Discovery channel and discovery beacon for peer-to-peer devices in wireless communications network

• US 20100271959A1
• Filed: 04/22/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kaidar, Oren, Qi, Emily H., Meylemans, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• 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 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

In a multi-channel wireless communications environment, at least one of the channels may be used for the purpose of allowing devices to discover each other so that they may subsequently communicate with each other on another channel. In some embodiments a special discovery beacon may be used on that channel, which is dedicated to the purpose of allowing the devices to discover each other.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising

a first wireless device (WD1) including a processor and a radio able to communicate wirelessly over multiple wireless channels including a social channel and a non-social channel, wherein WD1 is to perform a first communications sequence on the social channel to discover a second wireless device (WD2), and is to perform a second communications sequence with WD2 on a non-social channel to form an association.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first communications sequence is to comprise:

a request for device association;

a response to the request, and a confirmation to the response.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the request is to comprise a discovery beacon with a same format as an operational beacon.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the request is to comprise a discovery beacon with a different format than an operational beacon.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the response is to include information to determine whether WD1 or WD2 will be a group owner during the second communications sequence.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the group owner is to transmit an operational beacon during the second communications sequence.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein WD 1 comprises at least one antenna.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein WD 1 is to transmit the request and the confirmation and is to receive the response.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein WD2 is to receive the request and the confirmation and is to transmit the response.

10. A method, comprising:

performing, by a first wireless device (WD1), a first communications sequence on a social channel to discover a second wireless device (WD2); and

performing, by WD1, a second communications sequence with WD2 on a non-social channel to form an association.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first communications sequence comprises:

a request for device association;

a response to the request, and

a confirmation to the response.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the request comprises a discovery beacon with a same format as an operational beacon.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the request comprises a discovery beacon with a different format than an operational beacon.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the response includes information to determine whether WD1 or WD2 will be a group owner during the second communications sequence.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the group owner transmits an operational beacon during the second communications sequence.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein WD1 transmits the request and the confirmation and receives the response.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein WD1 receives the request and the confirmation and transmits the response.

18. An article comprising

a tangible computer-readable medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:

performing, by a first wireless device (WD1), a first communications sequence with a second wireless device (WD2) on a social channel to discover WD2; and

performing, by WD1, a second communications sequence with WD2 on a non-social channel to form an association.

19. The article of claim 18, wherein the first communications sequence comprises:

a request for device association;

a response to the request, and

a confirmation to the response.

20. The article of claim 19, wherein the request comprises a discovery beacon with a same format as an operational beacon.

21. The article of claim 19, wherein the request comprises a discovery beacon with a different format than an operational beacon.

22. The article of claim 19, wherein the response includes information to determine whether WD1 or WD2 will be a group owner during the second communications sequence.

23. The article of claim 22, wherein the group owner transmits an operational beacon during the second communications sequence.

24. The article of claim 19, wherein WD1 transmits the request and the confirmation and receives the response.

25. The article of claim 19, wherein WD2 receives the request and the confirmation and transmits the response.