Communication methods and apparatus relating to cooperative and non-cooperative modes of operation
First Claim
1. A method of operating a first wireless communications device, the method comprising:
- receiving a signal from a second communications device via an air link;
determining from the received signal whether the second communications device is in a cooperative communications relationship or a non-cooperative communications relationship with the first communications device;
based on said determination, selecting between one of a cooperative communications mode of operation and a non-cooperative communications mode of operation, said selecting including selecting a cooperative communications mode of operation when it is determined that said first wireless communications device is in the cooperative communications relationship with the second communications device and selecting a non-cooperative mode of operation when it is determined that said first wireless communications device is in the non-cooperative communications relationship; and
in response to detecting that said second communications device is operating in a non-cooperative relationship, operating in said non-cooperative mode of operation, said operating in said non-cooperative mode of operation including;
switching from a first communications protocol to a second communications protocol, said second communications protocol being a communications protocol which is not supported by the second communications device but which uses a frequency band being used by the second communications device; and
disregarding an interference control signal from said second communications device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for selecting and switching between cooperative and non-cooperative modes of communications device operation are described. Switching between modes may be, e.g., in response to a signal received form another device or in response to another device leaving the area. In cooperative mode operation the communications device acts in a manner that takes into consideration the effect of signal transmissions on other devices, e.g., the device may respond to interference control signaling, resource allocation signals and/or implement other interference management techniques. In the non-cooperative mode the device seeks to optimize its own communications performance without regard to the effect on one or more communications devices which may be in the area, e.g., devices with which it is not communicating. In the non-cooperative mode the device may ignore interference management control signals or transmit signals intended to cause another devices to reduce their transmissions or power output.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of operating a first wireless communications device, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal from a second communications device via an air link; determining from the received signal whether the second communications device is in a cooperative communications relationship or a non-cooperative communications relationship with the first communications device; based on said determination, selecting between one of a cooperative communications mode of operation and a non-cooperative communications mode of operation, said selecting including selecting a cooperative communications mode of operation when it is determined that said first wireless communications device is in the cooperative communications relationship with the second communications device and selecting a non-cooperative mode of operation when it is determined that said first wireless communications device is in the non-cooperative communications relationship; and in response to detecting that said second communications device is operating in a non-cooperative relationship, operating in said non-cooperative mode of operation, said operating in said non-cooperative mode of operation including; switching from a first communications protocol to a second communications protocol, said second communications protocol being a communications protocol which is not supported by the second communications device but which uses a frequency band being used by the second communications device; and disregarding an interference control signal from said second communications device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A first communications device, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a signal from a second communications device via an air link; a mode determination module for determining from the received signal whether the second communications device is in a cooperative communications relationship or a non-cooperative communications relationship with the first communications device; a mode selection module for selecting, based on said determination, between one of a cooperative communications mode of operation and a non-cooperative communications mode of operation, said mode selection module selecting a cooperative communications mode of operation when it is determined that said first wireless communications device is in the cooperative communications relationship with the second communications device and selecting a non-cooperative mode of operation when it is determined that said first wireless communications device is in the non-cooperative communications relationship; and an interference control module responsive to the selected mode of operation, said interference control module controlling, when the selected mode of operation is a non-cooperative mode, said first communications device to; switch from a first communications protocol used by the second communications device to a second communications protocol, said second communications protocol being a communications protocol which is not supported by the second communications device but which uses a frequency band being used by the second communications device; and to disregard an interference control signal from said second communications device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A first communications device, comprising:
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receiver means for receiving a signal from a second communications device via an air link; mode determination means for determining from the received signal whether the second communications device is in a cooperative communications relationship or a non-cooperative communications relationship with the first communications device; mode selection means for selecting, based on said determination, between one of a cooperative communications mode of operation and a non-cooperative communications mode of operation, said means for selecting select a cooperative communications mode of operation when it is determined that said first wireless communications device is in the cooperative communications relationship with the second communications device and select a non-cooperative mode of operation when it is determined that said first wireless communications device is in the non-cooperative communications relationship; and means for controlling interference, said means for controlling interference being responsive to the selected mode of operation, said means for controlling interference controlling the first communications device, when the selected mode of operation is a non-cooperative mode, to; switch from a first communications protocol used by the second communications device to a second communications protocol, said second communications protocol being a communications protocol which is not supported by the second communications device but which uses a frequency band being used by the second communications device; and disregard an interference control signal from said second communications device. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a first wireless communications device to implement a method of communicating with another communications device, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal from a second communications device via an air link; determining from the received signal whether the second communications device is in a cooperative communications relationship or a non-cooperative communications relationship with the first communications device; based on said determination, selecting between one of a cooperative communications mode of operation and a non-cooperative communications mode of operation, said selecting including selecting a cooperative communications mode of operation when it is determined that said first wireless communications device is in the cooperative communications relationship with the second communications device and selecting a non-cooperative mode of operation when it is determined that said first wireless communications device is in the non-cooperative communications relationship; and in response to detecting that said second communications device is operating in a non-cooperative relationship, operating in said non-cooperative mode of operation, said operating in said non-cooperative mode of operation including; switching from a first communications protocol to a second communications protocol, said second communications protocol being a communications protocol which is not supported by the second communications device but which uses a frequency band being used by the second communications device; and disregarding an interference control signal from said second communications device. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. An apparatus comprising:
a processor configured to; receive a signal communicated from a second communications device via an air link; determine from the received signal whether the second communications device is in a cooperative communications relationship or a non-cooperative communications relationship with the apparatus; based on said determination, select between one of a cooperative communications mode of operation and a non-cooperative communications mode of operation, said selection including selecting a cooperative communications mode of operation when it is determined that said apparatus is in the cooperative communications relationship with the second communications device and selecting a non-cooperative mode of operation when it is determined that said apparatus is in the non-cooperative communications relationship; and in response to detecting that said second communications device is operating in a non-cooperative relationship, control said apparatus operate in said non-cooperative mode of operation, said operating in said non-cooperative mode of operation including; switching from a first communications protocol to a second communications protocol, said second communications protocol being a communications protocol which is not supported by the second communications device but which uses a frequency band being used by the second communications device, and disregarding an interference control signal from said second communications device. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
Specification