WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHODS AND APPARATUS SUPPORTING PEER TO PEER COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20070291715A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Laroia, Rajiv, Li, Junyi, Richardson, Tom, Lane, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,879,519 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 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

A first mobile node supports peer to peer communications but not cellular communications. Other mobile modes in the communication system support a cellular mode and may support a peer to peer communications mode. The communications system is such that spectrum may be dynamically reallocated between being designated to be used for peer to peer operations and being used primarily for cellular network based operations. Beacon signals are used to communicate a current mode of frequency spectrum usage designation. The first mobile node, being in an ongoing peer to peer communications session detects that the spectrum is being reallocated for cellular based operations. The first mobile node reduces its transmission power level in response to the detected spectrum reallocation. In some embodiments, the first mobile is allowed to continue its ongoing peer to peer session while the spectrum is primarily allocated for cellular communications, albeit at a lower transmission power level.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless device, the method comprising:

determining from a first broadcast signal received from a base station that a frequency band corresponding to said base station is being used for peer to peer communications;

determining from a second broadcast signal received from the base station that said frequency band has been changed to being used as a cellular frequency band; and

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band reducing transmission power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing transmission power includes a reduction in transmission power by at least 10 dBs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing transmission power includes ceasing to transmit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band, terminating an ongoing peer to peer communications session.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band, putting an ongoing peer to peer communications session into a hold state.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining from a third broadcast signal received from said base station that said frequency band has been changed to being used for peer to peer cone communications.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

switching a peer to peer communications session which was in a hold state to an active state in response to said third broadcast signal.

8. A wireless communications device which supports peer to peer communications, comprising:

a receiver for receiving signals including broadcast signals;

a transmitter for transmitting user data as part of a peer to peer communications session,

a mode determination module for determining based on received broadcast signals a mode of communications band operation, the mode of communications band operation being a mode of operation in which said frequency band is to be used at a point in time, the determined mode of communication band operation being one of a plurality of frequency band modes including at least a cellular communications mode and a first peer to peer communications mode; and

a mode control module for controlling wireless communications device operation as a function of at least one of a mode determination and a change in a determined mode of communications band operation, said mode control module controlling the transmitter to reduce transmission power in response to determining that the frequency band is to be used as a cellular frequency band.

9. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein reducing transmission power includes reducing transmission power by at least 10 dBs.

10. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein reducing transmission power includes ceasing to transmit.

11. The wireless communications device of claim 8, further comprising:

a peer to peer communications session termination module for terminating a peer to peer communications session in response to a determination that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

12. The wireless communications device of claim 8, further comprising:

a session hold module for putting an ongoing peer to peer communications session into a hold state in response to a determination that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 12, further comprising:

a peer to peer communications session reestablishment module for transitioning a peer to peer communications session from a hold state to an active state in response to a determination that said frequency band is to be used for peer to peer communications.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein said mode control module supports first and second peer to peer modes of operation, said second peer to peer mode of operation being a reduced power level mode of operation in which said wireless communications device uses a lower maximum transmission power level for the transmission of user data than is used during said first mode of peer to peer operation.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 14, further comprising:

memory storing information indicating a first maximum transmission power level to be used during said first mode of peer to peer communications operation and a second maximum transmission power level to be used during said second mode of peer to peer communications operation, said second maximum transmission power level being lower than said first maximum transmission power level.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 14 wherein said wireless communications device supports peer to peer communications but does not support a cellular mode of operation.

17. A wireless communications device which supports peer to peer communications, comprising:

receiver means for receiving signals including broadcast signals;

transmitter means for transmitting user data as part of a peer to peer communications session,

mode determination means for determining based on received broadcast signals a mode of communications band operation, the mode of communications band operation being a mode of operation in which said frequency band is to be used at a point in tine, the determined mode of communication band operation being one of a plurality of frequency band modes including at least a cellular communications mode and a first peer to peer communications mode; and

mode control means for controlling wireless communications device operation as a function of at least one of a mode determination and a change in a determined mode of communications band operation, said mode control means controlling the transmitter to reduce transmission power in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

18. The wireless communications device of claim 17, further comprising:

peer to peer communications session termination means for terminating a peer to peer communications session in response to a determination that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

19. The wireless communications device of claim 17, further comprising:

session hold means for putting an ongoing peer to peer communications session into a hold state in response to a determination that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

20. The wireless communications device of claim 19, further comprising:

peer to peer communications session reestablishment means for transitioning a peer to peer communications session from a hold state to an active state in response to a determination that said frequency band is to be used for peer to peer communications.

21. The wireless communications device of claim 17, wherein said mode control means supports first and second peer to peer modes of operation, said second peer to peer mode of operation being a reduced power level mode of operation in which said wireless communications device uses a lower maximum transmission power level for the transmission of user data than is used during said first mode of peer to peer operation.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 21, further comprising:

memory means storing information indicating a first maximum transmission power level to be used during said first mode of peer to peer communications operation and a second maximum transmission power level to be used during said second mode of peer to peer communications operation, said second maximum transmission power level being lower than said first maximum transmission power level.

23. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a wireless device to implement a method, the method comprising:

determining from a first broadcast signal received from a base station that a frequency band corresponding to said base station is being used for peer to peer communications;

determining from a second broadcast signal received from the base station that said frequency band has been changed to being used as a cellular frequency band; and

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band reducing transmission power.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein reducing transmission power includes ceasing to transmit.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band, terminating an ongoing peer to peer communications session.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band, putting an ongoing peer to peer communications session into a hold state.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

determining from a third broadcast signal received from said base station that said frequency band has been changed to being used for peer to peer communications.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

switching a peer to peer communications session which was in a hold state to an active state in response to said third broadcast signal.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless communications device processor configured to;

receive signals including broadcast signals;

transmit user data as part of a peer to peer communications session,

determine based on received broadcast, signals a mode of communications band operation, the mode of communications band operation being a mode of operation in which said frequency band is to be used at a point in time, the determined mode of communication band operation being one of a plurality of frequency band modes including at least a cellular communications mode and a first peer to peer communications mode; and

control apparatus operation as a function of at least one of a mode determination and a change in a determined mode of communications band operation, said wireless communications device processor controlling the apparatus to reduce transmission power in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said wireless communications device processor is further configured to:

terminate a peer to peer communications session in response to a determination that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said wireless communications device processor is further configured to:

put an ongoing peer to peer communications session into a hold state in response to a determination that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said wireless communications device processor is further configured to:

transition a peer to peer communications session from a hold state to an active state in response to a determination that said frequency band is to be used for peer to peer communications.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said apparatus supports first and second peer to peer modes of operation said second peer to peer mode of operation being a reduced power level mode of operation in which said apparatus uses a lower maximum transmission power level for the transmission of user data than is used during said first mode of peer to peer operation.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said wireless communications device processor is further configured to:

indicate a first maximum transmission power level to be used during said first mode of peer to peer communications operation and a second maximum transmission power level to be used during said second mode of peer to peer communications operation, said second maximum transmission power level being lower than said first maximum transmission power level.