METHODS FOR SENDING SMALL PACKETS IN A PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) NETWORK

• US 20090016287A1
• Filed: 07/07/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tavildar, Saurabh, Laroia, Rajiv, Wu, Xinzhou, Li, Junyi
• Granted Patent: US 8,144,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An improved mechanism is provided that facilitates transmission of small packets within an ad hoc peer-to-peer network. A small packet is identified to a receiver within a control channel so that its lower power can be considered in an interference management protocol implemented among local peer devices. In a traffic slot, a transmitter voluntarily backs down on the transmitter power as a smaller packet will require much lower signal-to-noise ratio. This will improve the signal energy per bit per noise power density for the transmission as well as minimize the interference caused to other wireless communications happening in the same spectrum.

Claims

1. A method operational in a third device having a peer-to-peer connection with a fourth device to facilitate interference management for a second peer-to-peer connection between a first device and a second device within a wireless network, comprising:

determining a signaling format to be used for a traffic signal to be sent to the fourth device, the signaling format being one of at least Gaussian signaling format and flash signaling format;

sending a transmission request signal to the fourth device in a transmission request resource;

monitoring a transmission request response resource to receive a transmission request response from the second device, the transmission request response from the second device indicating that the second device is prepared to receive a traffic signal from the first device different from the third device;

calculating an interference cost to the second device as a function of the determined signaling format; and

determining whether to send the traffic signal to the fourth device based on the calculated interference cost, the traffic signal to be sent in a traffic slot corresponding to the transmission request signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a transmission request response resource to receive a transmission request response from the fourth device, the transmission request response from the fourth device indicating that the fourth device is prepared to receive a traffic signal from the third device; and

determining whether the priority corresponding to the transmission request response received from the second device is higher than the transmission request response received from the fourth device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the traffic signal in the traffic slot if it is determined that the calculated interference cost is below a threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the value of calculated interference cost is smaller if it is determined that a flash signaling format is to be used rather than if it is determined that a Gaussian signaling format is to be used.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the traffic signal is sent in a fraction of the traffic channel resource in the traffic slot if it is determined the flash signaling format is to be used.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fraction is less than twenty percent of the traffic channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission request signal includes information indicative of the signaling format to be used in the traffic signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmission request signal is sent using a plurality of tones and information indicative of the signaling format to be used in the traffic signal is sent using the phases of the plurality of tones.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of information bits to be sent in the traffic signal when the Gaussian signaling format is used are at least twice as many as the number of information bits to be sent in the traffic signal when the flash signaling format is used.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing the signaling format from the Gaussian signaling format to the flash signaling format if it is determined that the calculated interference cost is sufficiently high that the third device is restrained from sending the traffic signal to the fourth device if the third device is to use the Gaussian signaling format; and

sending the traffic signal in the traffic slot using the flash signaling format.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring transmission request response resources to determine the number of devices that intend to use the flash signaling format in the traffic channel of the traffic slot; and

restraining from using the flash signaling format if it is determined that the number of devices that intend to use the flash signaling format in the traffic channel of the traffic slot exceeds a threshold number.

12. A third wireless device having a peer-to-peer connection with a fourth device to facilitate interference management for a second peer-to-peer connection between a first device and a second device within a wireless network, comprising:

a transmitter and receiver for establishing a wireless peer-to-peer communication connection with the fourth wireless device;

a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and receiver, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to;

determine a signaling format to be used for a traffic signal to be sent to the fourth device, the signaling format being one of at least Gaussian signaling format and flash signaling format;

send a transmission request signal to the fourth device in a transmission request resource;

monitor a transmission request response resource to receive a transmission request response from the second device, the transmission request response from the second device indicating that the second device is prepared to receive a traffic signal from the first device different from the third device;

calculate an interference cost to the second device as a function of the determined signaling format; and

determine whether to send the traffic signal to the fourth device based on the calculated interference cost, the traffic signal to be sent in a traffic slot corresponding to the transmission request signal.

13. The third device of claim 12, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to:

monitor a transmission request response resource to receive a transmission request response from the fourth device, the transmission request response from the fourth device indicating that the fourth device is prepared to receive a traffic signal from the third device; and

determine whether the priority corresponding to the transmission request response received from the second device is higher than the transmission request response received from the fourth device.

14. The third device of claim 12, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to:

send the traffic signal in the traffic slot if it is determined that the calculated interference cost is below a threshold.

15. The third device of claim 14, wherein the value of calculated interference cost is smaller if it is determined that a flash signaling format is to be used rather than if it is determined that a Gaussian signaling format is to be used.

16. The third device of claim 15, wherein the traffic signal is sent in a fraction of the traffic channel resource in the traffic slot if it is determined the flash signaling format is to be used.

17. The third device of claim 16, wherein the fraction is less than twenty percent of the traffic channel.

18. The third device of claim 12, wherein the transmission request signal includes information indicative of the signaling format to be used in the traffic signal.

19. The third device of claim 18, wherein the transmission request signal is sent using a plurality of tones and information indicative of the signaling format to be used in the traffic signal is sent using the phases of the plurality of tones.

20. The third device of claim 12, wherein the number of information bits to be sent in the traffic signal when the Gaussian signaling format is used are at least twice as many as the number of information bits to be sent in the traffic signal when the flash signaling format is used.

21. The third device of claim 12, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to:

change the signaling format from the Gaussian signaling format to the flash signaling format if it is determined that the calculated interference cost is sufficiently high that the third device is restrained from sending the traffic signal to the fourth device if the third device is to use the Gaussian signaling format; and

send the traffic signal in the traffic slot using the flash signaling format.

22. The third device of claim 12, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to:

monitor transmission request response resources to determine the number of devices that intend to use the flash signaling format in the traffic channel of the traffic slot; and

restrain from using the flash signaling format if it is determined that the number of devices that intend to use the flash signaling format in the traffic channel of the traffic slot exceeds a threshold number.

23. A third wireless device having a peer-to-peer connection with a fourth device to facilitate interference management for a second peer-to-peer connection between a first device and a second device within a wireless network, comprising:

means for determining a signaling format to be used for a traffic signal to be sent to the fourth device, the signaling format being one of at least Gaussian signaling format and flash signaling format;

means for sending a transmission request signal to the fourth device in a transmission request resource;

means for monitoring a transmission request response resource to receive a transmission request response from the second device, the transmission request response from the second device indicating that the second device is prepared to receive a traffic signal from the first device different from the third device;

means for calculating an interference cost to the second device as a function of the determined signaling format; and

means for determining whether to send the traffic signal to the fourth device based on the calculated interference cost, the traffic signal to be sent in a traffic slot corresponding to the transmission request signal.

24. The third device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for monitoring a transmission request response resource to receive a transmission request response from the fourth device, the transmission request response from the fourth device indicating that the fourth device is prepared to receive a traffic signal from the third device; and

means for determining whether the priority corresponding to the transmission request response received from the second device is higher than the transmission request response received from the fourth device.

25. The third device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for sending the traffic signal in the traffic slot if it is determined that the calculated interference cost is below a threshold.

26. The third device of claim 25, wherein the value of calculated interference cost is smaller if it is determined that a flash signaling format is to be used rather than if it is determined that a Gaussian signaling format is to be used.

27. The third device of claim 26, wherein the traffic signal is sent in a fraction of the traffic channel resource in the traffic slot if it is determined the flash signaling format is to be used.

28. The third device of claim 27, wherein the fraction is less than twenty percent of the traffic channel.

29. The third device of claim 23, wherein the transmission request signal includes information indicative of the signaling format to be used in the traffic signal.

30. The third device of claim 29, wherein the transmission request signal is sent using a plurality of tones and information indicative of the signaling format to be used in the traffic signal is sent using the phases of the plurality of tones.

31. The third device of claim 23, wherein the number of information bits to be sent in the traffic signal when the Gaussian signaling format is used are at least twice as many as the number of information bits to be sent in the traffic signal when the flash signaling format is used.

32. The third device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for changing the signaling format from the Gaussian signaling format to the flash signaling format if it is determined that the calculated interference cost is sufficiently high that the third device is restrained from sending the traffic signal to the fourth device if the third device is to use the Gaussian signaling format; and

means for sending the traffic signal in the traffic slot using the flash signaling format.

33. The third device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for monitoring transmission request response resources to determine the number of devices that intend to use the flash signaling format in the traffic channel of the traffic slot; and

means for restraining from using the flash signaling format if it is determined that the number of devices that intend to use the flash signaling format in the traffic channel of the traffic slot exceeds a threshold number.

34. A circuit for facilitating communications over a peer-to-peer network, wherein the circuit operates in a third wireless device having a peer-to-peer connection with a fourth device to facilitate interference management for a second peer-to-peer connection between a first device and a second device within a wireless network, wherein the circuit is adapted to:

determine a signaling format to be used for a traffic signal to be sent to the fourth device, the signaling format being one of at least Gaussian signaling format and flash signaling format;

send a transmission request signal to the fourth device in a transmission request resource;

monitor a transmission request response resource to receive a transmission request response from the second device, the transmission request response from the second device indicating that the second device is prepared to receive a traffic signal from the first device different from the third device;

calculate an interference cost to the second device as a function of the determined signaling format; and

determine whether to send the traffic signal to the fourth device based on the calculated interference cost, the traffic signal to be sent in a traffic slot corresponding to the transmission request signal.

35. The third device of claim 34, wherein the circuit is further adapted to:

monitor a transmission request response resource to receive a transmission request response from the fourth device, the transmission request response from the fourth device indicating that the fourth device is prepared to receive a traffic signal from the third device; and

determine whether the priority corresponding to the transmission request response received from the second device is higher than the transmission request response received from the fourth device.

36. The third device of claim 34, wherein the circuit is further adapted to:

send the traffic signal in the traffic slot if it is determined that the calculated interference cost is below a threshold, wherein the value of calculated interference cost is smaller if it is determined that a flash signaling format is to be used rather than if it is determined that a Gaussian signaling format is to be used.

37. The third device of claim 34, wherein the circuit is further adapted to:

change the signaling format from the Gaussian signaling format to the flash signaling format if it is determined that the calculated interference cost is sufficiently high that the third device is restrained from sending the traffic signal to the fourth device if the third device is to use the Gaussian signaling format; and

send the traffic signal in the traffic slot using the flash signaling format.

38. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions for a third wireless device having a peer-to-peer connection with a fourth device to facilitate interference management for a second peer-to-peer connection between a first device and a second device within a wireless network, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

determine a signaling format to be used for a traffic signal to be sent to the fourth device, the signaling format being one of at least Gaussian signaling format and flash signaling format;

send a transmission request signal to the fourth device in a transmission request resource;

monitor a transmission request response resource to receive a transmission request response from the second device, the transmission request response from the second device indicating that the second device is prepared to receive a traffic signal from the first device different from the third device;

calculate an interference cost to the second device as a function of the determined signaling format; and

determine whether to send the traffic signal to the fourth device based on the calculated interference cost, the traffic signal to be sent in a traffic slot corresponding to the transmission request signal.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 38, further comprising instructions to cause the processor to:

monitor a transmission request response resource to receive a transmission request response from the fourth device, the transmission request response from the fourth device indicating that the fourth device is prepared to receive a traffic signal from the third device; and

determine whether the priority corresponding to the transmission request response received from the second device is higher than the transmission request response received from the fourth device.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 38, further comprising instructions to cause the processor to:

send the traffic signal in the traffic slot if it is determined that the calculated interference cost is below a threshold, wherein the value of calculated interference cost is smaller if it is determined that a flash signaling format is to be used rather than if it is determined that a Gaussian signaling format is to be used.