PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATION IN AD HOC WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20070171910A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kumar, Ravi
• Granted Patent: US 8,576,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0433 Key management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

For a peer-to-peer call in an ad hoc wireless network, a wireless device performs discovery of a target wireless device, performs authentication of the target wireless device and generates a session key (e.g., using a pre-shared key or a certificate provisioned on the wireless device), forms an ad hoc wireless network with the target wireless device, and communicates peer-to-peer with the target wireless device via the ad hoc wireless network. The wireless device may perform discovery with a list of identifiers for wireless devices designated to communicate with this wireless device. The wireless device may derive a service set identifier (SSID) used to identify the ad hoc wireless network based on its user-specific identifier (e.g., its phone number) and/or a user-specific identifier for the target wireless device. The wireless device may also performs IP address discovery using the user-specific identifier for the target wireless device.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

at least one processor configured to send a response to another wireless device if an extracted identifier from a frame received from the another wireless communication device is included in a list of identifiers; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the received frame is one of a beacon frame or a probe request.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to periodically monitor for frames from other wireless devices and periodically send frames to other wireless devices, each transmitted frame including an identifier for the wireless device.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send frames to discover a target wireless device, each transmitted frame including an identifier for the target wireless device.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the identifier is based on a phone number or identification information for the another wireless device.

6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the identifier is based on a phone number or identification information for the wireless device.

7. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the list includes identifiers for wireless devices designated to communicate with the wireless device.

8. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to monitor for receiving the frame during a time interval determined based on timing obtained from a wireless communication network.

9. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to monitor for receiving the frame during pseudo-randomly selected time intervals.

10. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send frames on at least one frequency channel to discover at least one other wireless device.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the at least one frequency channel is configured on the wireless device or included in the list of identifiers.

12. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein an identity of the at least one frequency channel is received from a wireless network or determined based on a frequency channel used by the wireless network.

13. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to initiate peer-to-peer communication with the another wireless device if the received frame indicates a request for peer-to-peer communication.

14. A method comprising:

receiving at a first wireless device a frame from a second wireless device;

extracting an identifier from the received frame;

determining whether the extracted identifier is included in a list of identifiers; and

sending a response to the second wireless device if the extracted identifier is included in the list.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

periodically monitoring for frames from other wireless devices; and

periodically sending frames to other wireless devices, each transmitted frame including an identifier for the first wireless device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending frames to discover a third wireless device, each transmitted frame including an identifier for the third wireless device,

17. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving at a first wireless device a frame from a second wireless device;

means for extracting an identifier from the received frame;

means for determining whether the extracted identifier is included in a list of identifiers; and

means for sending a response to the second wireless device if the extracted identifier is included in the list.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for periodically monitoring for frames from other wireless devices; and

means for periodically sending frames to other wireless devices, each transmitted frame including an identifier for the first wireless device.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for sending frames to discover a third wireless device, each transmitted frame including an identifier for the third wireless device,

20. A computer program product comprising:

instructions for receiving at a first wireless device a frame from a second wireless device;

instructions for extracting an identifier from the received frame;

instructions for determining whether the extracted identifier is included in a list of identifiers; and

instructions for sending a response to the second wireless device if the extracted identifier is included in the list.

21. A wireless device comprising:

at least one processor configured to obtain timing from a wireless communication network and monitor for frames from other wireless devices for peer-to-peer communication in designated time intervals determined based on the timing from the wireless communication network; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

22. The wireless device of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is configured to sleep between the designated time intervals and wake up prior to each designated time interval to monitor for frames from other wireless devices.

23. The wireless device of claim 21, wherein the wireless communication network is a cellular network or a broadcast network.

24. A method comprising:

obtaining timing from a wireless communication network; and

monitoring for frames from other wireless devices in designated time intervals determined based on the timing from the wireless communication network.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

sleeping between the designated time intervals; and

waking up prior to each designated time interval to monitor for frames from other wireless devices.

27. The means for of claim 25, further comprising:

means for sleeping between the designated time intervals; and

means for waking up prior to each designated time interval to monitor for frames from other wireless devices.

26. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining timing from a wireless communication network; and

means for monitoring for frames from other wireless devices in designated time intervals determined based on the timing from the wireless communication network.

28. A computer program product comprising:

instructions for obtaining timing from a wireless communication network; and

instructions for monitoring for frames from other wireless devices in designated time intervals determined based on the timing from the wireless communication network

29. A wireless device comprising:

at least one processor configured to form a packet including a user-specific identifier for a target wireless device for peer-to-peer communication and instruct transmitting the packet to request for an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the target wireless device; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

30. The wireless device of claim 29, wherein the user-specific identifier is derived based on a phone number or identification information for the target wireless device.

31. The wireless device of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is configured to broadcast the packet to other wireless devices and receive from the target wireless device a response including the IP address of the target wireless device.

32. The wireless device of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send the packet to a server in a wireless network and receive from the server a response including the IP address of the target wireless device.

33. The wireless device of claim 32, wherein the at least one processor is configured to register with the server.

34. The wireless device of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate peer-to-peer with the target wireless device using the IP address.

35. A method comprising:

forming a packet including a user-specific identifier for a target wireless device for peer-to-peer communication; and

sending the packet to request for an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the target wireless device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the sending the packet comprises broadcasting the packet to other wireless devices, and wherein the method further comprises receiving from the target wireless device a response including the IP address of the target wireless device.

37. A wireless communication device comprising:

means for forming a packet including a user-specific identifier for a target wireless device for peer-to-peer communication; and

means for sending the packet to request for an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the target wireless device.

38. The wireless communication device of claim 37, wherein the means for sending the packet comprises means for broadcasting the packet to other wireless devices and wherein the wireless communication device further comprises means for receiving from the target wireless device a response including the IP address of the target wireless device.

39. A computer program product comprising:

instructions for forming a packet including a user-specific identifier for a target wireless device for peer-to-peer communication; and

instructions for sending the packet to request for an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the target wireless device.

40. A wireless device comprising:

at least one processor configured to determine a service set identifier (SSID) based on at least one user-specific identifier for at least one wireless device and use the SSID for discovery of one or more wireless devices for peer-to-peer communication; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

41. The wireless device of claim 40, wherein each of the at least one user-specific identifier is based on a phone number or identification information for a respective one of the at least one wireless device.

42. The wireless device of claim 40, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the SSID based on a user-specific identifier for the wireless device.

43. The wireless device of claim 40, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the SSID based on a user-specific identifier for a called wireless device in a peer-to-peer call.

44. The wireless device of claim 40, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the SSID based on a first user-specific identifier for the wireless device and a second user-specific identifier for a called wireless device in a peer-to-peer call.

45. The wireless device of claim 40, wherein the at least one processor is configured to include the SSID in each frame sent to discover the one or more wireless devices.

46. A method comprising:

determining a service set identifier (SSID) based on at least one user-specific identifier for at least one wireless device; and

using the SSID for discovery of one or more wireless devices.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the determining the SSID comprises

determining the SSID based on a user-specific identifier for a wireless device sending frames for discovery of the one or more wireless devices.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the determining the SSID comprises

determining the SSID based on a user-specific identifier for a called wireless device in a peer-to-peer call.

49. A wireless communication device comprising:

means for determining a service set identifier (SSID) based on at least one user-specific identifier for at least one wireless device; and

means for using the SSID for discovery of one or more wireless devices.

50. The wireless communication device of claim 49, wherein the means for determining the SSID comprises means for determining the SSID based on a user-specific identifier for a wireless device sending frames for discovery of the one or more wireless devices.

51. The wireless communication device of claim 49, wherein the means for determining the SSID comprises means for determining the SSID based on a user-specific identifier for a called wireless device in a peer-to-peer call.

52. A computer program product comprising:

instructions for determining a service set identifier (SSID) based on at least one user-specific identifier for at least one wireless device; and

instructions for using the SSID for discovery of one or more wireless devices.

53. A wireless device comprising:

at least one processor configured to process traffic data for a peer-to-peer call in accordance with the quality of service (QoS) requirements ascertained for the peer-to-peer call with a target wireless device of the peer-to-peer call and send the processed traffic data to the target wireless device; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

54. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein the at least one processor is configured to mark packets carrying the traffic data using at least one packet header field.

55. The wireless device of claim 54, wherein the at least one packet header field comprises a type of service (TOS) field in Internet Protocol version 4 (TPv4), a traffic class field in IP version 6 (TPv6), or a differentiated services (DS) field.

56. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein the at least one processor is configured to classify the traffic data using application programming interfaces (APIs).

57. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein the at least one processor is configured to mark a buffer storing the traffic data with handling information for the traffic data.

58. A method comprising:

ascertaining quality of service (QoS) requirements for a peer-to-peer call with a target wireless device,

processing traffic data for the peer-to-peer call in accordance with the QoS requirements, and

sending the processed traffic data to the target wireless device.

59. A wireless communication device comprising:

means for ascertaining quality of service (QoS) requirements for a peer-to-peer call with a target wireless device,

means for processing traffic data for the peer-to-peer call in accordance with the QoS requirements, and

means for sending the processed traffic data to the target wireless device.

60. A computer program product comprising:

instructions for ascertaining quality of service (QoS) requirements for a peer-to-peer call with a target wireless device,

instructions for processing traffic data for the peer-to-peer call in accordance with the QoS requirements, and

instructions for sending the processed traffic data to the target wireless device.

61. A wireless device comprising:

at least one processor configured to perform discovery of a target wireless device and to authenticate the target wireless device after discovery, the at least one processor configured to form an ad hoc wireless network for peer-to-peer communication with the target wireless device and communicate peer-to-peer with the target wireless device via the ad hoc wireless network; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

62. The wireless device of claim 61, wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate a session key based on a pre-shared key (PSK) or a certificate provisioned on the wireless device and use the session key for peer-to-peer communication with the target wireless device.

63. The wireless device of claim 61, wherein the at least one processor is configured to process a received pair-wise master key (PMK) and group master key (GMK) from a wireless communication network, and to generate a session key based on the PMK and the GMK, which is used for peer-to-peer communication with the target wireless device.

64. A method comprising:

performing discovery of a target wireless device;

authenticating the target wireless device after discovery;

forming an ad hoc wireless network for peer-to-peer communication with the target wireless device at a wirless communication device; and

communicating peer-to-peer with the target wireless device via the ad hoc wireless network.

65. An apparatus comprising:

means for performing discovery of a target wireless device;

means for authenticating the target wireless device after discovery;

means for forming an ad hoc wireless network for peer-to-peer communication with the target wireless device at a wirless communication device; and

means for communicating peer-to-peer with the target wireless device via the ad hoc wireless network.

66. A wireless device comprising:

at least one processor configured to request access to a wireless network and obtain authorization for communication via the wireless from a wireless client device of the wireless network, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to initiate communication via the wireless network after obtaining authorization from the wireless client device; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

67. The wireless device of claim 66, wherein the at least one processor obtains authorization for restricted access covering a call being placed via the wireless network.