HYBRID MODES FOR PEER DISCOVERY

• US 20120011247A1
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Mallik, Siddhartha, Palanki, Ravi, Malladi, Durga Prasad, Bhushan, Naga
• Granted Patent: US 10,250,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Techniques for performing peer discovery in a wireless network are described. A device may perform peer discovery to detect and identify other devices of interest. In an aspect, the device may perform peer discovery based on a hybrid mode that includes autonomous peer discovery and network-assisted peer discovery. In another aspect, the device may perform peer discovery based on a push mode and a pull mode. For the push mode, the device may occasionally transmit and/or receive a peer detection signal. For the pull mode, the device may transmit and/or receive a peer discovery request when triggered. In yet another aspect, the device may perform event-triggered peer discovery (e.g., for the pull mode). In yet another aspect, the device may perform peer discovery using both a downlink spectrum and an uplink spectrum. In yet another aspect, the device may transmit a peer detection signal in a manner to improve detection and/or increase payload.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

performing a first peer discovery autonomously by a device; and

performing a second peer discovery with network assistance by the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the first peer discovery comprises occasionally transmitting a peer detection signal by the device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the first peer discovery comprises occasionally detecting a peer detection signal from at least one other device by the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the second peer discovery comprises:

registering with a directory agent by the device; and

performing the second peer discovery when notified by the directory agent.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the performing the second peer discovery further comprises:

sending to the directory agent information indicative of services requested or provided by the device;

receiving from the directory agent a notification of a match between the device and at least one other device; and

performing the second peer discovery in response to receiving the notification of the match from the directory agent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the second peer discovery comprises:

receiving a peer discovery request from at least one other device; and

sending a response to the peer discovery request via a wireless network.

7. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for performing a first peer discovery autonomously by a device; and

means for performing a second peer discovery with network assistance by the device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for performing the first peer discovery comprises means for occasionally transmitting a peer detection signal by the device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for performing the first peer discovery comprises means for occasionally detecting a peer detection signal from at least one other device by the device.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for performing the second peer discovery comprises:

means for registering with a directory agent by the device; and

means for performing the second peer discovery when notified by the directory agent.

11. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to perform a first peer discovery autonomously by a device, and to perform a second peer discovery with network assistance by the device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to occasionally transmit a peer detection signal by the device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to occasionally detect a peer detection signal from at least one other device by the device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to register with a directory agent by the device and to perform the second peer discovery when notified by the directory agent.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one processor to perform a first peer discovery autonomously by a device, and

code for causing the at least one processor to perform a second peer discovery with network assistance by the device.

16. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

performing a first peer discovery based on a push mode by a device; and

performing a second peer discovery based on a pull mode by the device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the performing the first peer discovery comprises occasionally transmitting a peer detection signal by the device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the performing the first peer discovery comprises occasionally detecting a peer detection signal from at least one other device by the device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the performing the second peer discovery comprises:

transmitting a peer discovery request by the device; and

detecting a peer detection signal or a peer discovery response from at least one other device after transmitting the peer discovery request.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the performing the second peer discovery comprises:

receiving a peer discovery request from at least one other device; and

transmitting a peer detection signal by the device in response to the peer discovery request.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the performing the first peer discovery comprises transmitting a peer detection signal at a first rate by the device, and wherein the performing the second peer discovery comprises:

receiving a peer discovery request from at least one other device; and

transmitting the peer detection signal at a rate faster than the first rate by the device in response to the peer discovery request.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the performing the second peer discovery comprises:

receiving a peer discovery request from at least one other device; and

sending a response to the peer discovery request via a wireless network.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the first peer discovery and the second peer discovery are performed autonomously by the device.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the first peer discovery is performed autonomously by the device, and wherein the second peer discovery is performed with network assistance by the device.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the performing the first peer discovery comprises performing the first peer discovery on a downlink spectrum, and wherein the performing the second peer discovery comprises performing the second peer discovery on an uplink spectrum.

26. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for performing a first peer discovery based on a push mode by a device; and

means for performing a second peer discovery based on a pull mode by the device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for performing the first peer discovery comprises means for occasionally transmitting a peer detection signal by the device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for performing the first peer discovery comprises means for occasionally detecting a peer detection signal from at least one other device by the device.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for performing the second peer discovery comprises:

means for transmitting a peer discovery request by the device; and

means for detecting a peer detection signal or a peer discovery response from at least one other device after transmitting the peer discovery request.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for performing the second peer discovery comprises:

means for receiving a peer discovery request from at least one other device; and

means for transmitting a peer detection signal by the device in response to the peer discovery request.

31. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to perform a first peer discovery based on a push mode by a device, and to perform a second peer discovery based on a pull mode by the device.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor is configured to occasionally transmit a peer detection signal by the device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor is configured to occasionally detect a peer detection signal from at least one other device by the device.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit a peer discovery request by the device and to detect a peer detection signal or a peer discovery response from at least one other device after transmitting the peer discovery request.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a peer discovery request from at least one other device and to transmit a peer detection signal by the device in response to the peer discovery request.

36. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one processor to perform a first peer discovery based on a push mode by a device; and

code for causing the at least one processor to perform a second peer discovery based on a pull mode by the device.

37. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

transmitting a peer discovery request by a first device; and

detecting a peer detection signal or a peer discovery response from at least one other device after transmitting the peer discovery request.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

detecting an event triggering a peer discovery; and

transmitting the peer discovery request in response to detecting the event.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the event triggering the peer discovery corresponds to a change in location of the first device, or an application becoming active on the first device, or reception of a notification of a match from a directory agent, or a combination thereof.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the detecting the peer detection signal or the peer discovery response comprises receiving the peer discovery response sent by the at least one other device via a network in response to the peer discovery request.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving a second peer discovery request from a second device; and

transmitting a second peer detection signal by the first device in response to the second peer discovery request.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

transmitting a second peer detection at an initial rate by the first device;

receiving a second peer discovery request from a second device; and

transmitting the second peer detection signal at a rate faster than the initial rate by the first device in response to the second peer discovery request.

43. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for transmitting a peer discovery request by a first device; and

means for detecting a peer detection signal or a peer discovery response from at least one other device after transmitting the peer discovery request.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising:

means for detecting an event triggering a peer discovery; and

means for transmitting the peer discovery request in response to detecting the event.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising:

means for receiving a second peer discovery request from a second device; and

means for transmitting a second peer detection signal by the first device in response to the second peer discovery request.

46. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to send a peer discovery request by a first device, and to detect a peer detection signal or a peer discovery response from at least one other device after sending the peer discovery request.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect an event triggering a peer discovery and to transmit the peer discovery request in response to detecting the event.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a second peer discovery request from a second device and to transmit a second peer detection signal by the first device in response to the second peer discovery request.

49. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one processor to send a peer discovery request by a first device, and

code for causing the at least one processor to detect a peer detection signal or a peer discovery response from at least one other device after sending the peer discovery request.

50. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

performing a first peer discovery based on a downlink spectrum by a device; and

performing a second peer discovery based on an uplink spectrum by the device.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the performing the first peer discovery comprises occasionally transmitting a peer detection signal on the downlink spectrum by the device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the performing the first peer discovery comprises occasionally detecting a peer detection signal from at least one other device on the downlink spectrum.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the performing the second peer discovery comprises:

sending a peer discovery request by the device; and

detecting a peer detection signal on the uplink spectrum from at least one other device after sending the peer discovery request.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the performing the second peer discovery comprises:

receiving a notification to perform peer discovery from a directory agent; and

performing the second peer discovery on the uplink spectrum in response to the notification.

55. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for performing a first peer discovery based on a downlink spectrum by a device; and

means for performing a second peer discovery based on an uplink spectrum by the device.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for performing the first peer discovery comprises means for occasionally transmitting a peer detection signal on the downlink spectrum by the device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for performing the second peer discovery comprises:

means for sending a peer discovery request by the device; and

means for detecting a peer detection signal on the uplink spectrum from at least one other device after sending the peer discovery request.

58. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to perform a first peer discovery based on a downlink spectrum by a device, and to perform a second peer discovery based on an uplink spectrum by the device.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the at least one processor is configured to occasionally transmit a peer detection signal on the downlink spectrum by the device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send a peer discovery request by the device and to detect a peer detection signal on the uplink spectrum from at least one other device after sending the peer discovery request.

61. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one processor to perform a first peer discovery based on a downlink spectrum by a device; and

code for causing the at least one processor to perform a second peer discovery based on an uplink spectrum by the device.

62. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

generating at least one signal used for peer discovery; and

sending a plurality of transmissions of the at least one signal by a device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one signal comprises a beacon signal.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the plurality of transmissions of the at least one signal correspond to a plurality of beacon symbols, each beacon symbol including transmit power on at least one designated subcarrier among a plurality of subcarriers available for the beacon signal and no transmit power on remaining ones of the plurality of subcarriers.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the at least one signal comprises a primary synchronization signal, or a secondary synchronization signal, or a reference signal, or a combination thereof.

66. The method of claim 62, wherein a set of signals is available for use for peer discovery, wherein each of the plurality of transmissions corresponds to a transmission of one signal in the set of signals, and wherein the plurality of transmissions of the at least one signal correspond to transmissions of a sequence of signals selected from the set of signals.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein the plurality of transmissions of the at least one signal correspond to a plurality of transmissions of a system information block (SIB), or a master information block (MIB), or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

68. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for generating at least one signal used for peer discovery; and

means for sending a plurality of transmissions of the at least one signal by a device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the at least one signal comprises a beacon signal, or a primary synchronization signal, or a secondary synchronization signal, or a reference signal, or a combination thereof.

70. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to generate at least one signal used for peer discovery, and to send a plurality of transmissions of the at least one signal by a device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the at least one signal comprises a beacon signal, or a primary synchronization signal, or a secondary synchronization signal, or a reference signal, or a combination thereof.

72. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one processor to generate at least one signal used for peer discovery, and

code for causing the at least one processor to send a plurality of transmissions of the at least one signal by a device to enable at least one other device to detect the device.