Multi-Homed Peer-to-Peer Network

• US 20110294474A1
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Barany, Peter Anthony, Laganier, Julien H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,351,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Techniques are provided for efficient peer-to-peer (P2P) service discovery and group formation, as well as maintenance of P2P session continuity. In one example, there is provided a method, operable by an originating user equipment (UE), that may involve transmitting a request for P2P service discovery and group formation assistance to a discovery server via a serving node over an air-interface channel. The method may involve receiving scoped information from the discovery server for participating in a P2P communication session, and establishing the P2P communication session with at least one terminating UE based at least in part on the received scoped information. The method may involve maintaining P2P communication session continuity by reverting to bearer signaling via a packet core.

Claims

1. A method for peer-to-peer (P2P) networking operable by an originating user equipment (UE), facilitated by a wireless wide area network, comprising:

transmitting a request for P2P service discovery and group formation assistance to a discovery server via a serving node over an air-interface channel;

receiving scoped information from the discovery server for participating in a P2P communication session; and

establishing the P2P communication session with at least one terminating UE based at least in part on the received scoped information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the request for P2P service discovery and group formation assistance further comprises communicating with the discovery server that scopes discovery by selecting a subset of a plurality of UEs determined to be proximate to the originating UE.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the scoped information further comprises receiving information directed to a scoped selection of UE based upon a selected at least one of location, network topologies, user roles, and context information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a packet delivery network gateway co-located with the serving node to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE that receives service from the serving node.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a packet delivery network gateway located in a packet core remote to the serving node to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE that receives service from another serving node.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising selecting a home agent that communicates via an Internet and the packet core to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the P2P communication session further comprises receiving group formation instructions from the discovery server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the group formation instructions further comprises receiving instructions for at least one of an automatic trigger for radio frequency proximity discovery, resource coordination among neighboring P2P groups, P2P group establishment criteria, addition of a member to an existing P2P group, and deletion of a member from an existing P2P group.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining P2P communication session continuity by reverting to bearer signaling via the packet core.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting to and receiving from the serving node is in accordance with evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) protocols.

11. An apparatus for peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

transmit a request for P2P service discovery and group formation assistance to a discovery server via a serving node over an air-interface channel;

receive scoped information from the discovery server for participating in a P2P communication session; and

establish the P2P communication session with at least one terminating user equipment (UE) based at least in part on the received scoped information; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor transmits the request for P2P service discovery and group formation assistance by communicating with the discovery server that scopes discovery by selecting a subset of a plurality of UEs determined to be proximate to the originating UE.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor receives the scoped information by receiving information directed to a scoped selection of UE based upon a selected at least one of location, network topologies, user roles, and context information.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select a packet delivery network gateway co-located with the serving node to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE that receives service from the serving node.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select a packet delivery network gateway located in a packet core remote to the serving node to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE that receives service from another serving node.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select a home agent that communicates via an Internet and the packet core to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor establishes the P2P communication session by receiving group formation instructions from the discovery server.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor receives the group formation instructions by receiving instructions for at least one of an automatic trigger for radio frequency proximity discovery, resource coordination among neighboring P2P groups, P2P group establishment criteria, addition of a member to an existing P2P group, and deletion of a member from an existing P2P group.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to maintain P2P communication session continuity by reverting to bearer signaling via the packet core.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein transmitting to and receiving from the serving node is in accordance with evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) protocols.

21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises an originating UE.

22. An apparatus for peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, comprising:

means for transmitting a request for P2P service discovery and group formation assistance to a discovery server via a serving node over an air-interface channel;

means for receiving scoped information from the discovery server for participating in a P2P communication session; and

means for establishing the P2P communication session with at least one terminating user equipment (UE) based at least in part on the received scoped information.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for communicating with the discovery server that scopes discovery by selecting a subset of a plurality of UEs determined to be proximate to the originating UE.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for receiving information directed to a scoped selection of UE based upon a selected at least one of location, network topologies, user roles, and context information.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for selecting a packet delivery network gateway co-located with the serving node to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE that receives service from the serving node.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for selecting a packet delivery network gateway located in a packet core remote to the serving node to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE that receives service from another serving node.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for selecting a home agent that communicates via an Internet and the packet core to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for receiving group formation instructions from the discovery server.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for receiving instructions for at least one of an automatic trigger for radio frequency proximity discovery, resource coordination among neighboring P2P groups, P2P group establishment criteria, addition of a member to an existing P2P group, and deletion of a member from an existing P2P group.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for maintaining P2P communication session continuity by reverting to bearer signaling via the packet core.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein transmitting to and receiving from the serving node is in accordance with evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) protocols.

32. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

transmit a request for peer-to-peer (P2P) service discovery and group formation assistance to a discovery server via a serving node over an air-interface channel;

receive scoped information from the discovery server for participating in a P2P communication session; and

establish the P2P communication session with at least one terminating user equipment (UE) based at least in part on the received scoped information.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to communicate with the discovery server that scopes discovery by selecting a subset of a plurality of UEs determined to be proximate to the originating UE.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to receive information directed to a scoped selection of UE based upon a selected at least one of location, network topologies, user roles, and context information.

35. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to select a packet delivery network gateway co-located with the serving node to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE that receives service from the serving node.

36. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to select a packet delivery network gateway located in a packet core remote to the serving node to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE that receives service from another serving node.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to select a home agent that communicates via an Internet and the packet core to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE.

38. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to receive group formation instructions from the discovery server.

39. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to receive instructions for at least one of an automatic trigger for radio frequency proximity discovery, resource coordination among neighboring P2P groups, P2P group establishment criteria, addition of a member to an existing P2P group, and deletion of a member from an existing P2P group.

40. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to maintain P2P communication session continuity by reverting to bearer signaling via the packet core.

41. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein transmitting to and receiving from the serving node is in accordance with evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) protocols.

42. A method for peer-to-peer (P2P) networking operable by a network entity, facilitated by a wireless wide area network, comprising:

receiving from an originating user equipment (UE) a request for P2P service discovery and group formation assistance via a serving node over an air-interface channel;

determining a scoped subset of a plurality of UEs that are appropriate for P2P service discovery; and

transmitting information of the scoped subset of the plurality of UEs for participating in radio frequency (RF) proximity discovery.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising facilitating bearer signaling via the packet core for establishing a P2P communication session within the scoped subset of the plurality of UEs that responded to respective information as part of the scoped service discovery.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein determining the scope subset further comprises determining appropriateness of P2P communication based upon a selected at least one of location, network topologies, user roles, and context information.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising facilitating bearer signaling between the originating UE and at least one terminating UE, which is connected to the serving node, via a packet data network gate co-located with the serving node.

46. The method of claim 42, further comprising facilitating bearer signaling between the originating UE and at least one terminating UE, which is connected to another node, via a packet data network gateway located in a packet core remote to the serving node.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising facilitating selection of a home agent that communicates via an Internet and the packet core to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE.

48. The method of claim 42, further comprising transmitting group formation instructions for establishing and maintaining the P2P communication session.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein transmitting the group formation instructions further comprises transmitting instructions for at least one of an automatic trigger for the RF proximity discovery, resource coordination among neighboring P2P groups, P2P group establishment criteria, addition of a member to an existing P2P group, and deletion of a member from an existing P2P group.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein transmitting from and receiving at the serving node is in accordance with evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) protocols.

51. An apparatus for peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive from an originating user equipment (UE) a request for P2P service discovery and group formation assistance via a serving node over an air-interface channel;

determine a scoped subset of a plurality of UEs that are appropriate for P2P service discovery; and

transmit information of the scoped subset of the plurality of UEs; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to facilitate bearer signaling via the packet core for establishing a P2P communication session within the scoped subset of the plurality of UEs that responded to respective information as part of the scoped service discovery.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor determines the scope subset by determining appropriateness of P2P communication based upon a selected at least one of location, network topologies, user roles, and context information.

54. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to facilitate bearer signaling between the originating UE and at least one terminating UE, which is connected to the serving node, via a packet data network gate co-located with the serving node.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to facilitate bearer signaling between the originating UE and at least one terminating UE, which is connected to another node, via a packet data network gateway located in a packet core remote to the serving node.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to facilitate selection of a home agent that communicates via an Internet and the packet core to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE.

57. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit group formation instructions for establishing and maintaining the P2P communication session.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmits the group formation instructions by transmitting instructions for at least one of an automatic trigger for radio frequency (RF) proximity discovery, resource coordination among neighboring P2P groups, P2P group establishment criteria, addition of a member to an existing P2P group, and deletion of a member from an existing P2P group.

59. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein transmitting from and receiving at the serving node is in accordance with evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) protocols.

60. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the apparatus comprises an evolved NodeB (eNB).

61. An apparatus for peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, comprising:

means for receiving from an originating user equipment (UE) a request for P2P service discovery and group formation assistance via a serving node over an air-interface channel;

means for determining a scoped subset of a plurality of UEs that are appropriate for P2P service discovery; and

means for transmitting information of the scoped subset of the plurality of UEs.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, further comprising means for facilitating bearer signaling via the packet core for establishing a P2P communication session within the scoped subset of the plurality of UEs that responded to respective information as part of the scoped service discovery.

63. The apparatus of claim 61, further comprising means for determining appropriateness of P2P communication based upon a selected at least one of location, network topologies, user roles, and context information.

64. The apparatus of claim 61, further comprising means for facilitating bearer signaling between the originating UE and at least one terminating UE, which is connected to the serving node, via a packet data network gate co-located with the serving node.

65. The apparatus of claim 61, further comprising means for facilitating bearer signaling between the originating UE and at least one terminating UE, which is connected to another node, via a packet data network gateway located in a packet core remote to the serving node.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, further comprising means for facilitating selection of a home agent that communicates via an Internet and the packet core to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE.

67. The apparatus of claim 61, further comprising means for transmitting group formation instructions for establishing and maintaining the P2P communication session.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for transmitting the group formation instructions by transmitting instructions for at least one of an automatic trigger for radio frequency (RF) proximity discovery, resource coordination among neighboring P2P groups, P2P group establishment criteria, addition of a member to an existing P2P group, and deletion of a member from an existing P2P group.

69. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein transmitting from and receiving at the serving node is in accordance with evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) protocols.

70. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

receive from an originating user equipment (UE) a request for peer-to-peer (P2P) service discovery and group formation assistance via a serving node over an air-interface channel;

determine a scoped subset of a plurality of UEs that are appropriate for P2P service discovery; and

transmit information of the scoped subset of the plurality of UEs.

71. The computer program product of claim 70, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to facilitate bearer signaling via the packet core for establishing a P2P communication session within the scoped subset of the plurality of UEs that responded to respective information as part of the scoped service discovery.

72. The computer program product of claim 70, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to determine appropriateness of P2P communication based upon a selected at least one of location, network topologies, user roles, and context information.

73. The computer program product of claim 70, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to facilitate bearer signaling between the originating UE and at least one terminating UE, which is connected to the serving node, via a packet data network gate co-located with the serving node.

74. The computer program product of claim 70, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to facilitate bearer signaling between the originating UE and at least one terminating UE, which is connected to another node, via a packet data network gateway located in a packet core remote to the serving node.

75. The computer program product of claim 74, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to facilitate selection of a home agent that communicates via an Internet and the packet core to establish communications with the at least one terminating UE.

76. The computer program product of claim 70, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to transmit group formation instructions for establishing and maintaining the P2P communication session.

77. The computer program product of claim 76, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to transmit the group formation instructions by transmitting instructions for at least one of an automatic trigger for radio frequency (RF) proximity discovery, resource coordination among neighboring P2P groups, P2P group establishment criteria, addition of a member to an existing P2P group, and deletion of a member from an existing P2P group.

78. The computer program product of claim 70, wherein transmitting from and receiving at the serving node is in accordance with evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) protocols.