MULTICAST OVER WIRELESS NETWORK WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF POWER-EFFICIENT PEER GROUP DISCOVERY

• US 20140126453A1
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Park, Vincent, Wu, Zhibin, Wintner, Perry
• Granted Patent: US 9,853,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may be a data source determining to send a multicast transmission for a multicast group having a multicast group identifier, wirelessly communicating an expression with at least one node in the multicast group, the expression based on the multicast group identifier, and sending the multicast transmission to the at least one node. The apparatus may a data receiver determining to receive a multicast transmission for a multicast group having a multicast group identifier, wirelessly communicating an expression with a data source in the multicast group, the expression based on the multicast group identifier, and receiving the multicast transmission from the data source.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication of a data source, comprising:

determining to send a multicast transmission for a multicast group having a multicast group identifier;

wirelessly communicating an expression with at least one node in the multicast group, the expression based on the multicast group identifier; and

sending the multicast transmission to the at least one node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the expression is wirelessly communicated on a discovery channel, and the multicast transmission is sent on a data channel distinct from the discovery channel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wirelessly communicating the expression comprises:

determining that the at least one node is not concurrently awake with the data source to exchange expressions on the discovery channel; and

waiting until the at least one node is concurrently awake with the data source to wirelessly communicate the expression.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wirelessly communicating the expression comprises transmitting an indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission to the at least one node.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wirelessly communicating the expression comprises receiving an indication that the at least one node is ready to receive the multicast transmission, the method further comprising:

switching to a non-idle state and sending the multicast transmission to the at least one node in response to receiving the indication from the at least one node.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving the indication that the at least one node is ready to receive the multicast transmission indicates that the at least one node is within a direct communication range of the data source.

7. A method of wireless communication of a data receiver, comprising:

determining to receive a multicast transmission for a multicast group having a multicast group identifier;

wirelessly communicating an expression with a data source in the multicast group, the expression based on the multicast group identifier; and

receiving the multicast transmission from the data source.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining to receive the multicast transmission comprises determining to join the multicast group.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the expression is wirelessly communicated on a discovery channel, and the multicast transmission is received on a data channel distinct from the discovery channel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the wirelessly communicating the expression comprises:

determining that the data source is not concurrently awake with the data receiver to exchange expressions on the discovery channel; and

waiting until the data source is concurrently awake with the data receiver to wirelessly communicate the expression.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the wirelessly communicating the expression comprises transmitting an indication that the data receiver is ready to receive the multicast transmission from the data source.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the wirelessly communicating the expression comprises receiving an indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission, the method further comprising:

switching to a non-idle state and receiving the multicast transmission from the data source in response to receiving the indication from the data source.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission indicates that the data source is within a direct communication range of the data receiver.

14. An apparatus for wireless communication at a data source, comprising:

means for determining to send a multicast transmission for a multicast group having a multicast group identifier;

means for wirelessly communicating an expression with at least one node in the multicast group, the expression based on the multicast group identifier; and

means for sending the multicast transmission to the at least one node.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the expression is wirelessly communicated on a discovery channel, and the multicast transmission is sent on a data channel distinct from the discovery channel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating the expression is configured to:

determine that the at least one node is not concurrently awake with the data source to exchange expressions on the discovery channel; and

wait until the at least one node is concurrently awake with the data source to wirelessly communicate the expression.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating the expression is configured to transmit an indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission to the at least one node.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating the expression is configured to receive an indication that the at least one node is ready to receive the multicast transmission, the apparatus further comprising:

means for switching to a non-idle state and sending the multicast transmission to the at least one node in response to receiving the indication from the at least one node.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the receiving the indication that the at least one node is ready to receive the multicast transmission indicates that the at least one node is within a direct communication range of the data source.

20. An apparatus for wireless communication at a data receiver, comprising:

means for determining to receive a multicast transmission for a multicast group having a multicast group identifier;

means for wirelessly communicating an expression with a data source in the multicast group, the expression based on the multicast group identifier; and

means for receiving the multicast transmission from the data source.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for determining to receive the multicast transmission is configured to determine to join the multicast group.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the expression is wirelessly communicated on a discovery channel, and the multicast transmission is received on a data channel distinct from the discovery channel.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating the expression is configured to:

determine that the data source is not concurrently awake with the data receiver to exchange expressions on the discovery channel; and

wait until the data source is concurrently awake with the data receiver to wirelessly communicate the expression.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating the expression is configured to transmit an indication that the data receiver is ready to receive the multicast transmission from the data source.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating the expression is configured to receive an indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission, the apparatus further comprising:

means for switching to a non-idle state and receiving the multicast transmission from the data source in response to receiving the indication from the data source.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the receiving the indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission indicates that the data source is within a direct communication range of the data receiver.

27. An apparatus for wireless communication at a data source, comprising:

a determination module configured to determine to send a multicast transmission for a multicast group having a multicast group identifier;

an expression processing module configured to wirelessly communicate an expression with at least one node in the multicast group, the expression based on the multicast group identifier; and

a multicast data processing module configured to send the multicast transmission to the at least one node.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the expression is wirelessly communicated on a discovery channel, and the multicast transmission is sent on a data channel distinct from the discovery channel.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the expression processing module configured to wirelessly communicate the expression is configured to:

determine that the at least one node is not concurrently awake with the data source to exchange expressions on the discovery channel; and

wait until the at least one node is concurrently awake with the data source to wirelessly communicate the expression.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the expression processing module configured to wirelessly communicate the expression is configured to transmit an indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission to the at least one node.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the expression processing module configured to wirelessly communicate the expression is configured to receive an indication that the at least one node is ready to receive the multicast transmission, the apparatus further comprising:

a switching module configured to switch to a non-idle state and send the multicast transmission to the at least one node in response to receiving the indication from the at least one node.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the receiving the indication that the at least one node is ready to receive the multicast transmission indicates that the at least one node is within a direct communication range of the data source.

33. An apparatus for wireless communication at a data receiver, comprising:

a determination module configured to determine to receive a multicast transmission for a multicast group having a multicast group identifier;

an expression processing module configured to wirelessly communicate an expression with a data source in the multicast group, the expression based on the multicast group identifier; and

a multicast data processing module configured to receive the multicast transmission from the data source.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the determination module configured to determine to receive the multicast transmission is configured to determine to join the multicast group.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the expression is wirelessly communicated on a discovery channel, and the multicast transmission is received on a data channel distinct from the discovery channel.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the expression processing module configured to wirelessly communicate the expression is configured to:

determine that the data source is not concurrently awake with the data receiver to exchange expressions on the discovery channel; and

wait until the data source is concurrently awake with the data receiver to wirelessly communicate the expression.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the expression processing module configured to wirelessly communicate the expression is configured to transmit an indication that the data receiver is ready to receive the multicast transmission from the data source.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the expression processing module configured to wirelessly communicate the expression is configured to receive an indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission, the apparatus further comprising:

a switching module configured to switch to a non-idle state and receive the multicast transmission from the data source in response to receiving the indication from the data source.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the receiving the indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission indicates that the data source is within a direct communication range of the data receiver.

40. A computer program product of a data source, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for;

determining to send a multicast transmission for a multicast group having a multicast group identifier;

wirelessly communicating an expression with at least one node in the multicast group, the expression based on the multicast group identifier; and

sending the multicast transmission to the at least one node.

41. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the expression is wirelessly communicated on a discovery channel, and the multicast transmission is sent on a data channel distinct from the discovery channel.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the code for wirelessly communicating the expression is configured to:

determine that the at least one node is not concurrently awake with the data source to exchange expressions on the discovery channel; and

wait until the at least one node is concurrently awake with the data source to wirelessly communicate the expression.

43. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the wirelessly communicating the expression comprises transmitting an indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission to the at least one node.

44. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the wirelessly communicating the expression comprises receiving an indication that the at least one node is ready to receive the multicast transmission, the method further comprising:

switching to a non-idle state and sending the multicast transmission to the at least one node in response to receiving the indication from the at least one node.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the receiving the indication that the at least one node is ready to receive the multicast transmission indicates that the at least one node is within a direct communication range of the data source.

46. A computer program product of a data receiver, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for;

determining to receive a multicast transmission for a multicast group having a multicast group identifier;

wirelessly communicating an expression with a data source in the multicast group, the expression based on the multicast group identifier; and

receiving the multicast transmission from the data source.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the code for determining to receive the multicast transmission is configured to determine to join the multicast group.

48. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the expression is wirelessly communicated on a discovery channel, and the multicast transmission is received on a data channel distinct from the discovery channel.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the code for wirelessly communicating the expression is configured to:

determine that the data source is not concurrently awake with the data receiver to exchange expressions on the discovery channel; and

wait until the data source is concurrently awake with the data receiver to wirelessly communicate the expression.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the code for wirelessly communicating the expression is configured to transmit an indication that the data receiver is ready to receive the multicast transmission from the data source.

51. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the code for wirelessly communicating the expression is configured to receive an indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission, the computer-readable medium further comprising:

code for switching to a non-idle state and receiving the multicast transmission from the data source in response to receiving the indication from the data source.

52. The computer program product of claim 51, wherein the receiving the indication that the data source is ready to transmit the multicast transmission indicates that the data source is within a direct communication range of the data receiver.