Wireless communication methods and apparatus supporting different types of wireless communciation approaches

• US 9,277,481 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• 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, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sharma, Gautam
• Application Number:
  US14/010,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20130343283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A wireless terminal supports both peer to peer communications and access node based communications. The wireless terminal considers and evaluates communications link alternatives and selects between (i) communication using a peer to peer link and (ii) communications using a link, with a base station serving as an access node, Received signals corresponding to each of the link alternatives are used in performing link quality determinations. In one example, a received user beacon signal from a peer wireless terminal is the received signal used for the peer to peer link evaluation and a: base station beacon signal is the received signal used for the access node link evaluation. A link is selected as a function of quality determination, predicted data throughput, link maintenance energy requirements, and/or least cost routing determination information.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless terminal which supports both peer to peer communication and communication via a base station, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first communications band, the first signal being from a base station;

determining from said first signal, link quality of a first link between said base station and said wireless terminal;

receiving a second signal from a second communications band which is different from said first communications band, said second signal being from a peer wireless terminal;

determining from said second signal, link quality of a second link between said wireless terminal and said peer wireless terminal; and

selecting between said first and second links for a communications session based on the determined quality of said first and second links;

wherein said first signal includes a beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station and said second signal includes a beacon signal burst transmitted by said peer wireless terminal; and

wherein said second signal is transmitted by said peer wireless terminal in a non-infrastructure frequency band in a time interval which is a function of the timing of the beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

predicting a first data throughput to the base station based on said first determined link quality;

predicting a second data throughput to the peer wireless communications device base on said second determined link quality; and

wherein said selecting includes selecting the one of the first and second links having the higher data throughput.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein predicting the first data throughput includes using maximum transmission power information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said maximum transmission power information includes at least one of information on a government restriction on maximum transmission power and device power output capability.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting between said first and second links for a communications session is also performed as a function of energy required to maintain said first and second links, said selecting including selecting the one of the first and second links satisfying a link quality requirement and also requiring the least amount of energy to maintain.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting between said first and second links is also performed as a function of a least cost routing determination that takes into consideration economic costs associated with using individual ones of the first and second links.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said first and second signal each include at least one beacon signal burst;

determining the frequency hand of the second signal from the first signal prior to receiving said second signal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an interval of time during which said wireless terminal is to monitor for said second signal; and

monitoring during said interval to receive said second signal.

9. A wireless terminal which supports both peer to peer communication and communication via a base station, the wireless terminal comprising:

a receiver module for receiving a first signal from a first communications band, the first signal being from a base station and for receiving a second signal from a second communications band which is different from said first communications band, said second signal being from a peer wireless terminal;

a base station link quality determination module for determining from said first signal link quality of a first link between said base station and said wireless terminal;

a peer to peer link quality determination module for determining from said second signal link quality of a second link between said wireless terminal and said peer wireless terminal; and

a link selection module for selecting between said first and second links for a communications session based on the determined quality of said first and second links;

wherein said first signal includes a beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station and said second signal includes a beacon signal burst transmitted by said peer wireless terminal; and

wherein said second signal is transmitted by said peer wireless terminal in a non-infrastructure frequency band in a time interval which is a function of the timing of the beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station.

10. The wireless terminal of claim 9, further comprising:

a first data throughput determination module for predicting a first data throughput to the base station base on said first determined link quality;

a second data throughput determination module for predicting a second data throughput to the peer wireless communications device based on said second determined link quality; and

wherein said link selection module includes a throughput based selection module for selecting the one of the first and second links having the higher data throughput.

11. The wireless terminal of claim 10, wherein said first signal includes a beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station and said second signal includes a beacon signal burst and wherein said second signal is transmitted by said peer wireless terminal in a non-infrastructure frequency band in a time interval which is a function of the timing of the beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station;

the wireless terminal further comprising;

a beacon burst processing module for recovering link information from a beacon signal burst; and

a user data recovery module for recovering user data from non-beacon signals used to communicate user data as part of a communications session.

12. The wireless terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

a data storage element including stored maximum transmission power information; and

wherein said first data throughput prediction module uses said stored maximum transmission power information in predicting the first data throughput.

13. The wireless terminal of claim 12, wherein said stored maximum transmission power information includes at least one of information on a government restriction on maximum transmission power and device power output capability.

14. The wireless terminal of claim 9, further comprising:

a power requirement estimation module for estimating the amount of energy required to maintain the first and second links; and

wherein selecting between said first and second links for a communications session is also performed as a function of energy required to maintain said first and second links, said selecting including selecting the one of the first and second links satisfying a link quality requirement and also requiring the least amount of energy to maintain.

15. The wireless terminal of claim 9, further comprising:

a routing cost determination module for performing a routing cost determination that takes into consideration economic costs associated with using individual ones of the first and second links; and

wherein selecting between said first and second links is also performed as a function of a least cost routing determination that takes into consideration economic costs associated with using individual ones of the first and second links.

16. The wireless terminal of claim 10, further comprising:

a frequency band determination module for determining, prior to receiving said second signal, the frequency band of the second signal from the first. signal.

17. The wireless terminal of claim 10, further comprising:

a monitor interval determination module for determining an interval of time during which said wireless terminal is to monitor for said second signal; and

a peer to peer signal monitoring module for monitoring for a signal from a peer wireless terminal during said monitoring module for monitoring for a signal from a peer wireless terminal during said interval to receive said second signal.

18. A wireless terminal which supports both peer to peer communication and communication via a base station, the wireless terminal comprising:

receiver means for receiving a first signal from a first communications band, the first signal being from a base station and for receiving a second signal from a second communications band which is different from said first communications band, said second signal being from a peer wireless terminal;

base station link quality determination means for determining from said first signal link quality of a first link between said base station and said wireless terminal;

peer to peer link quality determination means for determining from said second signal link quality of a second link between said wireless terminal and said peer wireless terminal; and

link selection means for selecting between said first and second links for a communications session based on the determined quality of said first and second links;

wherein said first signal includes a beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station and said second signal includes a beacon signal burst transmitted by said peer wireless terminal; and

wherein said second signal is transmitted by said peer wireless terminal in a non-infrastructure frequency band in a time interval which is a function of the timing of the beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station.

19. The wireless terminal of claim 18, further comprising:

first data throughput determination means for predicting a first data throughput to the base station based on said first determined link quality;

second data throughput determination means for predicting a second data throughput to the peer wireless communications device based on said second determined link quality; and

wherein said link selection means includes a throughput based selection means for selecting the one of the first and second links having the higher data throughput.

20. The wireless terminal of claim 19, wherein said first signal includes a beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station and said second signal includes a beacon signal burst and wherein said second signal is transmitted by said peer wireless terminal in a non-infrastructure frequency band in a time interval which is a function of the timing of the beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station;

the wireless terminal further comprising;

beacon burst processing means for recovering link information from a beacon signal burst; and

user data recovery means for recovering user data from non-beacon signals used to communicate user data as part of a communications session.

21. The wireless terminal of claim 18, further comprising power requirement estimation means for estimating the amount of energy required to maintain the first and second links;

and wherein selecting between said first and second links for a communications session is also performed as a function of energy required to maintain said first and second links, said selecting including selecting the one of the first and second links satisfying a link quality requirement and also requiring the least amount of energy to maintain.

22. The wireless terminal of claim 18, further comprising routing cost determination means for performing a routing cost determination that takes into consideration economic costs associated with using individual ones of the first and second links;

and wherein selecting between said first and second links is also performed as a function of a least cost routing determination that takes into consideration economic costs associated with using individual ones of the first and second links.

23. The wireless terminal of claim 19, further comprising:

frequency band determination means for determining, prior to receiving said second signal, the frequency band of the second signal from the first signal.

24. The wireless terminal of claim 19, further comprising:

monitor interval determination means for determining an interval of time during which said wireless terminal is to monitor for said second signal; and

peer to peer signal monitor means for monitoring for a signal from a peer wireless terminal during said interval to receive said second signal.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a wireless terminal which supports both peer to peer communication and communication via a base station, the machine executable instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving a first signal from a first communications band, the first signal being from a base station;

instructions for determining from said first signal link quality of a first link between said base station and said wireless terminal;

instructions for receiving a first signal from a first communications band, the first signal being from a base station and for receiving a second signal from a second communications band which is different from said first communications band, said second signal being from a peer wireless terminal;

instructions for determining from said first signal link quality of a first link between said base station and the apparatus;

determine from said second signal link quality of a second link between said Apparatus and said peer wireless terminal; and

instructions for selecting between said first and second links for a communications session based on the determined quality of said first and second links;

wherein said first signal includes a beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station and said second signal includes a beacon signal burst transmitted by said peer wireless terminal; and

wherein said second signal is transmitted by said peer wireless terminal in a non-infrastructure frequency band in a time interval which is a function of the timing of the beacon signal burst transmitted by the base station.