METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CHANNEL SELECTION IN A PEER TO PEER NETWORK

• US 20110249631A1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Hongseok, Tavildar, Saurabh, Jovicic, Aleksandar, Li, Junyi
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• 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

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to using available spectrum for peer to peer communications and for selecting which of several possibly available channels should be used. Various methods and apparatus are well suited to peer to peer networks in which channel usage decisions are made in a decentralized manner. A wireless terminal generates a list of potential available channels to be used for peer to peer communications, e.g., based on FCC information and/or local sensing. Channels are filled in accordance with a predetermined channel ordering. A wireless terminal migrates between the channels in accordance with changes in the number of peer devices using a channel. The network, in a distributed manner, changes the number of channels in use at a location in response to changes in numbers of active peer devices at a location.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless terminal, comprising:

generating a list of available channels for use in transmitting signals, said list of available channels including a first channel in a sequence of channels;

determining a number of peer devices using said first channel;

comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel to a first threshold; and

when said comparing indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel is less than or equal to said first threshold, using said first channel for transmission purposes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when said comparing indicates that the number of peer devices using said first channel is greater than said first threshold, checking a next channel on said list of available channels to determine if the next channel should be used for transmission purposes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein checking the next channel in said list of available channels includes:

determining a number of peer devices using said next channel; and

comparing the number of peer devices using said next channel to said first threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

when said comparing the number of peer devices using said next channel to said first threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the next channel is less than or equal to said first threshold, using said next channel for transmission purposes.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising,

when said comparing the number of peer devices using said next channel to said first threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using said next channel is greater than said first threshold, checking an additional channel on said list of available channels to determine if the additional channel should be used for transmission purposes.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining the number of devices using said first channel, and

if said number of devices using said first channel is below a second threshold, switching to said first channel for transmission purposes if a different channel is being used for transmission purposes.

7. A wireless terminal, comprising:

means for generating a list of available channels for use in transmitting signals, said list of available channels including a first channel in a sequence of channels;

means for determining a number of peer devices using said first channel;

means for comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel to a first threshold; and

means for using said first channel for transmission purposes, when said comparing indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel is less than or equal to said first threshold.

8. The wireless terminal of claim 7, further comprising:

means for checking a next channel on said list of available channels to determine if the next channel should be used for transmission purposes, when said comparing indicates that the number of peer devices using said first channel is greater than said first threshold.

9. The wireless terminal of claim 8, wherein said means for checking the next channel in said list of available channels includes:

means for determining a number of peer devices using said next channel; and

means comparing the number of peer devices using said next channel to said first threshold.

10. The wireless terminal of claim 9, further comprising:

means for using said next channel for transmission purposes, when said comparing the number of peer devices using said next channel indicates that the number of peer devices using the next channel is less than or equal to said first threshold,.

11. A computer program product for use in a wireless terminal, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to generate a list of available channels for use in transmitting signals, said list of available channels including a first channel in a sequence of channels;

code for causing said at least one computer to determine a number of peer devices using said first channel;

code for causing said at least one computer to compare the number of peer devices using said first channel to a first threshold; and

code for causing said at least one computer to using said first channel for transmission purposes, when said comparing indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel is less than or equal to said first threshold.

12. A wireless terminal comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

generate a list of available channels for use in transmitting signals, said list of available channels including a first channel in a sequence of channels;

determine a number of peer devices using said first channel;

compare the number of peer devices using said first channel to a first threshold; and

use said first channel for transmission purposes when said comparing indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel is less than or equal to said first threshold;

and memory coupled to said at least one processor.

13. The wireless terminal of claim 12, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

check a next channel on said list of available channels to determine if the next channel should be used for transmission purposes, when said comparing indicates that the number of peer devices using said first channel is greater than said first threshold.

14. The wireless terminal of claim 13, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a number of peer devices using said next channel; and

compare the number of peer devices using said next channel to said first threshold,

as part of being configured to check the next channel in said list of available channels.

15. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

use said next channel for transmission purposes, when said comparing the number of peer devices using said next channel to said first threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the next channel is less than or equal to said first threshold.

16. A method of operating a wireless terminal, comprising:

generating a list of channels to be considered for monitoring;

generating a list of channels to be monitored,

wherein said generating a list of channels to be monitored includes determining for a first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring, a number of devices using said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring; and

monitoring channels on said list of channels to be monitored.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein generating a list of channels to be monitored further includes:

comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold; and

when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is greater than said threshold, adding said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to said list of channels to be monitored.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises:

when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold, proceeding to determine if a next channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring should be added to said list of channels to be monitored without including said first channel in said list of channels to be monitored.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises:

when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold;

determining if said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals; and

incrementing a count value used to determine when to stop checking for additional channels to be added to said list of channels to be monitored when it is determined that said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises:

determining a number of peer devices using a second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring; and

comparing the number of peer devices using said second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to said threshold; and

when said comparing indicates that the number of peer devices using the second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is greater than said threshold, adding said second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to said list of channels to be monitored.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises:

when said comparing the number of peer devices using said second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to the threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold;

determining if said second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals; and

incrementing said count value used to determine when to stop checking for additional channels to be added to said list of channels to be monitored when it is determined that said second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals; and

comparing said incremented count value to a stop value use to determine if no further channels in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring should be checked.

22. A wireless terminal, comprising:

means for generating a list of channels to be considered for monitoring;

means for generating a list of channels to be monitored,

wherein said means for generating a list of channels to be monitored includes means for determining for a first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring, a number of devices using said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring; and

means for monitoring channels on said list of channels to be monitored.

23. The wireless terminal of claim 22, wherein said means for generating a list of channels to be monitored further includes:

means for comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold; and

means for adding said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to said list of channels to be monitored, when said means for comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is greater than said threshold.

24. The wireless terminal of claim 23, wherein said means for generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises:

means for proceeding to determine if a next channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring should be added to said list of channels to be monitored without including said first channel in said list of channels to be monitored, when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold.

25. The wireless terminal of claim 24, wherein said means for generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises:

means for determining if said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals; and

means for incrementing a count value used to determine when to stop checking for additional channels to be added to said list of channels to be monitored when it is determined that said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals,

when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold.

26. A computer program product for use in a wireless terminal, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to generate a list of channels to be considered for monitoring;

code for causing said at least one computer to generate a list of channels to be monitored including code for causing said at least one computer determine for a first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring, a number of devices using said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring; and

code for causing said at least one computer to monitor channels on said list of channels to be monitored.

27. A wireless terminal comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

generate a list of channels to be considered for monitoring;

generate a list of channels to be monitored;

determine for a first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring, a number of devices using said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring, as part of being configured to generate a list of channels to be monitored; and

monitor channels on said list of channels to be monitored;

and memory coupled to said at least one processor.

28. The wireless terminal of claim 27, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

compare the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold; and

add said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to said list of channels to be monitored, when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is greater than said threshold,

as part of being configured to generate a list of channels to be monitored.

29. The wireless terminal of claim 28, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

proceed to determine if a next channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring should be added to said list of channels to be monitored without including said first channel in said list of channels to be monitored, when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold,

as part of being configured to generate a list of channels to be monitored.

30. The wireless terminal of claim 29, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

determine if said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals; and

increment a count value used to determine when to stop checking for additional channels to be added to said list of channels to be monitored when it is determined that said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals,

when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold,

as part of being configured to generate a list of channels to be monitored.