Wireless communication methods and apparatus using beacon signals

• US 8,885,572 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• 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): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, NAM TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/652,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20090059841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,862 Days
• Field of Search: 455/434, 4554351-4352, 455/447, 455/448, 455/435.3, 455450-4522, 455/455, 455/41.2, 455507-509, 455515-516, 455/552.1, 370328-330, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/329
• 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 36/24 Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• 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 supporting peer to peer communications are discussed. A base station, serving as an access node for wireless terminals also communicates information supporting peer to peer communications. A base station transmits a beacon signal conveying information about a peer to peer frequency band and also receives user data from a plurality of wireless terminals, using the base station as a current point of network attachment. In some embodiments, the beacon signal is transmitted into the same frequency band being used for access node based communications and identifies a different frequency band which is to be used as a peer to peer frequency band. Alternatively, or in addition, in support of peer to peer communications, a beacon signal transmission apparatus, a free standing device which doesn'"'"'t transmit user data, transmits a sequence of beacon signal bursts, each beacon signal burst including at least one high power beacon symbol.

Claims

1. A method of operating a base station in a cellular network, comprising:

transmitting beacon signals into a cellular network frequency band, at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band conveying information about a second frequency which is a peer to peer frequency band and at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band being a first timing reference signal, said first timing reference signal being derived from a first timing signal source, said peer to peer frequency band being a frequency band into which said base station does not transmit user data;

transmitting, a peer to peer timing reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band, said peer to peer timing reference signal being derived from the first timing source, the first timing reference signal transmitted into the cellular network frequency band and the peer to peer timing reference signal transmitted into the peer to peer frequency band thus having a common timing source;

receiving data from a plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node for communication through said access node; and

wherein the amount of energy transmitted by said base station into said peer to peer frequency band during a 1 minute time period is controlled to be less than the amount of energy transmitted by said base station into said cellular network frequency band during said 1 minute time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into said cellular network frequency band is a frequency reference signal, the method further comprising:

transmitting at least one frequency reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting user data to said plurality of wireless terminals using said cellular network frequency band.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said receiving data includes receiving data in said cellular network frequency band during a first time period and wherein said transmitting user data into said cellular network frequency band is performed during a second time period which is different from said first time period, said cellular network frequency band being used in a time division multiplexed manner.

5. A method of operating a base station, comprising:

transmitting a beacon signal, said beacon signal including at least one beacon signal burst, said beacon signal conveying information about a peer to peer frequency band, said transmitting a beacon signal includes transmitting said beacon signal into a first communications band, said beacon signal conveyed information indicating a second frequency band which is used as said peer to peer frequency band, said second frequency band being different from said first frequency band,

transmitting user data to said plurality of wireless terminals using said first frequency band;

receiving data from a plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node for communication through said access node;

wherein said receiving data includes receiving data in said first frequency band during a first time period and wherein said transmitting user data into said first frequency band is performed during a second time period which is different from said first time period, said first frequency band being used in a time division multiplexed manner; and

wherein the average power transmitted into said second frequency band by said base station over a 1 minute time period is less than 1/1000 the average power transmitted by said base station into the first frequency band during said 1 minute time period.

6. A method of operating a base station in a cellular network, comprising:

transmitting beacon signals into a cellular network frequency band, at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band conveying information about a second frequency which is a peer to peer frequency band and at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band being a first timing reference signal, said first timing reference signal being derived from a first timing signal source, said peer to peer frequency band being a frequency band into which said base station does not transmit user data;

transmitting, a peer to peer timing reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band, said peer to peer timing reference signal being derived from the first timing source, the first timing reference signal transmitted into the cellular network frequency band and the peer to peer timing reference signal transmitted into the peer to peer frequency band thus having a common timing source;

receiving data from a plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node for communication through said access node; and

wherein the average power transmitted into said peer to peer frequency band by said base station over a 1 minute time period is less than 1/1000 the average power transmitted by said base station into the cellular network frequency band during said 1 minute time period.

7. A base station, comprising:

a beacon signal generation module for generating beacon signals;

a transmitter for (i) transmitting the generated beacon signals into a cellular network frequency band, at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band conveying information about a second frequency which is a peer to peer frequency band and at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band being a first timing reference signal, said first timing reference signal being derived from a first timing signal source, said peer to peer frequency band being a frequency band into which said base station does not transmit user data, and (ii) transmitting, a peer to peer timing reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band, said peer to peer timing reference signal being derived from the first timing source, the first timing reference signal transmitted into the cellular network frequency band and the peer to peer timing reference signal transmitted into the peer to peer frequency band thus having a common timing source;

a receiver for receiving signals including user data signals from a plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node for communication through said access node; and

a control module for controlling the amount of energy transmitted by said transmitter into said peer to peer frequency band during a 1 minute time period to be less than the amount of energy transmitted by said transmitter into said cellular network frequency band during said 1 minute time.

8. The base station of claim 7, wherein at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into said cellular network frequency band is a frequency reference signal, said transmitter being further configured to:

transmit at least one frequency reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band.

9. The base station of claim 8, further comprising:

a user data transmission control module for controlling transmission of user data to multiple ones of said plurality of wireless terminals using said cellular network frequency band.

10. The base station of claim 9, wherein said receiving data includes receiving data in said cellular network frequency band during a first time period and wherein said transmitting user data into said cellular network frequency band is performed during a second time period which is different from said first time period, said cellular network frequency band being used in a time division multiplexed manner.

12. The base station of claim 9, further comprising:

an access node beacon signal generation module for generating a second beacon signal, said second beacon signal providing timing synchronization information to the plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node; and

wherein the transmitter is also for transmitting the second beacon signal into the cellular network frequency band.

13. The base station of claim 12, wherein said transmitter is an OFDM transmitter.

11. A base station comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a beacon signal, said beacon signal including at least one beacon signal burst, said beacon signal conveying information about a peer to peer frequency band, said transmitting a beacon signal includes transmitting said beacon signal into a first communications band, said beacon signal conveyed information indicating a second frequency band which is used as said peer to peer frequency band, said second frequency band being different from said first frequency band, and for transmitting user data to said plurality of wireless terminals using said first frequency band;

a receiver for receiving data from a plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node for communication through said access node;

wherein said receiver is configured to receive data in said first frequency band during a first time period and wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit user data into said first frequency band during a second time period which is different from said first time period, said first frequency band being used in a time division multiplexed manner; and

a transmission power control module for controlling transmission power into the second frequency band to keep the average power transmitted into said second frequency band by said base station over a 1 minute time period to less than 1/1000 the average power transmitted by said base station into the first frequency band during said 1 minute time period.

14. A base station, comprising:

beacon signal generation means for generating a beacon;

transmission means for (i) transmitting the generated beacon signals into a cellular network frequency band, at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band conveying information about a second frequency which is a peer to peer frequency band and at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band being a first timing reference signal, said first timing reference signal being derived from a first timing signal source, said peer to peer frequency band being a frequency band into which said base station does not transmit user data, and (ii) transmitting, a peer to peer timing reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band, said peer to peer timing reference signal being derived from the first timing source, the first timing reference signal transmitted into the cellular network frequency band and the peer to peer timing reference signal transmitted into the peer to peer frequency band thus having a common timing source;

receiver means for receiving signals including user data signals from a plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node for communication through said access node; and

control means for controlling the amount of energy transmitted by said transmission means into said peer to peer frequency band during a 1 minute time period to be less than the amount of energy transmitted by said transmission means into said cellular network frequency band during said 1 minute time period.

15. The base station of claim 14, wherein at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into said cellular network frequency band is a frequency reference signal, said transmission means are also for transmitting at least one frequency reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band.

16. The base station of claim 15, further comprising:

user data transmission control means for controlling transmission of user data to multiple ones of said plurality of wireless terminals using said cellular network frequency band.

17. The base station of claim 16, wherein said receiving data includes receiving data in said cellular network frequency band during a first time period and wherein said transmitting user data into said cellular network frequency band is performed during a second time period which is different from said first time period, said cellular network frequency band being used in a time division multiplexed manner.

18. A base station comprising:

means for transmitting a beacon signal, said beacon signal including at least one beacon signal burst, said beacon signal conveying information about a peer to peer frequency band, said transmitting a beacon signal includes transmitting said beacon signal into a first communications band, said beacon signal conveyed information indicating a second frequency band which is used as said peer to peer frequency band, said second frequency band being different from said first frequency band, and for transmitting user data to said plurality of wireless terminals using said first frequency band;

means for receiving data from a plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node for communication through said access node;

wherein said means for receiving data receive data in said first frequency band during a first time period and wherein said means for transmitting transmit user data into said first frequency band during a second time period which is different from said first time period, said first frequency band being used in a time division multiplexed manner; and

transmission power control means for controlling transmission power into the second frequency band to keep the average power transmitted into said second frequency band over a 1 minute time period to less than 1/1000 the average power transmitted by said base station into the first frequency band during said 1 minute time period.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a base station to implement a method of communicating with another communications device, the method comprising:

transmitting beacon signals into a cellular network frequency band, at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band conveying information about a second frequency which is a peer to peer frequency band and at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band being a first timing reference signal, said first timing reference signal being derived from a first timing signal source, said peer to peer frequency band being a frequency band into which said base station does not transmit user data,

transmitting, a peer to peer timing reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band, said peer to peer timing reference signal being derived from the first timing source, the first timing reference signal transmitted into the cellular network frequency band and the peer to peer timing reference signal transmitted into the peer to peer frequency band thus having a common timing source;

receiving data from a plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node for communication through said access node; and

wherein the amount of energy transmitted by said base station into said peer to peer frequency band during a 1 minute time period is controlled to be less than the amount of energy transmitted by said base station into said cellular network frequency band during said 1 minute time period.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into said cellular network frequency band is a frequency reference signal, the method further comprising:

transmitting at least one frequency reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 20, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

transmitting user data to said plurality of wireless terminals using said cellular network frequency band.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein said receiving data includes receiving data in said cellular network frequency band during a first time period and

wherein said transmitting user data into said cellular network frequency band is performed during a second time period which is different from said first time period, said cellular network frequency band being used in a time division multiplexed manner.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a base station to implement a method of communicating with another communications device, the method comprising:

transmitting beacon signals into a cellular network frequency band, at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band conveying information about a second frequency which is a peer to peer frequency band and at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band being a first timing reference signal, said first timing reference signal being derived from a first timing signal source, said peer to peer frequency band being a frequency band into which said base station does not transmit user data,

transmitting, a peer to peer timing reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band, said peer to peer timing reference signal being derived from the first timing source, the first timing reference signal transmitted into the cellular network frequency band and the peer to peer timing reference signal transmitted into the peer to peer frequency band thus having a common timing source;

receiving data from a plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node for communication through said access node; and

wherein the average power transmitted into said peer to peer frequency band by said base station over a 1 minute time period is less than 1/1000 the average power transmitted by said base station into the first frequency band during said 1 minute time period.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a base station processor configured to;

generate a beacon signals;

transmit the generated beacon signals into a cellular network frequency band, at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band conveying information about a second frequency which is a peer to peer frequency band and at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into the cellular network frequency band being a first timing reference signal, said first timing reference signal being derived from a first timing signal source, said peer to peer frequency band being a frequency band into which said base station does not transmit user data, and transmit, a peer to peer timing reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band, said peer to peer timing reference signal being derived from the first timing source, the first timing reference signal transmitted into the cellular network frequency band and the peer to peer timing reference signal transmitted into the peer to peer frequency band thus having a common timing source;

receive signals including user data signals from a plurality of wireless terminals using said apparatus as an access node for communication through said access node; and

wherein the amount of energy transmitted by said apparatus into said peer to peer frequency band during a 1 minute time period is controlled to be less than the amount of energy transmitted by said apparatus into said cellular network frequency band during said 1 minute time period.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least one of said beacon signals transmitted into said cellular network frequency band is a frequency reference signal, said base station processor being further configured to:

transmit at least one frequency reference beacon signal into said peer to peer frequency band.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said base station processor is further configured to:

control transmission of user data to multiple ones of said plurality of wireless terminals using said cellular network frequency band.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said receiving data includes receiving data in said cellular network frequency band during a first time period and wherein said transmitting user data into said cellular network frequency band is performed during a second time period which is different from said first time period, said cellular network frequency band being used in a time division multiplexed manner.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

transmit a beacon signal, said beacon signal including at least one beacon signal burst, said beacon signal conveying information about a peer to peer frequency band, said transmitting a beacon signal includes transmitting said beacon signal into a first communications band, said beacon signal conveyed information indicating a second frequency band which is used as said peer to peer frequency band, said second frequency band being different from said first frequency band, and for transmitting user data to said plurality of wireless terminals using said first frequency band;

receive data from a plurality of wireless terminals using said base station as an access node for communication through said access node;

wherein said processor is configured to receive data in said first frequency band during a first time period and wherein said processor is configured to transmit user data into said first frequency band during a second time period which is different from said first time period, said first frequency band being used in a time division multiplexed manner; and

control transmission power into the second frequency band to keep the average power transmitted into said second frequency band over a 1 minute time period to less than 1/1000 the average power transmitted by said apparatus into the first frequency band during said 1 minute time period.