Methods and apparatus for establishing communications between devices with differing capabilities

• US 8,804,677 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Corson, M. Scott, Li, Junyi
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, NAM TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/652,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20090092075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,771 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/41.2, 455/500, 455/518, 455/519, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 370/285, 370/315, 370/328, 370/338, 370/341, 370/312
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0602 Systems characterised by the synchronising information used
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/261 Details of reference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0016 Time-frequency-code
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/16 Performing reselection for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/244 using a network of reference devices, e.g. beaconing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 : adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 : adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for establishing communications between devices, e.g., mobile communications devices in an ad hoc network, with differing capabilities are described. A device which is capable of supporting multiple protocols in addition to a protocol used to communicate device capability information forms communications links with first and second devices which do not have the ability to form communications links directly between one another, e.g., because of they do not support the same protocols. Once the links are established the first and second devices can communicate via the third communications device. In some embodiments, each of the first, second and third devices support a first communications protocol which is suitable for communicating device capability information but is unsuitable for exchanging user data. The ability to discover other devices and there capabilities facilitates the creation of an ad hoc network.

Claims

1. A method of operating a third wireless communications device supporting a first communications protocol, a second communications protocol and a third communications protocol, the first, second and third communications protocols being different, the method comprising:

transmitting a beacon signal used to communicate device capability information to other communications devices, said communicated device capability information indicating that the third wireless communications device is able to support said second and third communications protocols;

receiving device capability information from at least one of a first wireless communications device and a second wireless communications device, said device capability information being communicated using the first communications protocol wherein

at least a portion of a first beacon signal is received from said first communication device that indicates that said first communications device is capable of supporting said second communications protocol, and

at least a portion of a second beacon signal is received from said second communication device that indicates that said second communications device is capable of supporting said third communications protocol; and

operating as a communications intermediary for communications between the first and second wireless communications devices, the first wireless communications device supporting the first and second communications protocol, the second wireless communications device supporting the first and third communications protocols;

establishing a communications link between said first wireless communications device and said third wireless communications device using said second communications protocol; and

establishing a communications link between said second wireless communications device and said third wireless communications device using said third communications protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third communications devices support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a protocol corresponding to a higher communications layer than a communications layer to which said second and third communications protocols correspond, said second and third communications protocols corresponding to the same communications layer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein operating as a communications intermediately includes providing network layer connectivity between said first and second communications devices using said first and second communications links to communicate network layer signals.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said first, second, and third communications devices support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a network layer protocol being used to communicate said network layer signals.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said second and third communications protocols are one of MAC layer protocols and physical layer protocols.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said fourth protocol is an IP protocol.

7. A third wireless communications device supporting a first communications protocol, a second communications protocol and a third communications protocol, the first, second and third communications protocols being different, the device comprising:

a receiver for receiving device capability information from at least one of a first wireless communications device and a second wireless communications device, said device capability information being communicated using the first communications protocol;

a communications forwarding module for relaying communications between the first and second wireless communications devices, the first wireless communications device supporting the first and second communications protocol, the second wireless communications device supporting the first and third communications protocols,

a storage module including stored device capability information; and

a

transmission module for transmitting a beacon signal used to communicate device capability information to other communications devices, said communicated device capability information indicating that the third wireless communications device is able to support said second and third communications protocols

wherein said first, second and third communications device support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a protocol corresponding to a higher communications layer than a communications layer to which said second and third communications protocols correspond, said second and third communications protocols corresponding to the same communications layer.

8. A third wireless communications device supporting a first communications protocol, a second communications protocol and a third communications protocol, the first, second and third communications protocols being different, the wireless device comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a beacon signal used to communicate device capability information to other communications devices, said communicated device capability information indicating that the third wireless communications device is able to support said second and third communications protocols;

a receiver for receiving device capability information from at least one of a first wireless communications device and a second wireless communications device, said device capability information being communicated using the first communications protocol wherein

at least a portion of a first beacon signal is received from said first communication device that indicates that said first communications device is capable of supporting said second communications protocol, and

at least a portion of a second beacon signal is received from said second communication device that indicates that said second communications device is capable of supporting said third communications protocol; and

wherein said third wireless device is adapted to

operate as a communications intermediary for communications between the first and second wireless communications devices with the first wireless communications device supporting the first and second communications protocol, the second wireless communications device supporting the first and third communications protocols;

establish a communications link between said first wireless communications device and said third wireless communications device using said second communications protocol; and

establish a communications link between said second wireless communications device and said third wireless communications device using said third communications protocol.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein said first, second, and third communications devices support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a protocol corresponding to a higher communications layer than a communications layer to which said second and third communications protocols correspond, said second and third communications protocols corresponding to the same communications layer.

10. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the third wireless device is adapted to provide network layer connectivity between said first and second communications devices using said first and second communications links to communicate network layer signals.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein said first, second, and third communications devices support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a network layer protocol being used to communicate said network layer signals.

12. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein said second and third communications protocols are one of MAC layer protocols and physical layer protocols.

13. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein said fourth protocol is an IP protocol.

14. A method of operating a third wireless communications device supporting a first communications protocol, a second communications protocol and a third communications protocol, the first, second and third communications protocols being different, the method comprising:

receiving device capability information from at least one of a first wireless communications device and a second wireless communications device, said device capability information being communicated using the first communications protocol;

relaying communications between the first and second wireless communications devices, the first wireless communications device supporting the first and second communications protocol, the second wireless communications device supporting the first and third communications protocols;

storing device capability information; and

transmitting a beacon signal used to communicate device capability information to other communications devices, said communicated device capability information indicating that the third wireless communications device is able to support said second and third communications protocols

wherein said first, second and third communications device support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a protocol corresponding to a higher communications layer than a communications layer to which said second and third communications protocols correspond, said second and third communications protocols corresponding to the same communications layer.

15. A third wireless communications device supporting a first communications protocol, a second communications protocol and a third communications protocol, the first, second and third communications protocols being different, the wireless device comprising:

means for transmitting a beacon signal used to communicate device capability information to other communications devices, said communicated device capability information indicating that the third wireless communications device is able to support said second and third communications protocols;

means for receiving device capability information from at least one of a first wireless communications device and a second wireless communications device, said device capability information being communicated using the first communications protocol wherein

at least a portion of a first beacon signal is received from said first communication device that indicates that said first communications device is capable of supporting said second communications protocol, and

at least a portion of a second beacon signal is received from said second communication device that indicates that said second communications device is capable of supporting said third communications protocol; and

wherein said third wireless device is adapted to

operate as a communications intermediary for communications between the first and second wireless communications devices with the first wireless communications device supporting the first and second communications protocol, the second wireless communications device supporting the first and third communications protocols;

establish a communications link between said first wireless communications device and said third wireless communications device using said second communications protocol; and

establish a communications link between said second wireless communications device and said third wireless communications device using said third communications protocol.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said first, second, and third communications devices support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a protocol corresponding to a higher communications layer than a communications layer to which said second and third communications protocols correspond, said second and third communications protocols corresponding to the same communications layer.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the third wireless device is adapted to provide network layer connectivity between said first and second communications devices using said first and second communications links to communicate network layer signals.

18. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein said first, second, and third communications devices support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a network layer protocol being used to communicate said network layer signals.

19. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein said second and third communications protocols are one of MAC layer protocols and physical layer protocols.

20. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein said fourth protocol is an IP protocol.

21. A third wireless communications device supporting a first communications protocol, a second communications protocol and a third communications protocol, the first, second and third communications protocols being different, the third wireless device comprising:

means for receiving device capability information from at least one of a first wireless communications device and a second wireless communications device, said device capability information being communicated using the first communications protocol;

means for relaying communications between the first and second wireless communications devices, the first wireless communications device supporting the first and second communications protocol, the second wireless communications device supporting the first and third communications protocols;

means for storing device capability information; and

means for transmitting a beacon signal used to communicate device capability information to other communications devices, said communicated device capability information indicating that the third wireless communications device is able to support said second and third communications protocols

wherein said first, second and third communications device support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a protocol corresponding to a higher communications layer than a communications layer to which said second and third communications protocols correspond, said second and third communications protocols corresponding to the same communications layer.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a third wireless communications device supporting a first communications protocol, a second communications protocol and a third communications protocol, the first, second and third communications protocols being different, the computer readable medium comprising:

instructions for receiving device capability information from at least one of a first wireless communications device and a second wireless communications device, said device capability information being communicated using the first communications protocol;

instructions for relaying communications between the first and second wireless communications devices, the first wireless communications device supporting the first and second communications protocol, the second wireless communications device supporting the first and third communications protocols;

instructions for storing device capability information; and

instructions for transmitting a beacon signal used to communicate device capability information to other communications devices, said communicated device capability information indicating that the third wireless communications device is able to support said second and third communications protocols

wherein said first, second and third communications device support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a protocol corresponding to a higher communications layer than a communications layer to which said second and third communications protocols correspond, said second and third communications protocols corresponding to the same communications layer.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for supporting a first communications protocol, a second communications protocol and a third communications protocol, the first, second and third communications protocols being different, the computer readable medium comprising:

instructions for transmitting a beacon signal used to communicate device capability information to other communications devices, said communicated device capability information indicating that the third wireless communications device is able to support said second and third communications protocols;

instructions for receiving device capability information from at least one of a first wireless communications device and a second wireless communications device, said device capability information being communicated using the first communications protocol wherein

at least a portion of a first beacon signal is received from said first communication device that indicates that said first communications device is capable of supporting said second communications protocol, and

at least a portion of a second beacon signal is received from said second communication device that indicates that said second communications device is capable of supporting said third communications protocol; and

wherein said third wireless device is adapted to

operate as a communications intermediary for communications between the first and second wireless communications devices with the first wireless communications device supporting the first and second communications protocol, the second wireless communications device supporting the first and third communications protocols;

establish a communications link between said first wireless communications device and said third wireless communications device using said second communications protocol; and

establish a communications link between said second wireless communications device and said third wireless communications device using said third communications protocol.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein said first, second, and third communications devices support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a protocol corresponding to a higher communications layer than a communications layer to which said second and third communications protocols correspond, said second and third communications protocols corresponding to the same communications layer.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the third wireless device is adapted to provide network layer connectivity between said first and second communications devices using said first and second communications links to communicate network layer signals.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein said first, second, and third communications devices support a fourth protocol, said fourth protocol being a network layer protocol being used to communicate said network layer signals.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein said second and third communications protocols are one of MAC layer protocols and physical layer protocols.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein said fourth protocol is an IP protocol.