Paging a peer in a peer-to-peer communication network

• US 8,320,398 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Junyi, Laroia, Rajiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Wesley
• Application Number:
  US11/775,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20090017797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 455/434, 455/515, 455/516, 455/517, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/458, 370/350, 370/252, 370/254, 370/278, 370/330, 370/495.4, 370/461, 370/462, 370/458
• US Class Current: 370/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1061 using node-based peer discovery mechanisms static access to replicated servers H04L67/1006; service discovery H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate paging a peer in a peer-to-peer communication network. Paging messages may be communicated directly between a wireless terminal and its peer(s). Further, the wireless terminal may monitor for incoming paging messages during subinterval(s) of a paging interval as a function of an identifier of the wireless terminal. Moreover, the wireless terminal may transmit a paging message to a peer (e.g., detected and/or identified during peer discovery) during subinterval(s) of the paging interval as a function of an identifier of the peer.

Claims

1. A method of operating a first wireless terminal for communicating paging messages directly with a second wireless terminal in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:

obtaining a reference signal from a signal source;

determining a reference time instant from the obtained reference signal;

deriving starting time instants of a sequence of paging intervals as a function of the reference time instant; and

monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals for a paging message directly sent by a peer,

wherein monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals further comprises;

determining a first subset of times during a particular paging interval in the sequence of paging intervals as a function of an identifier of the first wireless terminal; and

monitoring the first subset of times during the particular paging interval for the paging message directly sent by the peer,

wherein the method further comprises transmitting a disparate paging message to a disparate peer rather than monitoring for the paging message during the first subset of times when an urgency is above a threshold, the urgency being associated with paging the disparate peer when the first subset of times coincides with a second subset of times.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a time duration of the first subset of times is less than 50% of a time duration of the particular paging interval.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

restraining from monitoring at least a portion of remaining times during the particular paging interval.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a time variable from the obtained reference signal, a value of the time variable varying between one paging interval and a subsequent paging interval in the sequence of paging intervals; and

determining the first subset of times as a function of the time variable of the paging interval.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating content of the paging message received during the paging intervals to determine whether the first wireless terminal is an intended recipient.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising comparing the identifier of the first wireless terminal with at least a portion of information bits received in the paging message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising employing content of the paging message received during the paging intervals to directly communicate traffic with the peer during a corresponding traffic interval.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the paging message includes information pertaining to an identifier of the peer, an identifier of the first wireless terminal, a MAC identifier, a quality of service level, or a type of traffic.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving additional paging information during a disparate segment of the paging interval when the paging message is obtained during the paging intervals.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether the paging message is intended for the first wireless terminal based upon the additional paging information; and

initiating direct communication of traffic with the peer during a corresponding traffic interval when the paging message is determined to be intended for the first wireless terminal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving additional paging information from a broadcast during a traffic interval;

determine whether the paging message is intended for the first wireless terminal based upon the additional paging information; and

establishing an active peer-to-peer connection with the peer when the paging message is determined to be intended for the first wireless terminal.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the disparate peer to page from a set of available peers;

selecting the paging interval from the sequence of paging intervals, the paging interval being monitored by the selected peer; and

transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the selected paging interval.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a first subinterval to be monitored by the first wireless terminal overlaps a second subinterval to be monitored by the disparate peer selected to be paged, and a particular interval in the sequence includes the first subinterval and the second subinterval.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a second paging message during the second subinterval to the disparate peer.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring the first subinterval for incoming paging messages from the peer; and

selecting a subsequent, non-overlapping subinterval for transmitting a second paging message to the disparate peer.

13. The method of 12, further comprising:

determining the second subset of times during the selected paging interval as a function of an identifier of the selected peer; and

transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the second subset of times in the selected paging interval.

17. A method of operating a first wireless terminal for communicating paging messages directly with a second wireless terminal in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:

obtaining a reference signal from a signal source;

determining a reference time instant from the obtained reference signal;

deriving starting time instants of a sequence of paging intervals as a function of the reference time instant; and

monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals for a paging message directly sent by a peer,

wherein monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals further comprises;

determining a first subset of times during a particular paging interval in the sequence of paging intervals as a function of an identifier of the first wireless terminal; and

monitoring the first subset of times during the particular paging interval for the paging message directly sent by the peer,

wherein the method further comprises;

selecting a disparate peer to page from a set of available peers;

selecting a paging interval from the sequence of paging intervals, the paging interval being monitored by the selected peer;

transmitting a disparate paging message to the selected peer during the selected paging interval;

determining a second subset of times during the selected paging interval as a function of an identifier of the selected peer;

transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the second subset of times in the selected paging interval;

evaluating an urgency associated with paging the disparate peer when the first subset of times coincides with the second subset of times; and

transmitting the disparate paging message to the disparate peer rather than monitoring for the paging message during the first subset of times when the urgency is above a threshold.

18. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to obtaining a reference signal from a signal source, determining a reference time instant from the reference signal, deriving starting time instants of a sequence of paging intervals as a function of the reference time instant, and monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals for a paging message directly sent by a peer; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory,

wherein monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals further comprises determining a first subset of times during a particular paging interval in the sequence of paging intervals as a function of an identifier of the wireless terminal and monitoring the first subset of times during the particular paging interval for the paging message directly sent by the peer,

wherein the memory further retains instructions related to transmitting a disparate paging message to a disparate peer rather than monitoring for the paging message during the first subset of times when an urgency is above a threshold, the urgency being associated with paging the disparate peer when the first subset of times coincides with a second subset of times.

19. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18, wherein the memory further retains instructions for restraining from monitoring at least a portion of remaining times outside of the first subset of times.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18, wherein the memory further retains instructions for evaluating content of the paging message received during the paging intervals to determine whether the wireless terminal is an intended recipient.

21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18, wherein the memory further retains instructions for employing content of the paging message received during the paging intervals to directly communicate traffic with the peer during a corresponding traffic interval.

22. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18, wherein the memory further retains instructions for receiving additional paging information during a disparate segment of the paging interval when the paging message is obtained during the paging intervals, determining whether the paging message is intended for the wireless terminal based upon the additional paging information, and initiating direct communication of traffic with the peer during a corresponding traffic interval when the paging message is determined to be intended for the wireless terminal.

23. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18, wherein the memory further retains instructions for receiving additional paging information from a broadcast during a traffic interval, determine whether the paging message is intended for the wireless terminal based upon the additional paging information, and establishing an active peer-to-peer connection with the peer when the paging message is determined to be intended for the wireless terminal.

24. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18, wherein the memory further retains instructions for selecting the disparate peer to page from a set of available peers, selecting the paging interval from the sequence of paging intervals, the paging interval being monitored by the selected peer, and transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the selected paging interval.

25. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 24, wherein the memory further retains instructions for determining the second subset of times during the selected paging interval as a function of an identifier of the selected peer and transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the second subset of times in the selected paging interval.

26. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to obtaining a reference signal from a signal source, determining a reference time instant from the reference signal, deriving starting time instants of a sequence of paging intervals as a function of the reference time instant, and monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals for a paging message directly sent by a peer; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory,

wherein monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals further comprises determining a first subset of times during a particular paging interval in the sequence of paging intervals as a function of an identifier of the wireless terminal and monitoring the first subset of times during the particular paging interval for the paging message directly sent by the peer,

wherein the memory further retains instructions related to selecting a disparate peer to page from a set of available peers;

selecting a paging interval from the sequence of paging intervals, the paging interval being monitored by the selected peer;

transmitting a disparate paging message to the selected peer during the selected paging interval;

determining a second subset of times during the selected paging interval as a function of an identifier of the selected peer;

transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the second subset of times in the selected paging interval;

evaluating an urgency associated with paging the disparate peer when the subset of times coincides with the second subset of times; and

transmitting the disparate paging message to the disparate peer rather than monitoring for the paging message during the first subset of times when the urgency is above a threshold.

27. A wireless communications apparatus that enables communicating paging messages directly with a peer in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:

means for obtaining a reference signal from a signal source;

means for determining a reference time instant from the obtained reference signal;

means for deriving starting time instants of a sequence of paging intervals as a function of the reference time instant; and

means for monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals for a paging message directly sent by a peer,

wherein the means for monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals further comprises;

means for determining a first subset of times during a particular paging interval in the sequence of paging intervals as a function of an identifier of the wireless terminal; and

means for monitoring the first subset of times during the particular paging interval for the paging message directly sent by the peer,

wherein the wireless communications apparatus further comprises means for transmitting a disparate paging message to a disparate peer rather than monitoring for the paging message during the first subset of times when the urgency is above a threshold, the urgency being associated with paging the disparate peer when the first subset of times coincides with a second subset of times.

28. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means for evaluating content of the paging message received during the paging intervals to determine whether the wireless terminal is an intended recipient.

29. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means for employing content of the paging message received during the paging intervals to directly communicate traffic with the peer during a corresponding traffic interval.

30. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

means for receiving additional paging information during a disparate segment of the paging interval when the paging message is obtained during the paging intervals;

means for determining whether the paging message is intended for the wireless terminal based upon the additional paging information; and

means for initiating direct communication of traffic with the peer during a corresponding traffic interval when the paging message is determined to be intended for the wireless terminal.

31. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

means for receiving additional paging information from a broadcast during a traffic interval;

means for determining whether the paging message is intended for the wireless terminal based upon the additional paging information; and

means for establishing an active peer-to-peer connection with the peer when the paging message is determined to be intended for the wireless terminal.

32. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

means for selecting the disparate peer to page from a set of available peers;

means for selecting the paging interval from the sequence of paging intervals, the paging interval being monitored by the selected peer; and

means for transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the selected paging interval.

33. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

means for determining the second subset of times during the selected paging interval as a function of an identifier of the selected peer; and

means for transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the second subset of times in the selected paging interval.

34. A wireless communications apparatus that enables communicating paging messages directly with a peer in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:

means for obtaining a reference signal from a signal source;

means for determining a reference time instant from the obtained reference signal;

means for deriving starting time instants of a sequence of paging intervals as a function of the reference time instant; and

means for monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals for a paging message directly sent by a peer,

wherein the means for monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals further comprises;

means for determining a first subset of times during a particular paging interval in the sequence of paging intervals as a function of an identifier of the wireless terminal; and

means for monitoring the first subset of times during the particular paging interval for the paging message directly sent by the peer,

wherein the wireless communications apparatus further comprises;

means for selecting a disparate peer to page from a set of available peers;

means for selecting a paging interval from the sequence of paging intervals, the paging interval being monitored by the selected peer;

means for transmitting a disparate paging message to the selected peer during the selected paging interval;

means for determining a second subset of times during the selected paging interval as a function of an identifier of the selected peer;

means for transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the second subset of times in the selected paging interval;

means for evaluating an urgency associated with paging the disparate peer when the first subset of times coincides with the second subset of times; and

means for transmitting the disparate paging message to the disparate peer rather than monitoring for the paging message during the first subset of times when the urgency is above a threshold.

35. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions for:

obtaining a reference signal from a signal source;

determining a reference time instant from the obtained reference signal;

deriving starting time instants of a sequence of paging intervals as a function of the reference time instant; and

monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals for a paging message directly sent by a peer,

wherein the machine-executable instructions for monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals further comprise instructions for;

determining a first subset of times during a particular paging interval in the sequence of paging intervals as a function of an identifier of the wireless terminal; and

monitoring the first subset of times during the particular paging interval for the paging message directly sent by a peer,

wherein the machine-executable instructions further comprise instructions for transmitting a disparate paging message to a disparate peer rather than monitoring for the paging message during the first subset of times when an urgency is above a threshold, the urgency being associated with paging the disparate peer when the first subset of times coincides with a second subset of times.

36. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, the machine-executable instructions further comprise evaluating content of the paging message received during the paging intervals to determine whether the wireless terminal is an intended recipient.

37. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, the machine-executable instructions further comprise employing content of the paging message received during the paging intervals to directly communicate traffic with the peer during a corresponding traffic interval.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, the machine-executable instructions further comprise:

receiving additional paging information during a disparate segment of the paging interval when the paging message is obtained during the paging intervals;

determining whether the paging message is intended for the wireless terminal based upon the additional paging information; and

initiating direct communication of traffic with the peer during a corresponding traffic interval when the paging message is determined to be intended for the wireless terminal.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, the machine-executable instructions further comprise:

receiving additional paging information from a broadcast during a traffic interval;

determine whether the paging message is intended for the wireless terminal based upon the additional paging information; and

establishing an active peer-to-peer connection with the peer when the paging message is determined to be intended for the wireless terminal.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, the machine-executable instructions further comprise:

selecting the disparate peer to page from a set of available peers;

selecting the paging interval from the sequence of paging intervals, the paging interval being monitored by the selected peer; and

transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the selected paging interval.

41. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-executable instructions further comprise:

determining the second subset of times during the selected paging interval as a function of an identifier of the selected peer; and

transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the second subset of times in the selected paging interval.

42. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions for:

obtaining a reference signal from a signal source;

determining a reference time instant from the obtained reference signal;

deriving starting time instants of a sequence of paging intervals as a function of the reference time instant; and

monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals for a paging message directly sent by a peer,

wherein the machine-executable instructions for monitoring during the sequence of paging intervals further comprise instructions for;

determining a first subset of times during a particular paging interval in the sequence of paging intervals as a function of an identifier of the wireless terminal; and

monitoring the first subset of times during the particular paging interval for the paging message directly sent by a peer;

wherein the machine-executable instructions further comprise instructions for;

selecting a disparate peer to page from a set of available peers;

selecting a paging interval from the sequence of paging intervals, the paging interval being monitored by the selected peer;

transmitting a disparate paging message to the selected peer during the selected paging interval;

determining a second subset of times during the selected paging interval as a function of an identifier of the selected peer;

transmitting the disparate paging message to the selected peer during the second subset of times in the selected paging interval;

evaluating an urgency associated with paging the disparate peer when the first subset of times coincides with the second subset of times; and

transmitting the disparate paging message to the disparate peer rather than monitoring for the paging message during the first subset of times when the urgency is above a threshold.

43. In a wireless communication system, an apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

obtain a reference signal from a signal source;

determine a reference time instant from the obtained reference signal;

derive starting time instants of a sequence of paging intervals as a function of the reference time instant; and

monitor during the sequence of paging intervals for a paging message directly sent by a peer,

wherein to monitor during the sequence of paging intervals, the processor is further configured to;

determine a first subset of times during a particular paging interval in the sequence of paging intervals as a function of an identifier of the first wireless terminal; and

monitor the first subset of times during the particular paging interval for the paging message directly sent by the peer,

wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a disparate paging message to a disparate peer rather than monitoring for the paging message during the first subset of times when an urgency is above a threshold, the urgency being associated with paging the disparate peer when the first subset of times coincides with a second subset of times.