Wireless communication methods and apparatus supporting peer to peer communications

• US 8,879,519 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Laroia, Rajiv, Lane, Frank A., Li, Junyi, Richardson, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US11/621,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20070291715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,855 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331, 370/338, 370/278, 370/335, 370/329, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/553.1
• 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

A first mobile node supports peer to peer communications but not cellular communications. Other mobile modes in the communication system support a cellular mode and may support a peer to peer communications mode. The communications system is such that spectrum may be dynamically reallocated between being designated to be used for peer to peer operations and being used primarily for cellular network based operations. Beacon signals are used to communicate a current mode of frequency spectrum usage designation. The first mobile node, being in an ongoing peer to peer communications session detects that the spectrum is being reallocated for cellular based operations. The first mobile node reduces its transmission power level in response to the detected spectrum reallocation. In some embodiments, the first mobile is allowed to continue its ongoing peer to peer session while the spectrum is primarily allocated for cellular communications, albeit at a lower transmission power level.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless device, the method comprising:

determining from a first broadcast signal received from a base station that a frequency band corresponding to said base station is being used for peer to peer communications;

determining from a second broadcast signal received from the base station that said frequency band has been reallocated to being used as a cellular frequency band; and

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band reducing transmission power,

wherein reducing transmission power includes a reduction in transmission power by at least 10 dBs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing transmission power includes ceasing to transmit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band terminating an ongoing peer to peer communications session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band, putting an ongoing peer to peer communications session into a hold state.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining from a third broadcast signal received from said base station that said frequency band has been changed to being used for peer to peer communications.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

switching a peer to peer communications session which was in a hold state to an active state in response to said third broadcast signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is a wireless mobile node which supports peer to peer communications.

8. A non-transitory-computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a wireless device to implement a method, the method comprising:

determining from a first broadcast signal received from a base station that a frequency band corresponding to said base station is being used for peer to peer communications;

determining from a second broadcast signal received from the base station at said frequency band has been reallocated to being used as a cellular frequency band and

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band reducing the transmission power,

wherein reducing transmission power includes a reduction in transmission power by at least 10 dBs.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein reducing transmission power includes ceasing to transmit.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band terminating an ongoing peer to peer communications session.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band, putting an ongoing peer to peer communications session into a hold state.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

determining from a third broadcast signal received from said base station that said frequency band has been changed to being used for peer to peer communications.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

switching a peer to peer communications session which was in a hold state to an active state in response to said third broadcast signal.

14. A wireless device, comprising:

means for determining from a first broadcast signal received from a base station that a frequency band corresponding to said base station is being used for peer to peer communications;

means for determining from a second broadcast signal received from the base station that said frequency band has been reallocated to being used as a cellular frequency band; and

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band reducing transmission power,

wherein reducing transmission power includes a reduction in transmission power by at least 10 dBs.

15. The wireless device of claim 14 wherein reducing transmission power includes ceasing to transmit.

16. The wireless device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for terminating an ongoing peer to peer communications session in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

17. The wireless device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for putting an ongoing peer to peer communications session into a hold state in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

18. The wireless device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for determining from a third broadcast signal received from said base station that said frequency band has been changed to being used for peer to peer communications.

19. The wireless device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for switching a peer to peer communications session which was in a hold state to an active state in response to said third broadcast signal.

20. A wireless device, comprising:

a processor;

for determining from a first broadcast signal received from a base station that a frequency band corresponding to said base station is being used for peer to peer communications;

for determining from a second broadcast signal received from the base station that said frequency band has been reallocated to being used as a cellular frequency band; and

in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band reducing transmission power,

wherein reducing transmission power includes a reduction in transmission power by at least 10 dBs.

21. The wireless device of claim 20 wherein reducing transmission power includes ceasing to transmit.

22. The wireless device of claim 20, wherein the processor is adapted to:

terminate an ongoing peer to peer communications session in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

23. The wireless device of claim 20, wherein the processor is adapted to:

to put an ongoing peer to peer communications session into a hold state in response to determining that the frequency band is being used as a cellular frequency band.

24. The wireless device of claim 20, wherein the processor is adapted to:

determine from a third broadcast signal received from said base station that said frequency band has been changed to being used for peer to peer communications.

25. The wireless device of claim 20, processor is adapted to:

switch a peer to peer communications session which was in a hold state to an active state in response to said third broadcast signal.

26. The wireless device of claim 20, wherein said wireless device is a wireless mobile node which supports peer to peer communications.