METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOPERATIVE CHANNEL SWITCHING
First Claim
1. A device for participating in a peer-to-peer network of communication devices, the device comprising:
- a processor;
a memory configured to store identifiers of multiple communication channels, including;
a first channel in use by the device to exchange data with a second device in the peer-to-peer network; and
one or more other channels the device must switch to in order to perform a scanning operation that involves scanning the one or more channels; and
a wireless interface for conducting wireless communications;
wherein the processor and the wireless interface are configured to;
exchange data with the second device on the first channel;
switch to the one or more other channels;
conduct the scanning operation on the one or more other channels, wherein the scanning operation includes receiving one or more Probe Response messages or one or more beacon messages; and
continue to exchange data with the second device on the one or more other channels.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and methods are provided for opportunistically conducting data communications on multiple wireless channels. In these methods, a device is engaged in data communications with a second device and receives a conflicting communication demand requiring action on one or more channels other than the data-communication channel (e.g., to conduct a channel scan, to issue or receive a beacon). The device arranges a schedule of channel switches to satisfy the communication demand and advises the second device of the schedule, and may explicitly invite the second device to implement the schedule. To the extent the second device does so, the data communications continue on the other channels. The devices may be participating in a synchronized peer-to-peer communication environment that requires their attendance on the data-communication channel and that is not associated with the other channels.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A device for participating in a peer-to-peer network of communication devices, the device comprising:
-
a processor; a memory configured to store identifiers of multiple communication channels, including; a first channel in use by the device to exchange data with a second device in the peer-to-peer network; and one or more other channels the device must switch to in order to perform a scanning operation that involves scanning the one or more channels; and a wireless interface for conducting wireless communications; wherein the processor and the wireless interface are configured to; exchange data with the second device on the first channel; switch to the one or more other channels; conduct the scanning operation on the one or more other channels, wherein the scanning operation includes receiving one or more Probe Response messages or one or more beacon messages; and continue to exchange data with the second device on the one or more other channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method of conducting opportunistic data communications at a first device, the method comprising:
-
commencing a data exchange with a second device on a first wireless communication channel; receiving a communication demand, unrelated to the data exchange, that requires switching to a second wireless communication channel different from the first wireless communication channel; satisfying the communication demand on the second wireless communication channel; and continuing the data exchange on the second wireless communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of exchanging data within a peer-to-peer communication network, the method comprising, at a first peer device:
-
synchronizing with multiple peer devices by congregating with the multiple peer devices on a set of rendezvous channels; implementing a first sequence of wireless channel switches that includes the set of rendezvous channels; engaging in a transfer of data with a second peer device on at least one of the rendezvous channels; receiving a communication requirement unrelated to the peer-to-peer communication network; scheduling a second sequence of wireless channel switches that includes one or more channels not used by the peer-to-peer communication network; advising the second peer device of the second sequence of wireless channel switches prior to implementation of the second sequence; implementing the second sequence of channel switches; and continuing the transfer of data with the second peer device on at least one of the one or more channels. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification