Methods and systems for exploitation of well-connected nodes in peer-to-peer wireless networks

• US 9,749,185 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Walton, J. Rodney, Ketchum, John W, Michaelis, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Phung, Luat
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waqas, Saad A
• Application Number:
  US14/560,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20150085751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 370328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/64 using an overlay routing layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1072 Discovery involving ranked list compilation of candidate peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• 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 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods for increasing a capacity in a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network. The methods include generating a connectivity metric (CM) value indicative of a number of other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected, transmitting the CM value, and then transmitting full connectivity information maintained by the wireless node at a frequency determined based on the CM value. The disclosed methods therefore allow well-connected nodes of the P2P wireless network to be exploited in a manner that increases the overall connectivity of all the nodes in the network.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications by a wireless node in a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network, comprising:

generating a connectivity metric (CM) value indicating a number of all other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected;

transmitting the CM value;

transmitting full connectivity information maintained by the wireless node at a frequency determined based on the CM value,

the full connectivity information comprising full disclosure of received CM values associated with all other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected, and

the full connectivity information having a length proportional to the number of all other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected;

transmitting an indication concerning a transmit slot cycle index of the wireless node that indicates when the wireless node will transmit the full connectivity information, wherein the wireless node uses the transmit slot cycle index less frequently with respect to another wireless node based on its CM value being higher than that of the other wireless node; and

receiving, from another wireless node, a query that is transmitted based on a rank assigned to the wireless node;

wherein the other wireless node, based on its received CM values, generates a first query to a wireless node with the highest CM value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the CM value is transmitted as a part of a broadcast identifier (ID) probe message.

3. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

receiving, from a wireless node of a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network, a connectivity metric (CM) value, associated with the wireless node, indicating a number of all other wireless nodes in the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected and an indication concerning a transmit slot cycle index from the wireless node that indicates when the wireless node will transmit full connectivity information, wherein the wireless node uses the transmit slot cycle index less frequently with respect to another wireless node based on its CM value being higher than that of the other wireless node;

determining, based on at least the CM value, a time slot for reception of the full connectivity information maintained by the wireless node,

the full connectivity information comprising full disclosure of received CM values associated with all other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected, and

the full connectivity information having a length proportional to the number of all other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected; and

receiving, from another wireless node, a query that is transmitted based on a rank assigned to the wireless node;

wherein the other wireless node, based on its received CM values, generates a first query to a wireless node with the highest CM value.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

refraining from listening to the full connectivity information until the determined time slot.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting, after the reception of the full connectivity information from the wireless node, a service query to the wireless node based on the CM value.

6. An apparatus for wireless communications by a wireless node in a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network, comprising:

logic for generating a connectivity metric (CM) value indicating a number of other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected;

logic for transmitting the CM value;

logic for transmitting full connectivity information maintained by the wireless node at a frequency determined based on the CM value,

the full connectivity information comprising full disclosure of received CM values associated with the other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected, and

the full connectivity information having a length proportional to the number of other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected;

logic for transmitting an indication concerning a transmit slot cycle index of the wireless node that indicates when the wireless node will transmit the full connectivity information, wherein the wireless node uses the transmit slot cycle index less frequently with respect to another wireless based on its CM value being higher than that of the other wireless node; and

logic for receiving, from another wireless node, a query that is transmitted based on a rank assigned to the wireless node;

wherein the other wireless node, based on its received CM values, generates a first query to a wireless node with the highest CM value.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the CM value is transmitted as a part of a broadcast identifier (ID) probe message.

8. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

logic for receiving, from a wireless node of a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network, a connectivity metric (CM) value, associated with the wireless node, indicating a number of other wireless nodes in the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected and a transmit slot cycle index from the wireless node that indicates when the wireless node will transmit full connectivity information, wherein the wireless node uses the transmit slot cycle index less frequently with respect to another wireless node based on its CM value being higher than that of the other wireless node;

logic for determining, based on at least the CM value, a time slot for reception of the full connectivity information maintained by the wireless node,

the full connectivity information comprising full disclosure of received CM values associated with the other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected, and

the full connectivity information having a length proportional to the number of other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected; and

logic for receiving, from another wireless node, a query that is transmitted based on a rank assigned to the wireless node;

wherein the other wireless node, based on its received CM values, generates a first query to a wireless node with the highest CM value.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

logic for transmitting, after the reception of the full connectivity information from the wireless node, a service query to the wireless node based on the CM value.

10. An apparatus for wireless communications by a wireless node in a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network, comprising:

means for generating a connectivity metric (CM) value indicating a number of other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected;

means for transmitting the CM value;

means for transmitting full connectivity information maintained by the wireless node at a frequency determined based on the CM value,

the full connectivity information comprising full disclosure of received CM values associated with the other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected, and

the full connectivity information having a length proportional to the number of other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected; and

means for transmitting an indication concerning a transmit slot cycle index of the wireless node that indicates when the wireless node will transmit the full connectivity information, wherein the wireless node, uses the transmit slot cycle index less frequently with respect to another wireless node based on its CM value being higher than that of the other wireless node; and

means for receiving, from another wireless node, a query that is transmitted based on a rank assigned to the wireless node;

wherein the other wireless node, based on its received CM values, generates a first query to a wireless node with the highest CM value.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the CM value is transmitted as a part of a broadcast identifier (ID) probe message.

12. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving, from a wireless node of a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network, a connectivity metric (CM) value, associated with the wireless node, indicating a number of other wireless nodes in the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected and a transmit slot cycle index from the wireless node that indicates when the wireless node will transmit full connectivity information, wherein the wireless node uses the transmit slot cycle index less frequently with respect to another wireless node based on its CM value being higher than that of the other wireless node;

means for determining, based on at least the CM value, a time slot for reception of the full connectivity information maintained by the wireless node,

the full connectivity information comprising full disclosure of received CM values associated with the other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected, and

the full connectivity information having a length proportional to the number of other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected; and

means for receiving, from another wireless node, a query that is transmitted based on a rank assigned to the wireless node;

wherein the other wireless node, based on its received CM values, generates a first query to a wireless node with the highest CM value.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for refraining from listening to the full connectivity information until the determined time slot.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for transmitting, after the reception of the full connectivity information from the wireless node, a service query to the wireless node based on the CM value.

15. A computer-program product for wireless communications by a wireless node in a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors and the instructions comprising:

instructions for generating a connectivity metric (CM) value indicating a number of other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected;

instructions for transmitting the CM value;

instructions for transmitting full connectivity information maintained by the wireless node at a frequency determined based on the CM value,

the full connectivity information comprising full disclosure of received CM values associated with the other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected, and

the full connectivity information having a length proportional to the number of other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected; and

instructions for transmitting an indication concerning a transmit slot cycle index of the wireless node that indicates when the wireless node will transmit the full connectivity information, wherein the wireless node uses the transmit slot cycle index less frequently with respect to another wireless node based on its CM value being higher than that of the other wireless node; and

instructions for receiving, from another wireless node, a query that is transmitted based on a rank assigned to the wireless node;

wherein the other wireless node, based on its received CM values, generates a first query to a wireless node with the highest CM value.

16. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein the CM value is transmitted as a part of a broadcast identifier (ID) probe message.

17. A computer-program product for wireless communications, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors and the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving, from a wireless node of a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network, a connectivity metric (CM) value, associated with the wireless node, indicating a number of other wireless nodes in the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected and a transmit slot cycle index from the wireless node that indicates when the wireless node will transmit full connectivity information, wherein the wireless node uses the transmit slot cycle index less frequently with respect to another wireless node based on its CM value being higher than that of the other wireless node;

instructions for determining, based on at least the CM value, a time slot for reception of the full connectivity information maintained by the wireless node,

the full connectivity information comprising full disclosure of received CM values associated with the other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected, and

the full connectivity information having a length proportional to the number of other wireless nodes of the P2P wireless network to which the wireless node is connected; and

instructions for receiving, from another wireless node, a query that is transmitted based on a rank assigned to said wireless node;

wherein said other wireless node, based on its received CM values, generates a first query to a wireless node with the highest CM value.

18. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for refraining from listening to the full connectivity information until the determined time slot.

19. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for transmitting, after the reception of the full connectivity information from the wireless node, a service query to the wireless node based on the CM value.