Methods and apparatus for controlling resource use in a wireless communications system
First Claim
1. A method of operating a first communications device, the method comprising:
- receiving first and second signals from second and third communications devices, respectively, on a first shared communications resource being used by both said second and third communications devices;
determining that signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding;
estimating a received power level of the stronger one of the first and second signals;
determining if the estimated received power level exceeds a threshold power level; and
transmitting an interference signal, after it is determined that that the signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding and the estimated received power level exceeds the threshold power level, on said first shared communications resource, transmission of the interference signal following said determining and being contingent on said determining that the signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for detecting, controlling and/or mitigating interference are described. Various embodiments are well suited to wireless communications systems in which shared communications resources are used, e.g., in a peer to peer communications systems lacking centralized control. In some embodiments, a communications device receives signals on shared communications resource, evaluates its capability to decode a received signal, and conditionally transmits an interference signal, e.g., on the shared communications resource. The interference signal is intended to cause a device transmitting on the shared communications resource to switch to a different communications resource, e.g., in response to the interference signal, so that its transmitted signal can be successfully decoded. In at least one embodiment, the shared communications resource is a peer discovery air link resource associated with a peer discovery resource identifier.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of operating a first communications device, the method comprising:
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receiving first and second signals from second and third communications devices, respectively, on a first shared communications resource being used by both said second and third communications devices; determining that signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding; estimating a received power level of the stronger one of the first and second signals; determining if the estimated received power level exceeds a threshold power level; and transmitting an interference signal, after it is determined that that the signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding and the estimated received power level exceeds the threshold power level, on said first shared communications resource, transmission of the interference signal following said determining and being contingent on said determining that the signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A first communications device comprising:
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means for receiving first and second signals from second and third communications devices, respectively, on a first shared communications resource being used by both said second and third communications devices; means for determining that signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding; means for estimating a received power level of the stronger one of the first and second signals; means for determining if the estimated received power level exceeds a threshold power level; and means for transmitting an interference signal, after it is determined that that the signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding and the estimated received power level exceeds the threshold power level, on said first shared communications resource, said interference signal being transmitted by said means for transmitting following said determining and being contingent on said determining that the signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer program product for use in a first communications device, the computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising; code for causing at least one computer to receive first and second signals from second and third communications devices, respectively, on a first shared communications resource being used by both said second and third communications devices; code for causing said at least one computer to determine that signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding; code for causing said at least one computer to estimate a received power level of the stronger one of the first and second signals; code for causing said at least one computer to determine if the estimated received power level exceeds a threshold power level; and code for causing said at least one computer to transmit an interference signal, after it is determined that that the signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding and the estimated received power level exceeds the threshold power level, on said first shared communications resource, transmission of the interference signal following said determining and being contingent on said determining that the signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding.
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14. A first communications device comprising:
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at least one processor configured to; receive first and second signals from second and third communications devices, respectively, on a first shared communications resource being used by both said second and third communications devices; determine that signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding; estimate a received power level of the stronger one of the first and second signals; determine if the estimated received power level exceeds a threshold power level; and transmit an interference signal on said first shared communications resource, said processor being configured to transmit the interference signal following said determining that the signal quality of the first and second signals is insufficient for reliable decoding and that the estimated received power level exceeds the threshold power level; and memory coupled to said at least one processor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification