group. In an example, a communications device is equipped to receive attribute information from one or more UEs in a group of UEs, generate group attribute information based on the received attribute information, and broadcast the group attribute information on behalf of the group of UEs. In such an aspect, the communications device is a member of the group of UEs, and the leader of the group of UEs. In another example, a communications device is equipped to transmit, by a UE, attribute information to a leader UE of a group of UEs, and prohibit broadcasting at least a portion of the attribute information. In such an aspect, the communications device is a member of the group of UEs. | 11-06-2014 |
20140329535 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEVICE TO DEVICE RELAY SELECTION - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with D2D relay link selection in a LTE based access network. In one example, a communications device is equipped to determine that the communications device (e.g., a UE) is able to establish a relay link with a candidate UE based on at least one of information associated with any preexisting access links with the candidate UE, information associated with any preexisting accessing links within a threshold vicinity of the UE or the candidate UE, or any other UE UL interference, determine that the candidate UE is able to support the relay link based on information associated with preexisting access links for the candidate UE, and perform a link establishment process for the relay link with the candidate UE based on the determinations. | 11-06-2014 |
20140335884 | LOCATION BASED USE OF THE DSRC SPECTRUM - Methods, systems, and devices are described for using location information to determine whether to use at least a portion of a dedicated short range communications (DSRC) spectrum. Current location information of a multi-mode device is determined. The multi-mode device is operating outside of the DSRC spectrum. The current location information is used to determine whether the multi-mode device is located outside of geographical region attributed to DSRC transmissions. Upon determining that the multi-mode device is located outside of the geographical region, at least a portion of the DSRC spectrum is used for transmissions by the multi-mode device. | 11-13-2014 |
20140355610 | SWITCHED POWER LINE COMMUNICATION - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for power line communication (PLC) are provided. The apparatus receives a first packet, selects a bus from a plurality of PLC buses, each PLC bus isolated from other buses of the plurality of buses, and forwards the first packet to a destination PLC modem connected to the selected bus. A method and system for switched power line communication (PLC) is also provided. The system provides power to a plurality of PLC buses via a main circuit breaker, receives a first signal for communicating to a PLC bus, selects a PLC bus from the plurality of buses based on the first signal, communicates a second signal to the selected PLC bus, the second signal based on the first signal, and filters the second signal communicated to the selected PLC bus to prevent the second signal from passing through the main circuit breaker. | 12-04-2014 |
20140357193 | DSRC LISTEN MODE FOR WI-FI USING DSRC SPECTRUM - Methods, systems, and devices are described for detecting dedicated short range communications (DSRC) transmissions to determine whether to use at least a portion of the DSRC spectrum. In one embodiment, a multi-mode device may be operated outside of the DSRC spectrum using a first clock rate, and may then be switched to a second clock rate while operating outside of the DSRC spectrum to detect DSRC transmissions using the DSRC spectrum. | 12-04-2014 |
20140370801 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A DEVICE TO CONTROL TRANSMISSIONS OF SAFETY MESSAGES FROM OTHER VEHICLES - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a first BSM from a first wireless communication device, determines control information associated with the first BSM, and transmits the first BSM to at least a second wireless communication device based on the determined control information. | 12-18-2014 |
20140370809 | INTER-FRAME SPACING ADAPTATION FOR YIELDING TO DSRC OPERATION - Methods, systems, and devices are described for adapting access timing parameters when using DSRC spectrum. A multi-mode device may adapt at least one access timing parameter while operating within the DSRC spectrum. The at least one access timing parameter may be adapted to provide priority to transmissions of DSRC devices using the DSRC spectrum. The multi-mode device may increase a duration of a short inter-frame spacing (SIFS) to be at least equal to a duration of a SIFS used by a DSRC device. | 12-18-2014 |
20140370928 | DYNAMIC POWER MANAGEMENT SCHEME IN WIRELESS NETWORKS BASED ON POWER OVER ETHERNET (POE) - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for managing power of a connection point in a wireless communication system are provided. A connection point may discover a mobile node, send to a gateway a request to increase an amount of power that the connection point can consume to service the discovered mobile node, and receive from the gateway a response related to the request to increase the amount of power. In an aspect, a gateway receives from a first connection point a request to change an amount of power that the first connection point is allowed to consume to service a discovered mobile node, determines whether to accept the request from the first connection point, and sends a first command to increase the amount of power that the first connection point is allowed to consume to service the discovered mobile node if the request is accepted. | 12-18-2014 |
20140378054 | OPPORTUNISTIC USE OF THE DSRC SPECTRUM - Methods, systems, and devices are described for opportunistically using at least a portion of a dedicated short range communications (DSRC) spectrum. A multi-mode device is operated outside of the DSRC spectrum. An activity level is detected on at least a portion of the DSRC spectrum, and it is determined whether to use at least the portion of the DSRC spectrum based at least in part on the detected activity level. | 12-25-2014 |
20150029893 | METHODS FOR DIRECT DISCOVERY IN ASYNCHRONOUS NETWORK DEPLOYMENTS - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives information from a serving base station and at least one neighboring base station. The information indicates a time allocation of discovery resources allocated by each of the serving base station and the at least one neighboring base station for performing direct discovery. The apparatus further determines a subframe timing of the serving base station and the at least one neighboring base station, and performs direct discovery using the time allocation of the discovery resources allocated by each of the serving base station and the at least one neighboring base station based on a determined subframe timing of the serving base station or a neighboring base station corresponding to the discovery resources. | 01-29-2015 |
20150038136 | POWER EFFICIENT DISCOVERY OF LTE-DIRECT RELAY FOR OUT-OF-COVERAGE DEVICES - Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing wireless communications. In one method, a mobile device may determine to transition to a relay status. The relay status may indicate a capability of the mobile device to function as a relay device between at least one other mobile device and a base station. A peer discovery signal that indicates the relay status may then be transmitted. In another method, a mobile device may broadcast an out-of-coverage status indicator in a first peer discovery signal. A second peer discovery signal may be received from at least one other mobile device. The second peer discovery signal may indicate a capability of the at least one other mobile device to function as a relay device. | 02-05-2015 |
20150063213 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHODS AND APPARATUS USING BEACON SIGNALS - Methods and apparatus supporting peer to peer communications are discussed. A base station, serving as an access node for wireless terminals also communicates information supporting peer to peer communications. A base station transmits a beacon signal conveying information about a peer to peer frequency band and also receives user data from a plurality of wireless terminals, using the base station as a current point of network attachment. In some embodiments, the beacon signal is transmitted into the same frequency band being used for access node based communications and identifies a different frequency band which is to be used as a peer to peer frequency band. Alternatively, or in addition, in support of peer to peer communications, a beacon signal transmission apparatus, a free standing device which doesn't transmit user data, transmits a sequence of beacon signal bursts, each beacon signal burst including at least one high power beacon symbol. | 03-05-2015 |
20150071135 | CONFIGURABLE DOWNLINK AND UPLINK CHANNELS FOR IMPROVING TRANSMISSION OF DATA BY SWITCHING DUPLEX NOMINAL FREQUENCY SPACING ACCORDING TO CONDITIONS - Transmission techniques using configurable channels for the downlink and/or uplink are described. In one aspect, the downlink channel and/or uplink channel may be independently selected for a terminal The terminal may establish a connection with a base station on default downlink and uplink channels. Another downlink channel and/or another uplink channel may be selected based on various factors such as channel quality, loading, and interference. The terminal would then switch to the new downlink and/or uplink channel for communication. In another aspect, the base stations broadcast sector information used by the terminals for communication and/or channel selection. The sector information may include various types of information such as the available downlink and uplink channels, the frequencies of the available channels, the loading on the available channels, and QoS information. The terminals may select a sector, a downlink channel, and/or an uplink channel based on the sector information. | 03-12-2015 |
20150078369 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISSEMINATION OF TIMING INFORMATION IN DISTRIBUTED SYNCHRONIZATION DEVICE TO DEVICE NETWORKS - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with improving convergence to a common timing structure for devices in a distributed synchronization D2D network. In an example, a communications device is equipped to detect, by a UE, a synchronization signal during a listening slot duration scan of a communication channel. In an aspect, the listening slot duration may be defined based on a first timing structure, and the synchronization signal may be defined based on a second timing structure. The communications device may further be equipped to obtain timing information associated with the second timing structure from the synchronization signal, and determine whether the first timing structure or the second timing structure is a preferred timing structure. | 03-19-2015 |