SUPPORT FOR WIDE AREA NETWORKS AND LOCAL AREA PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS

• US 20070211677A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jovicic, Aleksandar, Laroia, Rajiv, Wu, Xinzhou, Li, Junyi, Richardson, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 8,542,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0602 Systems characterised by the synchronising information used
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/261 Details of reference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0016 Time-frequency-code
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/16 Performing reselection for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/24 Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/244 using a network of reference devices, e.g. beaconing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 : adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 : adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate sharing bandwidth between a wide area network and a local area peer-to-peer network. The peer-to-peer network may use an air interface technology that is similar to distinct from an air interface technology use din the wide area network. Moreover, the wide area network and the local area peer-to-peer network may utilize distinct sets of parameters. For example, if the wide area network and the peer-to-peer network use OFDM-based air interface technologies, parameters such as tone spacing, symbol time, cyclic prefix, and the like of the two networks may vary. Further, peer-to-peer parameters may be a function of parameters for the wide area network.

Claims

1. A method that facilitates communicating via a shared spectrum, comprising:

employing a first set of parameters for a wide area network in a wireless spectrum; and

employing a second set of parameters for a local area peer-to-peer network in the same wireless spectrum.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of parameters are determined as a function of the first set of parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein an OFDM-based air interface technology is used in the local area peer-to-peer network and a CDMA-based air interface technology is used in the wide area network.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein OFDM-based air interface technologies are used in both the local area peer-to-peer network and the wide area network, and the parameters relate to tone spacing, symbol time and/or cyclic prefix.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second set of parameters includes a shorter symbol time, a shorter cyclic prefix and/or a larger tone spacing than the first set of parameters.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second set of parameters includes a tone spacing N times larger than a disparate tone spacing included in the first set of parameters, where N is a real number no less than 2.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second set of parameters includes a cyclic prefix K times shorter than a disparate cyclic prefix included in the first set of parameters, where K is a real number no less than 2.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the second set of parameters includes a longer symbol time, a shorter cyclic prefix and/or a smaller tone spacing than the first set of parameters.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising opportunistically communicating via the local area peer-to-peer network when the wireless spectrum is unutilized or underutilized by the wide area network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating a value of at least one parameter in the first set of parameters used in an air interface of the wide area network; and

obtaining the second set of parameters for the local area peer-to-peer network as a function of the estimated parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising identifying the air interface technology used in the wide area network.

12. The method of claim 11, obtaining the second set of parameters further comprises obtaining the second set of parameters from a lookup table based upon the estimated value of the at least one parameter used in the air interface of the wide area network or the identified air interface technology used in the wide area network.

13. The method of claim 11, obtaining the second set of parameters further comprises calculating at least part of the second set of parameters based upon the estimated value of the at least one parameter used in the air interface of the wide area network or the identified air interface technology used in the wide area network.

14. The method of claim 10, estimating the value of at least one parameter further comprises receiving a Beacon signal associated with the wide area network.

15. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to identifying a wide area network and accessing parameter data to be used for a peer-to-peer network as a function of the identified wide area network; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory further retains instructions for receiving a signature signal associated with the wide area network and estimating a value of at least one WAN parameter used in an air interface of the wide area network based upon the signature signal.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory further retains instructions for identifying the air interface technology used in the wide are network.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory further retains a lookup table that includes a plurality of sets of parameter data for the peer-to-peer network that correspond to a plurality of air interface technologies of wide area networks.

19. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18, wherein the memory further retains instructions for retrieving the parameter data from the lookup table based upon the estimated value of the at least one parameter used in the air interface of the wide area network or the identified air interface technology used in the wide area network.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory further retains instructions for deriving the parameter data as a function of the estimated value of the at least one parameter used in the air interface of the wide area network or the identified air interface technology used in the wide area network.

21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory further retains instructions for communicating via the wide area network and the peer-to-peer network utilizing a common spectrum.

22. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein an OFDM-based air interface technology is used in the peer-to-peer network and a CDMA-based air interface technology is used in the wide area network.

23. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein OFDM-based air interface technologies are used in both the peer-to-peer network and the wide area network, and the parameter data relates to tone spacing, symbol time and/or cyclic prefix.

24. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 23, wherein the parameter data to be used for the peer-to-peer network includes a shorter symbol time, a shorter cyclic prefix and/or a larger tone spacing than disparate parameter data for the wide area network.

25. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 23, wherein the parameter data to be used for the peer-to-peer network includes a longer symbol time, a shorter cyclic prefix and/or a smaller tone spacing than disparate parameter data for the wide area network.

26. A wireless communications apparatus that enables communication over a wide area network and a local area peer-to-peer network, comprising:

means for identifying a wide area network; and

means for accessing parameters to be used for a local area peer-to-peer network as a function of the identified wide area network.

27. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for utilizing a shared bandwidth to communicate over the wide area network and the local area peer-to-peer network.

28. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for determining an air interface technology associated with the wide area network.

29. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for estimating differing parameters to be employed for the wide area network.

30. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for deriving the parameters to be used for the local area peer-to-peer network.

31. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for opportunistically communicating via the local area peer-to-peer network when a common spectrum is unutilized or underutilized by the wide area network.

32. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 26, wherein an OFDM-based air interface technology is used in the local area peer-to-peer network and a CDMA-based air interface technology is used in the wide area network.

33. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 26, wherein OFDM-based air interface technologies are used in both the local area peer-to-peer network and the wide area network, and the parameters relate to tone spacing, symbol time and/or cyclic prefix.

34. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 33, wherein the parameters to be used for the peer-to-peer network include a shorter symbol time, a shorter cyclic prefix and/or a larger tone spacing than disparate parameters for the wide area network.

35. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 33, wherein the parameters to be used for the local area peer-to-peer network include a longer symbol time, a shorter cyclic prefix and/or a smaller tone spacing than disparate parameters for the wide area network.

36. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions for:

utilizing a first set of parameters for a wide area network; and

utilizing a second set of parameters for a local area peer-to-peer network that leverages a common wireless spectrum as the wide area network.

37. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, the machine-executable instructions further comprise generating at least one parameter from the second set of parameters based upon at least a portion of the first set of parameters.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein an OFDM-based air interface technology is used in the local area peer-to-peer network and CDMA-based air interface technology is used in the wide area network.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein OFDM-based air interface technologies are used in both the local area peer-to-peer network and the wide area network, and the parameters relate to tone spacing, symbol time and/or cyclic prefix.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the second set of parameters includes a shorter symbol time, a shorter cyclic prefix and/or a larger tone spacing than the first set of parameters.

41. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the second set of parameters includes a tone spacing N times larger than a disparate tone spacing included in the first set of parameters, where N is a real number no less than 2.

42. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the second set of parameters includes a cyclic prefix K times shorter than a disparate cyclic prefix included in the first set of parameters, where K is a real number no less than 2.

43. The machine-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the second set of parameters includes a longer symbol time, a shorter cyclic prefix and/or a smaller tone spacing than the first set of parameters.

44. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, the machine-executable instructions further comprise opportunistically transmitting over the local area peer-to-peer network utilizing a spectrum shared with the wide area network.

45. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, the machine-executable instructions further comprise estimating a value of at least one parameter in the first set of parameters used in an air interface of the wide area network and obtaining the second set of parameters for the local area peer-to-peer network as a function of the estimated parameter.

46. The machine-readable medium of claim 45, the machine-executable instructions further comprise identifying the air interface tehnology used in the wide area network.

47. The machine-readable medium of claim 46, the machine-executable instructions further comprise obtaining the second set of parameters from a lookup table based upon the estimated value of the at least one parameter used in the air interface of the wide area network or the identified air interface technology used in the wide area network.

48. The machine-readable medium of claim 46, the machine-executable instructions further comprise calculating at least part of the second set of parameters based upon the estimated value of the at least one parameter used in the air interface of the wide area network or the identified air interface technology used in the wide area network.

49. The machine-readable medium of claim 45, the machine-executable instructions further comprise receiving a Beacon signal associated with the wide area network upon which to estimate the value of at least one parameter.

50. In a wireless communication system, an apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

identify a wide area network; and

obtain a set of parameters to utilize for a peer-to-peer network based on the identity of the wide area network.