Device, system and method of discovering wireless communication devices

• US 8,818,278 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Levy, Elad, Artstain, Ofir, Trainin, Solomon, Cordeiro, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US13/534,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20130252548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 455/434, 455/422.1, 455/448, 455/41.2, 455/517, 455/41.3, 370/329, 370/310, 370/328, 370/330
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of wireless communication discovery. For example, a first wireless communication device may include a wireless communication unit to discover a second wireless communication device according to an asymmetric discovery process, in which the wireless communication unit is to operate in only one first state selected from a searching state and a listening state, while the second wireless communication device is to operate in only one second state selected from the searching state and the listening state.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a wireless communication unit to discover a wireless communication device according to an asymmetric discovery process, in which the wireless communication unit is to operate in only a listening state, while the wireless communication device is to operate in only a searching state, the listening state comprising waiting at an omni-directional receive state over a single predefined wireless communication channel to receive a beacon from the wireless communication device.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising a docking station.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said wireless communication device over a millimeter-wave (mmwave) wireless communication band.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said wireless communication device to form a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication link.

5. A device comprising:

a wireless communication unit to discover a wireless communication device according to an asymmetric discovery process, in which the wireless communication unit is to operate in only a listening state, while the wireless communication device is to operate in only a searching state, wherein said listening state comprises performing a sequence of scan cycles, each scan cycle including setting one of a plurality of omni-directional antennas to an omni-directional receive state to receive a beacon from the wireless communication device.

6. The device of claim 5 comprising a docking station.

7. A device comprising:

a wireless communication unit to discover a wireless communication device according to an asymmetric discovery process, in which the wireless communication unit is to operate in only a searching state, while the wireless communication device is to operate in only a listening state, said wireless communication unit to perform a scan cycle including a sequence of active scan patterns over a plurality of wireless communication channels, wherein an active scan pattern over a wireless communication channel comprises sending multiple beacons in multiple directions over said wireless communication channel, waiting for a predefined time period to receive a response from said wireless communication device, and switching to a power save mode.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said wireless communication device over a millimeter-wave (mmwave) wireless communication band.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said wireless communication device to form a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication link.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein said wireless communication unit is to repeat said scan cycle for each antenna of a plurality of antennas.

11. The device of claim 7 comprising a mobile device.

12. A device comprising:

a wireless communication unit to discover a wireless communication device according to an asymmetric discovery process, in which the wireless communication unit is to operate in only one first state selected from the group consisting of a searching state and a listening state, while the wireless communication device is to operate in only one second state selected from the group consisting of the searching state and the listening state, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said wireless communication device within no more than a predefined discovery time period, if said wireless communication unit is within a transmission range of said wireless communication device, wherein said discovery time period is based on a combination of a beacon interval utilized by said searching state, a number of wireless communication channels utilized by said searching state, a number of antennas utilized by the wireless communication unit, and a number of antennas utilized by the wireless communication device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said wireless communication device over a millimeter-wave (mmwave) wireless communication band.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said wireless communication device for forming a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication link.

15. A system comprising:

a first wireless communication device comprising;

a plurality of antennas; and

a wireless communication unit to discover a second wireless communication device according to an asymmetric discovery process, in which the first wireless communication device is to operate in only a listening state, while the second wireless communication device is to operate in only a searching state, said wireless communication unit to perform a sequence of scan cycles, each scan cycle including setting an antenna of said plurality of antennas to an omni-directional receive state to receive a beacon from the second wireless communication device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said second wireless communication device over a millimeter-wave (mmwave) wireless communication band.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said second wireless communication device to form a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication link.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said first wireless communication device comprises a docking station.

19. A system comprising:

a first wireless communication device comprising;

one or more antennas; and

a wireless communication unit to discover a second wireless communication device according to an asymmetric discovery process, in which the first wireless communication device is to operate in only a searching state, while the second wireless communication device is to operate in only a listening state, said wireless communication unit is to perform a scan cycle including a sequence of active scan patterns over a plurality of wireless communication channels, wherein an active scan pattern over a wireless communication channel comprises sending multiple beacons in multiple directions over said wireless communication channel, waiting for a predefined time period to receive a response from said second wireless communication device, and switching to a power save mode.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said second wireless communication device to form a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication link.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said second wireless communication device within no more than a predefined discovery time period, if said wireless communication unit is within a transmission range of said second wireless communication device, wherein said discovery time period is based on a combination of a beacon interval utilized by said searching state, a number of wireless communication channels utilized by said searching state, and a number of said one or more antennas.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein said first wireless communication device comprises a mobile device.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein said wireless communication unit is to discover said second wireless communication device over a millimeter-wave (mmwave) wireless communication band.

24. A method comprising:

discovering a wireless communication device according to an asymmetric discovery process by operating in only a listening state, while the wireless communication device is to operate in only a searching state, wherein said listening state comprises performing a sequence of scan cycles, each scan cycle including setting one of a plurality of omni-directional antennas to an omni-directional receive state to receive a beacon from the wireless communication device.

25. The method of claim 24 comprising discovering said wireless communication device over a millimeter-wave (mmwave) wireless communication band.

26. The method of claim 24, comprising discovering said wireless communication device to form a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication link.

27. The method of claim 24 comprising discovering said wireless communication device within no more than a predefined discovery time period, if being within a transmission range of said wireless communication device, wherein said discovery time period is based on a combination of a beacon interval utilized by said searching state, a number of wireless communication channels utilized by said searching state, and a number of said plurality of omni-directional antennas.

28. A product including a non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a machine, result in:

discovering a wireless communication device according to an asymmetric discovery process by operating in only a searching state, while the wireless communication device is to operate in only a listening state, wherein operating in said searching state comprises performing a scan cycle including a sequence of active scan patterns over a plurality of wireless communication channels, wherein an active scan pattern over a wireless communication channel comprises sending multiple beacons in multiple directions over said wireless communication channel, waiting for a predefined time period to receive a response from said wireless communication device, and switching to a power save mode.

29. The product of claim 28, wherein said instructions result in repeating said scan cycle for each antenna of a plurality of antennas.

30. The product of claim 28, wherein said instructions result in discovering said wireless communication device over a millimeter-wave (mmwave) wireless communication band.