Simultaneous P2P and non-P2P communications

• US 9,942,836 B1
• Filed: 11/23/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Nagawade, Deepak Shahaji, Wagholikar, Sarang Shrikrishna, Singh, Sudhanshu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYUN, SOON D
• Application Number:
  US14/948,851
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/021 in wireless networks with changing topologies, e.g. ad-hoc networks self-organizing networks H04W84/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

After determining that a P2P discovery process is to commence, at least a portion of the P2P discovery process is delayed to permit communication via a non-P2P communication link, and/or at least a portion of the P2P discovery process is not performed to permit communication via the non-P2P communication link. Communications are performed via the non-P2P communication link during a time period that, prior to the act of delaying the P2P discovery process and/or deciding not to perform the P2P discovery process, would have been allocated for the P2P discovery process.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

allocating, with a communication device, a first portion of a listen time period of a peer-to-peer (P2P) discovery process, wherein the listen time period of the P2P discovery process is allocated for the communication device (i) to listen, on a first channel, for one or more probes, when transmitted, from one or more other communication devices capable of P2P communications, and (ii) to transmit, via the first channel, one or more responses to the one or more probes on the first channel;

allocating, with the communication device, a second portion of the listen time period of the P2P discovery process;

allocating, with the communication device, at least one non-P2P communication time period between (i) the first portion of the listen time period and (ii) the second portion of the listen time period;

listening, with the communication device, for one or more probes received via the first channel during the first portion of the listen time period of the P2P discovery process, wherein the one or more probes are transmitted by one or more other communication devices capable of P2P communications;

at least one of (i) transmitting or (ii) receiving, with the communication device, via the non-P2P communication link during the at least one non-P2P communication time period;

listening, with the communication device, for one or more probes received via the first channel during the second portion of the listen time period of the P2P discovery process, wherein the one or more probes, when transmitted, are from one or more other communication devices capable of P2P communications; and

in response to one or more probes received, via the first channel, during the second portion of the listen time period of the P2P discovery process, transmitting, with the communication device, one or more responses via the first channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a length of the listen time period of the P2P discovery process,

wherein the first portion of the listen time period and the second portion of the listen time period are allocated such that an aggregate length of (i) the first portion of the listen time period and (ii) the second portion of the listen time period is less than or equal to the determined length of the listen time period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the length of the listen time period is determined pseudo-randomly.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the length of the listen time period is determined to fall within a range between a minimum period and a maximum period.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the length of the listen time period is determined to be either i) the minimum period, or ii) a positive integer multiple of the minimum time period.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the length of the listen time period comprises:

selecting the listen time period from a set of multiple predetermined time periods.

7. The method according of claim 1, further comprising:

allocating, with the communication device, a first portion of a search time period of the P2P discovery process, wherein the first portion of the search time period of the P2P discovery process is allocated for the communication device (i) to transmit one or more probes via a second channel, and (ii) to listen for one or more responses, received via the second channel, that are responsive to the one or more probes transmitted via the second channel;

allocating, with the communication device, a second portion of a search time period of the P2P discovery process, wherein the second portion of the search time period of the P2P discovery process is allocated for the communication device (i) to transmit one or more probes via a third channel, and (ii) to listen for one or more responses, received via the second search channel, that are responsive to the one or more probes transmitted via the third channel;

allocating, with the communication device, at least one non-P2P communication time period between (i) the first portion of the search time period and (ii) the second portion of the search time period;

transmitting, with the communication device, one or more probes via the second channel during the first portion of the search time period of the P2P discovery process;

at least one of (i) transmitting or (ii) receiving, with the communication device, via the non-P2P communication link during the at least one non-P2P communication time period; and

transmitting, with the communication device, one or more probes via the third channel during the second portion of the search time period of the P2P discovery process.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether traffic is at a level at which the P2P discovery process will adversely affect the non-P2P communication link;

wherein allocating the at least one non-P2P communication time period between (i) the first portion of the listen time period and (ii) the second portion of the listen time period is in response to determining that traffic is at the level at which the P2P discovery process will adversely affect the non-P2P communication link.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) transmitting or (ii) receiving via the non-P2P communication link during the at least one non-P2P communication time period is performed on a second channel that is a non-P2P channel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) transmitting or (ii) receiving via the non-P2P communication link during the at least one non-P2P communication time period comprises utilizing a non-P2P connection that was established prior to the first portion of a listen time period.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the method and entering a group owner negotiation with another communication device capable of P2P communications in response to receiving a probe via the first channel during the first portion of the listen time period or the second portion of the listen time period.

12. A communication device, comprising:

a network interface device having;

a medium access control (MAC) processing unit implemented on one or more integrated circuits, and

a physical layer (PHY) processing unit coupled to the MAC processing unit, the PHY processing unit implemented on the one or more integrated circuits;

wherein the one or more integrated circuits are configured to;

allocate a first portion of a listen time period of a peer-to-peer (P2P) discovery process, wherein the listen time period of the P2P discovery process is allocated for the communication device (i) to listen, on a first channel, for one or more probes, when transmitted, from one or more other communication devices capable of P2P communications, and (ii) to transmit, via the first channel, one or more responses to the one or more probes on the first channel,

allocate a second portion of the listen time period of the P2P discovery process,

allocate at least one non-P2P communication time period between (i) the first portion of the listen time period and (ii) the second portion of the listen time period,

listen for one or more probes received via the first channel during the first portion of the listen time period of the P2P discovery process, wherein the one or more probes are transmitted by one or more other communication devices capable of P2P communications,

at least one of (i) transmit or (ii) receive, via the non-P2P communication link, during the at least one non-P2P communication time period,

listen for one or more probes received via the first channel during the second portion of the listen time period of the P2P discovery process, wherein the one or more probes, when transmitted, are from one or more other communication devices capable of P2P communications, and

in response to one or more probes received, via the first channel, during the second portion of the listen time period of the P2P discovery process, transmit one or more responses via the first channel.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to:

determine a length of the listen time period of the P2P discovery process,

wherein the first portion of the listen time period and the second portion of the listen time period are allocated such that an aggregate length of (i) the first portion of the listen time period and (ii) the second portion of the listen time period is less than or equal to the determined length of the listen time period.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to:

determine the length of the listen time period pseudo-randomly.

15. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to:

determine the length of the listen time period to fall within a range between a minimum period and a maximum period.

16. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to:

determine the length of the listen time period to be either i) the minimum period, or ii) a positive integer multiple of the minimum time period.

17. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to determine the length of the listen time period by:

selecting the listen time period from a set of multiple predetermined time periods.

18. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to:

allocate a first portion of a search time period of the P2P discovery process, wherein the first portion of the search time period of the P2P discovery process is allocated for the communication device (i) to transmit one or more probes via a second channel, and (ii) to listen for one or more responses, received via the second channel, that are responsive to the one or more probes transmitted via the second channel;

allocate a second portion of a search time period of the P2P discovery process, wherein the second portion of the search time period of the P2P discovery process is allocated for the communication device (i) to transmit one or more probes via a third channel, and (ii) to listen for one or more responses, received via the third channel, that are responsive to the one or more probes transmitted via the third channel;

allocate at least one non-P2P communication time period between (i) the first portion of the search time period and (ii) the second portion of the search time period,

transmit one or more probes via the second channel during the first portion of the search time period of the P2P discovery process;

at least one of (i) transmit or (ii) receive via the non-P2P communication link during the at least one non-P2P communication time period; and

transmit one or more probes via the third channel during the second portion of the search time period of the P2P discovery process.

19. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to:

determine whether traffic is at a level at which the P2P discovery process will adversely affect the non-P2P communication link;

allocated the at least one non-P2P communication time period between (i) the first portion of the listen time period and (ii) the second portion of the listen time period in response to determining that traffic is at the level at which the P2P discovery process will adversely affect the non-P2P communication link.

20. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to at least one of (i) transmit or (ii) receive via the non-P2P communication link during the at least one non-P2P communication time period on a second channel that is a non-P2P channel.

21. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to at least one of (i) transmit or (ii) receive via the non-P2P communication link during the at least one non-P2P communication time period comprises utilizing a non-P2P connection that was established prior to the first portion of a listen time period.

22. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to:

terminate the P2P discovery process and enter a group owner negotiation with another communication device capable of P2P communications in response to receiving a probe via the first channel during the first portion of the listen time period or the second portion of the listen time period.

23. A method, comprising:

performing, at a first communication device, non peer-to-peer (P2P) communications on a first channel with a second communication device;

determining, at the first communication device, that a P2P discovery process is to be performed by the first communication device;

in response to determining that the P2P discovery process is to be performed, switching the first communication device from the first channel to a second channel, wherein the first communication device is configured to use the second channel for listening for P2P probe signals during a listen phase of the P2P discovery process;

after switching the communication to the second channel, performing, at the first communication device, non P2P communications on the second channel with the second communication device; and

during the listen phase of the P2P discovery process, (i) listening, at the first communication device, for P2P probe signals on the second channel and (ii) transmitting and/or receiving, by the first communication device, non-P2P communications on the second channel with respect to the second communication device.

24. A first communication device, comprising:

a network interface having;

a medium access control (MAC) processing unit implemented on one or more integrated circuits, and

a physical layer (PHY) processing unit coupled to the MAC processing unit, the PHY processing unit implemented on the one or more integrated circuits;

wherein the one or more integrated circuits are configured to;

perform non peer-to-peer (P2P) communications on a first channel with a second communication device,

determine that a P2P discovery process is to be performed by the first communication device,

in response to determining that the P2P discovery process is to be performed, switch from the first channel to a second channel, wherein the communication device is configured to use the second channel for listening for P2P probe signals during a listen phase of the P2P discovery process,

after switching the communication to the second channel, perform non P2P communications on the second channel with the second communication device, and

during the listen phase of the P2P discovery process, (i) listen for P2P probe signals on the second channel and (ii) transmit and/or receive non-P2P communications on the second channel with respect to the second communication device.