Server mediated peer-to-peer communication offloading from network infrastructure

• US 9,350,662 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shuman, Mohammed Ataur Rahman, Goel, Amit, Sharma, Sandeep
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAU, PETER P
• Application Number:
  US14/335,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20160021007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• 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 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

The disclosure generally relates to offloading communication from a network infrastructure to direct peer-to-peer communication. In particular, a server may receive peer-to-peer status information over the network infrastructure from at least two client devices that intend to communicate, wherein the peer-to-peer status information may include at least coarse or precise location information associated with the client devices. The server may then instruct the client devices to communicate over a direct peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the location information received from the client devices and other conditions permit offloading the communication from the network infrastructure. For example, the server may determine whether the communication can be offloaded based at least in part on whether an estimated distance between the client devices falls within a maximum range associated with one or more peer-to-peer interfaces supported on one or more of the client devices.

Claims

1. A method for offloading communication from a network infrastructure, comprising:

receiving first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over the network infrastructure;

predicting that the first wireless device intends to communicate with the second wireless device based on one or more reports received from the first wireless device that describe an activity on the first wireless device;

determining, in response to the predicting, whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device; and

instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first wireless device, a call request that indicates an intent to communicate with the second wireless device over the network infrastructure, wherein the call request includes the first location information associated with the first wireless device.

3. The method recited in claim 2, further comprising:

requesting that the second wireless device update the second location information associated therewith in response to determining that a most recent location update from the second wireless device was received before a predetermined time.

4. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining connectivity with the first wireless device and the second wireless device while the first wireless device and the second wireless device communicate over the peer-to-peer connection such that the first wireless device and the second wireless device are directed to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to one or more trigger events.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein determining whether the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure further comprises:

estimating a distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

identifying one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on one or more peer-to-peer status reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure in response to the estimated distance falling within a range associated with the one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

6. The method recited in claim 5, further comprising:

updating the estimated distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on updated location information included in one or more intermittent reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device;

instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the updated estimated distance falling outside the range associated with the one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

7. The method recited in claim 5, wherein the one or more peer-to-peer status reports further include peer-to-peer identifiers associated with the first wireless device and the second wireless device, information indicating an operating status associated with one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device, and status information associated with available resources on the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

8. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring one or more performance metrics associated with the peer-to-peer connection between the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the monitored one or more performance metrics indicating that quality associated with the peer-to-peer connection has degraded.

9. A method for offloading communication from a network infrastructure, comprising:

receiving first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over the network infrastructure;

estimating a distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

identifying multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on one or more peer-to-peer status reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device;

determining that a communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure in response to the estimated distance falling within a range associated with at least one of the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device;

selecting, among the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device, a peer-to-peer technology that the first wireless device and the second wireless device use to establish a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure according to one or more preferences in response to determining that the estimated distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device falls within a range associated with each of the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the peer-to-peer connection via the selected peer-to-peer technology in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure.

10. A method recited for offloading communication from a network infrastructure, comprising:

receiving first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over the network infrastructure;

determining whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure;

monitoring one or more billing metrics associated with the peer-to-peer connection between the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the monitored one or more billing metrics indicating that communication over the peer-to-peer connection exceeds a cost threshold.

11. A method recited for offloading communication from a network infrastructure, comprising:

receiving first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over the network infrastructure;

determining whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device; and

instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure;

receiving a lawful intercept request that identifies a subscriber associated with at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device; and

instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to receiving the lawful intercept request.

12. The method recited in claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting one or more keys used to encrypt communication over the peer-to-peer connection to a law enforcement agency in response to the lawful intercept request, wherein the one or more keys enable the law enforcement agency to conduct surveillance on the communication over the peer-to-peer connection.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure and to receive one or more reports from the first wireless device that describe an activity on the first wireless device;

one or more processors configured to determine, in response to a prediction that the first wireless device intends to communicate with the second wireless device based on the one or more reports received from the first wireless device, whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a message instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

estimate a distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

identify one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on one or more peer-to-peer status reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

determine that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure in response to the estimated distance falling within a range associated with the one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

15. The apparatus recited in claim 14, wherein:

the one or more processors are further configured to update the estimated distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on updated location information included in one or more intermittent reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device, and

the transmitter is further configured to transmit a message instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the one or more processors determining that the updated estimated distance falls outside the range associated with the one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

one or more processors configured to;

estimate a distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

identify multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on one or more peer-to-peer status reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device;

determine that a communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure in response to the estimated distance falling within a range associated with at least one of the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

select, among the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device, a peer-to-peer technology that the first wireless device and the second wireless device use to establish a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure according to one or more preferences in response to the estimated distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device falling within a range associated with each of the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a message instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the peer-to-peer connection via the selected peer-to-peer technology in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

one or more processors configured to determine whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a first message instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to monitor one or more billing metrics associated with the peer-to-peer connection between the first wireless device and the second wireless device, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a second message instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the monitored one or more billing metrics indicating that communication over the peer-to-peer connection exceeds a cost threshold.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

one or more processors configured to determine whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a first message instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a lawful intercept request that identifies a subscriber associated with at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a second message instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the received lawful intercept request.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

means for predicting that the first wireless device intends to communicate with the second wireless device based on one or more reports received from the first wireless device that describe an activity on the first wireless device;

means for determining, in response to the predicting, whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device; and

means for instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure.

20. The apparatus recited in claim 19, further comprising:

means for estimating a distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

means for identifying one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on one or more peer-to-peer status reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

means for determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure in response to the estimated distance falling within a range associated with the one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

21. The apparatus recited in claim 20, further comprising:

means for updating the estimated distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on updated location information included in one or more intermittent reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

means for instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the updated estimated distance falling outside the range associated with the one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

means for estimating a distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

means for identifying multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on one or more peer-to-peer status reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device;

means for determining that a communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure in response to the estimated distance falling within a range associated with at least one of the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device;

means for selecting, among the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device, a peer-to-peer technology that the first wireless device and the second wireless device use to establish a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure according to one or more preferences in response to the estimated distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device falling within a range associated with each of the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

means for instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the peer-to-peer connection via the selected peer-to-peer technology in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

means for determining whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

means for instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure;

means for monitoring one or more billing metrics associated with the peer-to-peer connection between the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

means for instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the monitored one or more billing metrics indicating that communication over the peer-to-peer connection exceeds a cost threshold.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

means for determining whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

means for instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure;

means for receiving a lawful intercept request that identifies a subscriber associated with at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device; and

means for instructing the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the received lawful intercept request.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions recorded thereon, wherein executing the computer-executable instructions on a server causes the server to:

receive first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

receive one or more reports from the first wireless device that describe an activity on the first wireless device;

determine, in response to a prediction that the first wireless device intends to communicate with the second wireless device based on the one or more reports received from the first wireless device, whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device; and

instruct the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 25, wherein executing the computer-executable instructions on the server further causes the server to:

estimate a distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

identify one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on one or more peer-to-peer status reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

determine that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure in response to the estimated distance falling within a range associated with the one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 26, wherein executing the computer-executable instructions on the server further causes the server to:

update the estimated distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on updated location information included in one or more intermittent reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

instruct the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the updated estimated distance falling outside the range associated with the one or more peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions recorded thereon, wherein executing the computer-executable instructions on a server causes the server to:

receive first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

estimate a distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

identify multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on one or more peer-to-peer status reports received from the first wireless device and the second wireless device;

determine that a communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure in response to the estimated distance falling within a range associated with at least one of the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device;

select, among the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device, a peer-to-peer technology that the first wireless device and the second wireless device use to establish a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure according to one or more preferences in response to the estimated distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device falling within a range associated with each of the multiple peer-to-peer technologies supported on both the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

instruct the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the peer-to-peer connection via the selected peer-to-peer technology in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions recorded thereon, wherein executing the computer-executable instructions on a server causes the server to:

receive first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

determine whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

instruct the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure;

monitor one or more billing metrics associated with the peer-to-peer connection between the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and

instruct the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the monitored one or more billing metrics indicating that communication over the peer-to-peer connection exceeds a cost threshold.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions recorded thereon, wherein executing the computer-executable instructions on a server causes the server to:

receive first location information from a first wireless device and second location information from a second wireless device over a network infrastructure;

determine whether communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure based at least in part on the first location information received from the first wireless device and the second location information received from the second wireless device;

instruct the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over a peer-to-peer connection that bypasses the network infrastructure in response to determining that the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device is able to be offloaded from the network infrastructure;

receive a lawful intercept request that identifies a subscriber associated with at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device; and

instruct the first wireless device and the second wireless device to communicate over the network infrastructure in response to the received lawful intercept request.