Methods and apparatuses for communicating in television white space (TVWS) based on TVWS enablement signal

• US 9,609,520 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2012
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shellhammer, Stephen J., Shen, Cong, Tandra, Rahul, Abraham, Santosh Paul, Vermani, Sameer, Sampath, Hemanth
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HOANG-CHUONG Q
• Application Number:
  US13/349,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20130016670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for supporting television white space (TVWS) communication. In an aspect of the present disclosure, a low-rate TVWS enabler (Mode II wireless communication device) may provide initial enablement for all Mode I devices (e.g., access points and user terminals), as well as it may transmit a contact verification signal (CVS) on a regular basis to keep the Mode I devices enabled for the TVWS communication.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a first circuit configured to search a plurality of channels supporting wireless communication for a signal transmitted from another apparatus on a first channel of the channels, wherein the signal is capable of reaching a plurality of apparatuses for advertising an enablement for the wireless communication;

a second circuit configured to detect, based on the search, the signal and the first channel; and

a transceiver configured to transmit, to the other apparatus upon the detection, a request for the enablement using the first channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

transmit, to the other apparatus, an identifier (ID) of the apparatus along with the request.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels supporting wireless communication comprise a plurality of television white space (TVWS) channels supporting TVWS communication, and wherein enablement for the wireless communication comprises enablement for the TVWS communication.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive, in response to the request, at least one of a first list of channels of the plurality of TVWS channels available for use by the apparatus, or a second list of channels of the plurality of TVWS channels being in use by a subset of the apparatuses, and the apparatus further comprising

a third circuit configured to select, from the at least one of first list or second list, a second channel for the TVWS communication by the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

transmit, to the other apparatus, a center frequency and a bandwidth of the second channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive, from the other apparatus, a message with information about periodicity of transmitting a contact verification signal (CVS) on the second channel;

receive, with the periodicity, the CVS on the second channel; and

continue the TVWS communication on the second channel based on reception of the CVS.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

switch from the second channel to the first channel, if the CVS was not received for a period of time; and

transmit, using the first channel, another request for the enablement.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

transmit, on the second channel according to the periodicity, one or more traffic indication map (TIM) messages and a delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) message before the CVS was transmitted on the second channel from the other apparatus, and wherein

each of the TIM messages comprises a counter that counts down to the transmission of the DTIM message, and

the DTIM message is transmitted immediately before the CVS transmission.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

transmit, upon receiving the CVS, a broadcast message indicating that the CVS was transmitted from the other apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive, from the other apparatus, a message comprising a schedule of receiving a contact verification signal (CVS) on the second channel;

refrain, according to the schedule, from the TVWS communication on the second channel;

receive the CVS according to the schedule; and

continue the TVWS communication on the second channel after receiving the CVS.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

transmit, in response to the message, a broadcast message with the schedule to one or more of the apparatuses associated with the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

transmit a Contention-Free End (CF-End) frame after the CVS was transmitted from the other apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the transceiver is also configured to transmit a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message according to the schedule, and

the CTS-to-Self message comprises a duration field indicating a period of time equal to at least duration of transmitting the CVS from the other apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive, on the first channel, a message with a schedule of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, if the first channel is used for the TVWS communication by the apparatus and a subset of the apparatuses; and

refrain from the TVWS communication according to the schedule.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

transmit, to one or more apparatuses from the subset associated with the apparatus, another message with the schedule.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the transceiver is also configured to transmit a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message according to the schedule, and

the CTS-to-Self message comprises a duration field indicating a period of time equal to at least duration of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the signal comprises a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a data rate of the signal is approximately 10 Kbits per second or 100 Kbits per second, and

a bandwidth of the signal is approximately 5 MHz or 6 MHz.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a data rate of the signal is approximately 250 Kbits per second, 125 Kbits per second, or 62.5 Kbits per second, and

a bandwidth of the signal is approximately 5 MHz.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transceiver is also configured to transmit a beacon comprising information about the first channel, and

the information comprises at least one of a center frequency of the first channel, a bandwidth of the first channel, or an address of the other apparatus.

21. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

searching, at an apparatus, a plurality of channels supporting wireless communication for a signal transmitted from another apparatus on a first channel of the channels, wherein the signal is capable of reaching a plurality of apparatuses for advertising an enablement for the wireless communication;

detecting, based on the search, the signal and the first channel; and

transmitting, to the other apparatus upon the detection, a request for the enablement using the first channel.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

transmitting, to the other apparatus, an identifier (ID) of the apparatus along with the request.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of channels supporting wireless communication comprise a plurality of television white space (TVWS) channels supporting TVWS communication, and wherein enablement for the wireless communication comprises enablement for the TVWS communication.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving, in response to the request, at least one of a first list of channels of the plurality of TVWS channels available for use by the apparatus, or a second list of channels of the plurality of TVWS channels being in use by a subset of the apparatuses; and

selecting, from the at least one of first list or second list, a second channel for the TVWS communication by the apparatus.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

transmitting, to the other apparatus, a center frequency and a bandwidth of the second channel.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving, from the other apparatus, a message with information about periodicity of transmitting a contact verification signal (CVS) on the second channel;

receiving, with the periodicity, the CVS on the second channel; and

continuing the TVWS communication on the second channel based on reception of the CVS.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

switching from the second channel to the first channel, if the CVS was not received for a period of time; and

transmitting, using the first channel, another request for the enablement.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

transmitting, on the second channel according to the periodicity, one or more traffic indication map (TIM) messages and a delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) message before the CVS was transmitted on the second channel from the other apparatus, wherein

each of the TIM messages comprises a counter that counts down to the transmission of the DTIM message, and

the DTIM message is transmitted immediately before the CVS transmission.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

transmitting, upon receiving the CVS, a broadcast message indicating that the CVS was transmitted from the other apparatus.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving, from the other apparatus, a message comprising a schedule of receiving a contact verification signal (CVS) on the second channel;

refraining, according to the schedule, from the TVWS communication on the second channel;

receiving the CVS according to the schedule; and

continuing the TVWS communication on the second channel after receiving the CVS.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

transmitting, in response to the message, a broadcast message with the schedule to one or more of the apparatuses associated with the apparatus.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

transmitting a Contention-Free End (CF-End) frame after the CVS was transmitted from the other apparatus.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

transmitting a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message according to the schedule, wherein

the CTS-to-Self message comprises a duration field indicating a period of time equal to at least duration of transmitting the CVS from the other apparatus.

34. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving, on the first channel, a message with a schedule of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, if the first channel is used for the TVWS communication by the apparatus and a subset of the apparatuses; and

refraining from the TVWS communication according to the schedule.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

transmitting, to one or more apparatuses from the subset associated with the apparatus, another message with the schedule.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

transmitting a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message according to the schedule, wherein

the CTS-to-Self message comprises a duration field indicating a period of time equal to at least duration of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus.

37. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the signal comprises a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signal.

38. The method of claim 21, wherein:

a data rate of the signal is approximately 10 Kbits per second or 100 Kbits per second, and

a bandwidth of the signal is approximately 5 MHz or 6 MHz.

39. The method of claim 21, wherein:

a data rate of the signal is approximately 250 Kbits per second, 125 Kbits per second, or 62.5 Kbits per second, and

a bandwidth of the signal is approximately 5 MHz.

40. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

transmitting a beacon comprising information about the first channel, wherein

the information comprises at least one of a center frequency of the first channel, a bandwidth of the first channel, or an address of the other apparatus.

57. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to:

transmit a beacon comprising information about the first channel, and wherein

the information comprises at least one of a center frequency of the first channel, a bandwidth of the first channel, or an address of the other apparatus.

41. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for searching a plurality of channels supporting wireless communication for a signal transmitted from another apparatus on a first channel of the channels, wherein the signal is capable of reaching a plurality of apparatuses for advertising an enablement for the wireless communication;

means for detecting, based on the search, the signal and the first channel; and

means for transmitting, to the other apparatus upon the detection, a request for the enablement using the first channel.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to:

transmit, to the other apparatus, an identifier (ID) of the apparatus along with the request.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the plurality of channels supporting wireless communication comprise a plurality of television white space (TVWS) channels supporting TVWS communication, and wherein enablement for the wireless communication comprises enablement for the TVWS communication.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising:

means for receiving, in response to the request, at least one of a first list of channels of the plurality of TVWS channels available for use by the apparatus, or a second list of channels of the plurality of TVWS channels being in use by a subset of the apparatuses; and

means for selecting, from the at least one of first list or second list, a second channel for the TVWS communication by the apparatus.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to:

transmit, to the other apparatus, a center frequency and a bandwidth of the second channel.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to:

receive, from the other apparatus, a message with information about periodicity of transmitting a contact verification signal (CVS) on the second channel; and

receive, with the periodicity, the CVS on the second channel, and the apparatus further comprising

means for continuing the TVWS communication on the second channel based on reception of the CVS.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising:

means for switching from the second channel to the first channel, if the CVS was not received for a period of time, and wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to

transmit, using the first channel, another request for the enablement.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to:

transmit, on the second channel according to the periodicity, one or more traffic indication map (TIM) messages and a delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) message before the CVS was transmitted on the second channel from the other apparatus, and wherein

each of the TIM messages comprises a counter that counts down to the transmission of the DTIM message, and

the DTIM message is transmitted immediately before the CVS transmission.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to:

transmit, upon receiving the CVS, a broadcast message indicating that the CVS was transmitted from the other apparatus.

50. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to:

receive, from the other apparatus, a message comprising a schedule of receiving a contact verification signal (CVS) on the second channel; and

receive the CVS according to the schedule, and the apparatus further comprising

means for refraining, according to the schedule, from the TVWS communication on the second channel, and

means for continuing the TVWS communication on the second channel after receiving the CVS.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to:

transmit, in response to the message, a broadcast message with the schedule to one or more of the apparatuses associated with the apparatus.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to:

transmit a Contention-Free End (CF-End) frame after the CVS was transmitted from the other apparatus.

53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to:

transmit a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message according to the schedule, and wherein

the CTS-to-Self message comprises a duration field indicating a period of time equal to at least duration of transmitting the CVS from the other apparatus.

54. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising:

means for receiving, on the first channel, a message with a schedule of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, if the first channel is used for the TVWS communication by the apparatus and a subset of the apparatuses; and

means for refraining from the TVWS communication according to the schedule.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to:

transmit, to one or more apparatuses from the subset associated with the apparatus, another message with the schedule.

56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to:

transmit a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message according to the schedule, and wherein

the CTS-to-Self message comprises a duration field indicating a period of time equal to at least duration of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus.

58. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable to:

search, at an apparatus, a plurality of channels supporting wireless communication for a signal transmitted from another apparatus on a first channel of the channels, wherein the signal is capable of reaching a plurality of apparatuses for advertising an enablement for the wireless communication;

detect, based on the search, the signal and the first channel; and

transmit, to the other apparatus upon the detection, a request for the enablement using the first channel.

59. An access point, comprising:

at least one antenna;

a first circuit configured to search a plurality of channels supporting wireless communication for a signal transmitted from another access point on a first channel of the channels, wherein the signal is capable of reaching a plurality of wireless nodes for advertising an enablement for the wireless communication;

a second circuit configured to detect, based on the search, the signal and the first channel; and

a transceiver configured to transmit, to the other access point upon the detection via the at least one antenna, a request for the enablement using the first channel.

60. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a first circuit configured to search a plurality of channels supporting wireless communication for a signal transmitted from another apparatus on a first channel of the channels, wherein the signal is capable of reaching a plurality of apparatuses for advertising an enablement for the wireless communication;

a transceiver configured to transmit, to the other apparatus using the first channel upon detecting the signal and the first channel, a request for the enablement, wherein the transceiver is also configured to

receive, from the other apparatus in response to the request, a list of channels of the plurality of channels being in use by a subset of the apparatuses, and wherein the first circuit is also configured to

search, on channels from the list, for a communicating apparatus of the subset.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the plurality of channels supporting wireless communication comprise a plurality of television white space (TVWS) channels supporting TVWS communication, and wherein enablement for the wireless communication comprises enablement for the TVWS communication.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive, from the other apparatus in response to the request, another list of channels of the plurality of TVWS channels not being in use by the plurality of apparatuses.

63. The apparatus of claim 61, further comprising:

a second circuit configured to perform, upon detecting the communicating apparatus, an association procedure with the communicating apparatus, and wherein the transceiver is also configured to

establish, after the association procedure, the TVWS communication with the communicating apparatus on a second channel from the list.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive, from the other apparatus, a message with information about periodicity of transmitting a contact verification signal (CVS) on the second channel;

receive, with the periodicity, the CVS on the second channel; and

continue the TVWS communication on the second channel based on reception of the CVS.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive, from the communicating apparatus, another message comprising a schedule of receiving the CVS on the second channel;

refrain, according to the schedule, from the TVWS communication on the second channel during reception of the CVS; and

receive the CVS according to the schedule.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive, from the communicating apparatus with the periodicity, a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message; and

refrain, based on the CTS-to-Self message, from the TVWS communication on the second channel during reception of the CVS.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

switch from the second channel to the first channel, if the CVS was not received for a period of time; and

transmit, to the other apparatus using the first channel, another request for the enablement.

68. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive, on the second channel from the communicating apparatus according to the periodicity, one or more traffic indication map (TIM) messages and a delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) message before the CVS was transmitted on the second channel from the other apparatus, and wherein

each of the TIM messages comprises a counter that counts down to transmission of the DTIM message from the communicating apparatus, and

the DTIM message is received immediately before receiving the CVS transmission.

69. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive, from the communicating apparatus, a Contention-Free End (CF-End) frame after the CVS was transmitted from the other apparatus, and the apparatus further comprising

a third circuit configured to reset a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) counter based on the CF-End frame.

70. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the transceiver is, upon detecting the communicating apparatus, also configured to:

receive, on the first channel from the communicating apparatus, a message with a schedule of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, if the first channel is used for the TVWS communication by the apparatus and the communicating apparatus; and

refrain from the TVWS communication according to the schedule.

71. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the transceiver is, upon detecting the communicating apparatus, also configured to:

receive, on the first channel from the communicating apparatus, a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message transmitted according to a schedule of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, if the first channel is used for the TVWS communication by the apparatus and the communicating apparatus; and

refrain from the TVWS communication based on the CTS-to-Self message.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein:

the CTS-to-Self message comprises a duration field indicating a period of time equal to at least duration of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, and

the transceiver is also configured to refrain from the TVWS communication for the period of time.

73. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the first circuit is also configured to:

perform active scanning during the search for the communicating apparatus, or

perform passive scanning during the search for the communicating apparatus.

74. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein:

the signal comprises a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signal.

75. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein:

a data rate of the signal is approximately 10 Kbits per second or 100 Kbits per second, and

a bandwidth of the signal is approximately 5 MHz or 6 MHz.

76. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein:

a data rate of the signal is approximately 250 Kbits per second, 125 Kbits per second, or 62.5 Kbits per second, and

a bandwidth of the signal is approximately 5 MHz.

77. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the transceiver is also configured to:

receive a beacon comprising information about the first channel, and the apparatus further comprising

a second circuit configured to detect the signal and the first channel based on the beacon.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the information comprises at least one of a center frequency of the first channel, a bandwidth of the first channel, or an address of the other apparatus.

79. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the transceiver is, upon detecting the communicating apparatus, also configured to:

receive, from the communicating apparatus, a Contention-Free End (CF-End) frame after the signal was transmitted from the other apparatus, and the apparatus further comprising

a third circuit configured to reset a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) counter based on the CF-End frame.

80. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the signal comprises an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal with repetition codes.

81. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

searching, at an apparatus, a plurality of channels supporting wireless communication for a signal transmitted from another apparatus on a first channel of the channels, wherein the signal is capable of reaching a plurality of apparatuses for advertising an enablement for the wireless communication;

transmitting, to the other apparatus using the first channel upon detecting the signal and the first channel, a request for the enablement;

receiving, from the other apparatus in response to the request, a list of channels of the plurality of channels being in use by a subset of the apparatuses; and

searching, on channels from the list, for a communicating apparatus of the subset.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the plurality of channels supporting wireless communication comprise a plurality of television white space (TVWS) channels supporting TVWS communication, and wherein enablement for the wireless communication comprises enablement for the TVWS communication.

83. The method of claim 82, further comprising:

receiving, from the other apparatus in response to the request, another list of channels of the plurality of TVWS channels not being in use by the plurality of apparatuses.

84. The method of claim 82, further comprising:

performing, upon detecting the communicating apparatus, an association procedure with the communicating apparatus; and

establishing, after the association procedure, the TVWS communication with the communicating apparatus on a second channel from the list.

85. The method of claim 84, further comprising:

receiving, from the other apparatus, a message with information about periodicity of transmitting a contact verification signal (CVS) on the second channel;

receiving, with the periodicity, the CVS on the second channel; and

continuing the TVWS communication on the second channel based on reception of the CVS.

86. The method of claim 85, further comprising:

receiving, from the communicating apparatus, another message comprising a schedule of receiving the CVS on the second channel;

refraining, according to the schedule, from the TVWS communication on the second channel during reception of the CVS; and

receiving the CVS according to the schedule.

87. The method of claim 85, further comprising:

receiving, from the communicating apparatus with the periodicity, a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message; and

refraining, based on the CTS-to-Self message, from the TVWS communication on the second channel during reception of the CVS.

88. The method of claim 85, further comprising:

switching from the second channel to the first channel, if the CVS was not received for a period of time; and

transmitting, to the other apparatus using the first channel, another request for the enablement.

89. The method of claim 85, further comprising:

receiving, on the second channel from the communicating apparatus according to the periodicity, one or more traffic indication map (TIM) messages and a delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) message before the CVS was transmitted on the second channel from the other apparatus, wherein

each of the TIM messages comprises a counter that counts down to transmission of the DTIM message from the communicating apparatus, and

the DTIM message is received immediately before receiving the CVS transmission.

90. The method of claim 85, further comprising:

receiving, from the communicating apparatus, a Contention-Free End (CF-End) frame after the CVS was transmitted from the other apparatus; and

resetting a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) counter based on the CF-End frame.

91. The method of claim 82, further comprising:

upon detecting the communicating apparatus, receiving, on the first channel from the communicating apparatus, a message with a schedule of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, if the first channel is used for the TVWS communication by the apparatus and the communicating apparatus; and

refraining from the TVWS communication according to the schedule.

92. The method of claim 82, further comprising:

upon detecting the communicating apparatus, receiving, on the first channel from the communicating apparatus, a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message transmitted according to a schedule of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, if the first channel is used for the TVWS communication by the apparatus and the communicating apparatus; and

refraining from the TVWS communication based on the CTS-to-Self message.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein:

the CTS-to-Self message comprises a duration field indicating a period of time equal to at least duration of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, and the method further comprising

refraining from the TVWS communication for the period of time.

94. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

performing active scanning during the search for the communicating apparatus, or

performing passive scanning during the search for the communicating apparatus.

95. The method of claim 81, wherein:

the signal comprises a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signal.

96. The method of claim 81, wherein:

a data rate of the signal is approximately 10 Kbits per second or 100 Kbits per second, and

a bandwidth of the signal is approximately 5 MHz or 6 MHz.

97. The method of claim 81, wherein:

a data rate of the signal is approximately 250 Kbits per second, 125 Kbits per second, or 62.5 Kbits per second, and

a bandwidth of the signal is approximately 5 MHz.

98. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

receiving a beacon comprising information about the first channel; and

detecting the signal and the first channel based on the beacon.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the information comprises at least one of a center frequency of the first channel, a bandwidth of the first channel, or an address of the other apparatus.

100. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

upon detecting the communicating apparatus, receiving, from the communicating apparatus, a Contention-Free End (CF-End) frame after the signal was transmitted from the other apparatus; and

resetting a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) counter based on the CF-End frame.

101. The method of claim 81, wherein the signal comprises an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal with repetition codes.

102. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for searching a plurality of channels supporting wireless communication for a signal transmitted from another apparatus on a first channel of the channels, wherein the signal is capable of reaching a plurality of apparatuses for advertising an enablement for the wireless communication;

means for transmitting, to the other apparatus using the first channel upon detecting the signal and the first channel, a request for the enablement;

means for receiving, from the other apparatus in response to the request, a list of channels of the plurality of channels being in use by a subset of the apparatuses; and

means for searching, on channels from the list, for a communicating apparatus of the subset.

103. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein the plurality of channels supporting wireless communication comprise a plurality of television white space (TVWS) channels supporting TVWS communication, and wherein enablement for the wireless communication comprises enablement for the TVWS communication.

104. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to:

receive, from the other apparatus in response to the request, another list of channels of the plurality of TVWS channels not being in use by the plurality of apparatuses.

105. The apparatus of claim 103, further comprising:

means for performing, upon detecting the communicating apparatus, an association procedure with the communicating apparatus; and

means for establishing, after the association procedure, the TVWS communication with the communicating apparatus on a second channel from the list.

106. The apparatus of claim 105, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to:

receive, from the other apparatus, a message with information about periodicity of transmitting a contact verification signal (CVS) on the second channel; and

receive, with the periodicity, the CVS on the second channel, and the apparatus further comprising

means for continuing the TVWS communication on the second channel based on reception of the CVS.

107. The apparatus of claim 106, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to:

receive, from the communicating apparatus, another message comprising a schedule of receiving the CVS on the second channel; and

receive the CVS according to the schedule, and the apparatus further comprising

means for refraining, according to the schedule, from the TVWS communication on the second channel during reception of the CVS.

108. The apparatus of claim 106, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to:

receive, from the communicating apparatus with the periodicity, a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message, and the apparatus further comprising

means for refraining, based on the CTS-to-Self message, from the TVWS communication on the second channel during reception of the CVS.

109. The apparatus of claim 106, further comprising:

means for switching from the second channel to the first channel, if the CVS was not received for a period of time, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to

transmit, to the other apparatus using the first channel, another request for the enablement.

110. The apparatus of claim 106, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to:

receive, on the second channel from the communicating apparatus according to the periodicity, one or more traffic indication map (TIM) messages and a delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) message before the CVS was transmitted on the second channel from the other apparatus, and wherein

each of the TIM messages comprises a counter that counts down to transmission of the DTIM message from the communicating apparatus, and

the DTIM message is received immediately before receiving the CVS transmission.

111. The apparatus of claim 106, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to:

receive, from the communicating apparatus, a Contention-Free End (CF-End) frame after the CVS was transmitted from the other apparatus, and the apparatus further comprising

means for resetting a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) counter based on the CF-End frame.

112. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the means for receiving is, upon detecting the communicating apparatus, further configured to:

receive, on the first channel from the communicating apparatus, a message with a schedule of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, if the first channel is used for the TVWS communication by the apparatus and the communicating apparatus, and the apparatus further comprising

means for refraining from the TVWS communication according to the schedule.

113. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the means for receiving is, upon detecting the communicating apparatus, further configured to:

receive, on the first channel from the communicating apparatus, a Clear-to-send (CTS)-to-Self message transmitted according to a schedule of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, if the first channel is used for the TVWS communication by the apparatus and the communicating apparatus, and the apparatus further comprising

means for refraining from the TVWS communication based on the CTS-to-Self message.

114. The apparatus of claim 113, wherein:

the CTS-to-Self message comprises a duration field indicating a period of time equal to at least duration of transmitting the signal from the other apparatus, and the apparatus further comprising

means for refraining from the TVWS communication for the period of time.

115. The apparatus of claim 102, further comprising:

means for performing active scanning during the search for the communicating apparatus, or

means for performing passive scanning during the search for the communicating apparatus.

116. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to:

receive a beacon comprising information about the first channel, and the apparatus further comprising

means for detecting the signal and the first channel based on the beacon.

117. The apparatus of claim 116, wherein the information comprises at least one of a center frequency of the first channel, a bandwidth of the first channel, or an address of the other apparatus.

118. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein the means for receiving is, upon detecting the communicating apparatus, further configured to:

receive, from the communicating apparatus, a Contention-Free End (CF-End) frame after the signal was transmitted from the other apparatus, and the apparatus further comprising

means for resetting a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) counter based on the CF-End frame.

119. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein the signal comprises an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal with repetition codes.

120. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable to:

search, at an apparatus, a plurality of channels supporting wireless communication for a signal transmitted from another apparatus on a first channel of the channels, wherein the signal is capable of reaching a plurality of apparatuses for advertising an enablement for the wireless communication;

transmit, to the other apparatus using the first channel upon detecting the signal and the first channel, a request for the enablement;

receive, from the other apparatus in response to the request, a list of channels of the plurality of channels being in use by a subset of the apparatuses; and

search, on channels from the list, for a communicating apparatus of the subset.

121. An access terminal, comprising:

at least one antenna;

a first circuit configured to search a plurality of channels supporting wireless communication for a signal transmitted from an access point on a first channel of the channels, wherein the signal is capable of reaching a plurality of wireless nodes for advertising an enablement for the wireless communication;

a transceiver configured to transmit, via the at least one antenna to the access point using the first channel upon detecting the signal and the first channel, a request for the enablement, wherein the transceiver is also configured to

receive, via the at least one antenna from the access point in response to the request, a list of channels of the plurality of channels being in use by a subset of the wireless nodes, and wherein the first circuit is also configured to

search, on channels from the list, for another access point of the subset.