Methods and apparatus for peer discovery assist

Various embodiments relate to wireless communication, and more particularly to methods and devices involved in the communication of peer discovery information.

In a wireless network, such as an ad hoc peer-to-peer wireless network, a wireless communication device, such as a mobile node, transmits various types of discovery information, such as peer discovery information, network discovery information, and / or service discovery information. For example, broadcasting, supporting features would be beneficial. Broadcasting of such information can be used by other peer devices currently in its local neighborhood to form situational awareness. Such exchange of wireless device broadcast discovery information between peers can be particularly useful in networks that lack centralized coordination and / or control. Different wireless communication devices may have different capabilities and / or needs for transmitting and / or receiving discovery information. In addition, individual wireless communication devices may have different capabilities and / or needs for transmitting and / or receiving discovery information at different times. Broadcasting discovery information is overhead signaling Resources such as power consumed for signaling transmissions, which are considered signaling, may not be available for traffic signaling. The amount of power consumed by the mobile wireless communication device to transmit the discovery information and the remaining power of the spare battery are important considerations in implementing a structure that supports the communication of the discovery information. Transmission of discovery information at a high rate is advantageous in reducing discovery latency, but at the cost of consuming more power, for example, shortening battery life.

Based on the above description, it is understood that there is a need for novel methods and devices that support high-speed communication of discovery information, but do not overwhelm the limited battery capacity of battery-powered mobile devices. There will be.

Various embodiments relate to wireless communication systems that allow direct wireless communication between subscriber devices, eg, ad hoc peer-to-peer networks, including mobile devices. According to the characteristics of some embodiments, a process known as peer discovery allows autonomous detection of peers, networks, and / or services that are important to a particular subscriber device. In some cases, this implemented peer discovery mechanism supports sending and / or monitoring peer discovery information at multiple rates. Thus, at a given location and time, some subscriber devices are performing peer discovery at a first rate, eg, a slow rate, while others are performing peer discovery at a second rate. For example, it may be running at a high rate. In general, performing peer discovery operations at higher rates has the advantage of reducing latency, but at the cost of using more communication resources and consuming more power. For example, it shortens battery life.

Realize the benefits of discovering at high speeds, eg, reducing discovery latency, without incurring the cost of consuming more power on battery-powered devices, for example, without shortening the battery life of mobile wireless devices. Peer discovery assist capable node) is used. The peer discovery assist node receives slow rate peer discovery information from one or more other nodes and retransmits substantially equivalent information at a faster rate. In various embodiments, the peer discovery information is structured to allow this behavior while preserving the desired feature function, eg, security. In some embodiments, the peer discovery assist node is a power-rich device, eg, a device with a hard-wired power supply. In some embodiments, the peer discovery assist node can assist operations on a plurality of other nodes, and sometimes assists such operations. In some other cases, any node in the system may provide peer discovery assistance to other nodes in the system, for example, as determined by various policies and performance constraints. it can.

Methods and devices related to peer / network / service discovery in mobile wireless systems, such as ad hoc peer-to-peer networks, will be described. The transmission of discovery information, for example upper layer discovery information, is divided into a number of parts that are transmitted separately over time. The transmission of individual parts is structured to provide flexibility in monitoring the frequencies of peer discovery transmissions and even such transmissions.

Some air link resources, such as discovery information segments, are associated with slow rate discovery signaling, while other air link resources are associated with fast rate discovery signaling. The signal communicated on the additional airlink resource associated with the fast discovery signaling carries the discovery information portion already transmitted on the slow rate discovery signal airlink resource. Various embodiments facilitate fast and / or secure discoveries, such as selective discoveries by trusted peers.

By structuring, it becomes possible for a third party to proxy some kind of transmission, and for example, the first node can have a function of assisting discovery with other nodes. The first node is, for example, an assist node, a server node such as a base station, or a wireless terminal such as a mobile node. For example, a second device currently operating in slow rate discovery transmit mode, eg, a peer-to-peer wireless device in an ad hoc wireless network, is using a slow rate discovery airlink resource to transmit discovery information at a slow rate. .. The first node, which is determined to assist the second device and is functioning to assist the discovery located near the second node, receives the slow discovery signal from the second device. , Retransmits the slow rate discovery signal received at the additional fast rate discovery interval. Therefore, the first node discovery transmission supplements the second node discovery transmission. A third node, eg, another nearby peer-to-peer communication device, can receive a slow rate discovery signal from the second node and a fast rate discovery signal from the first node. Therefore, the third node can restore the discovery information as if the second communication device entered the fast rate discovery mode and transmitted each of the discovery signals. In various embodiments, proxiation is performed by the first node without the overall security of the discovery process.

An exemplary way of manipulating a first node, such as an assist node, a server node such as a base station, or a wireless terminal to assist in communicating peer discovery information that corresponds to a second node, is Airlink. Receiving the portion of one or more sets of peer discovery information received at the first rate from the second node via the second node and the second faster than the first rate via the airlink. At the rate of 2, it includes transmitting the received portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to the first node. An exemplary first node for assisting in communicating peer discovery information corresponding to a second node is one or more sets of peer discovery information from the second node over an airlink. A wireless receiver module for receiving the portion received at the first rate and a peer discovery corresponding to the first node at a second rate faster than the first rate via the airlink. It includes a wireless transmitter module for transmitting the restored portion of information received. In some embodiments, the first node is one of a peer discovery partial restore module for restoring the received portion and a storage module for storing the restored received portion. Or even more than one. In various embodiments, the first node is an assist control for controlling the radio transmitter module that transmits the received and restored portion of peer discovery information corresponding to the second node at a second rate. Further equipped with modules. In some embodiments, the first node supports discovery node assist for multiple nodes operating in slow rate discovery transmit mode.

Although various embodiments are described in the above disclosure, not all embodiments include the same features, and some of the above features are not necessary, but some embodiments. It will be understood that this may be desirable. Many additional features, embodiments, and advantages of the various embodiments are described in the detailed description below.

<figref num="1">The figure which shows an exemplary peer-to-peer network by an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="2">The figure which shows the discovery interval and the corresponding discovery interval airlink resource in a circular peer-to-peer timing structure by one exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="3">The figure which shows the more detailed representation of the airlink resource of the first exemplary discovery interval.</figref><figref num="4">The figure which shows the more detailed representation of the airlink resource of the second example discovery interval.</figref><figref num="5">The figure which shows the plurality of ordered transmission units available for transmitting the discovery information corresponding to the device identifier which is a part of a peer discovery transmission structure.</figref><figref num="6">The figure which shows the secure hash function (securing hash function) coding module which processes the discovery information input to generate the coded information.</figref><figref num="7">The figure which shows the secure hash function coding module which processes some input discovery information, for example, discovery identification information which generates secure encoded information.</figref><figref num="8">Diagram showing three exemplary formats for discovery information carried using the four output parts that correspond to the input discovery information.</figref><figref num="9">FIG. 5 illustrates mapping the generated portion to an ordered transmit unit to carry discovery information associated with a device identifier according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="10">FIG. 5 illustrates mapping the generated portion to an ordered transmit unit to carry the discovery information associated with the device identifier according to another exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="11">A flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of manipulating the first node to assist in communicating peer discovery information corresponding to the second node.</figref><figref num="12">The figure which has the combination of FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B.</figref><figref num="12A">A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of manipulating a node, eg, an assist node, or a server node such as a base station, to assist in communicating discovery information.</figref><figref num="12B">A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of manipulating a node, eg, an assist node, or a server node such as a base station, to assist in communicating discovery information.</figref><figref num="13">FIG. 6 illustrates a server node, such as a peer discovery assist node, or a base station node, according to an exemplary embodiment.</figref><figref num="14">The figure which shows the transmission of the example node and discovery information in a peer-to-peer communication system.</figref><figref num="15">The figure which shows the example peer-to-peer radio terminal by an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary assist node, an air link resource associated with communicating a discovery information portion, and an exemplary signaling.</figref>

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary peer-to-peer network 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The peer-to-peer network 100 includes a plurality of wireless peer-to-peer communication devices (peer-to-peer communication device 1102, peer-to-peer communication device 2 104, peer-to-peer communication device 3 106, peer-to-peer communication device 4 108, ..., Peer-to-peer communication device N 110). Some of these peer-to-peer communication devices, such as the peer-to-peer communication device 4 108, also include a wired interface that connects the device to other nodes and / or the Internet. Peer-to-peer communication devices (102, 104, 106, 108, 110) store information that defines a peer-to-peer transmission structure that includes a transmission unit used for slow rate discovery transmission and an additional transmission unit used for fast rate discovery transmission. To do.

The peer-to-peer network 100 also includes a peer discovery assist node 114, a server node 112, such as a base station, and a beacon transmitter 116. The peer discovery assist node 114 receives a portion of one or more sets of peer discovery information from one or more peer-to-peer communication devices at the first rate and at a second rate that is faster than the first rate. It is possible and sometimes transmitted that information via airlinks. Similarly, server node 112 receives a portion of one or more sets of peer discovery information from one peer-to-peer communication device at the first rate and airlinks at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. It is possible and sometimes transmitted that information via. Server node 112 includes both wireless and wired interfaces. The wired interface of server 112 connects the server to other network nodes and / or the Internet. Beacon transmitter 116 is an easily detectable and intended to be used by nearby peer-to-peer devices to establish timing criteria for the peer-to-peer timing structure used within the region. , For example, transmit an OFDM beacon signal with high power concentration in one or a few tones.

FIG. 2 includes drawing 200 showing discovery intervals (discovery interval 1 214, discovery interval 2 216, ..., discovery interval n 218) within a circular peer-to-peer timing structure that includes an ultra slot 212. In a circular peer-to-peer timing structure, ultraslots are repeated. The vertical axis 202 represents a frequency, for example, an OFDM tone, and the horizontal axis 204 represents a time. The discovery interval airlink resource (discovery interval 1 airlink resource 206, discovery interval 2 airlink resource 208) corresponds to each of the discovery intervals (discovery interval 1 214, discovery interval 2 216, ..., discovery interval n 218). , ..., there is a corresponding block of discovery interval n Airlink resource 210). Discovery Interval Each block of an airlink resource, eg, Discovery Interval 1 Airlink Resource 206, is, for example, a block of OFDM tone symbols, and each OFDM tone symbol is one OFDM symbol transmission time interval. Represents one OFDM tone for the length of.

FIG. 3 shows a more detailed representation of the discovery interval 1 airbag resource 206 according to an exemplary embodiment. Discovery Interval 1 Airlink resource 206 contains multiple discovery airlink resources that correspond to different device identifiers. Discovery Interval 1 Airlink resources are Device ID 1 Discovery Resource 302, Subsequent Device ID 2 Discovery Resource 304, Subsequent Device ID 3 Discovery Resource 306, Subsequent Device ID 4 Discovery Resource 308, Subsequent Device ID 5 Discovery Resource 310 , Subsequent device ID 6 discovery resource 312, subsequent device ID 7 discovery resource 314, ..., and device ID M discovery resource 316.

FIG. 4 shows a more detailed representation of the discovery interval 2 airlink resource 208 according to an exemplary embodiment. Discovery Interval 2 Airlink resource 208 includes multiple discovery airlink resources that correspond to different device identifiers. Discovery Interval 2 Airlink Resource 208 is Device ID 3 Discovery Resource 402, Subsequent Device ID 5 Discovery Resource 404, Subsequent Device ID 4 Discovery Resource 406, Subsequent Device ID M Discovery Resource 408, Subsequent Device ID 2 Discovery Resource Includes 410, then device ID 6 discovery resource 412, then device ID 1 discovery resource 414, ..., and device ID 7 discovery resource 416. The order of discovery resources associated with different device identifiers, in this exemplary embodiment, is from discovery interval 1 206 to discovery interval 2 It can be observed that it has changed to 208. Changes that are ordered according to a given hopping sequence used in the peer-to-peer timing / frequency structure are utilized. In some other embodiments, the relative position of the airlink resource associated with a particular device identifier does not change from one interval to the next.

FIG. 5 is a drawing 500 showing a plurality of ordered transmit units available for transmitting discovery information that is part of a peer discovery transmit structure. Multiple illustrated ordered transmit units are transmit unit 0 502, transmit unit 1 504, transmit unit 2 506, transmit unit 3 508, transmit unit 4 510, transmit unit 5 512, transmit unit 6 514, transmit. Unit 7 516, transmit unit 8 518, transmit unit 9 520, transmit unit 10 522, transmit unit 11 524, transmit unit 12 526, transmit unit 13 528, transmit unit 14 530, transmit unit 15 532, transmit unit 16 534, transmit It includes unit 17 536, transmit unit 18 538, and transmit unit 19 540, which are part of the peer discovery transmit structure and are associated with a particular device identifier. For example, the transmit unit shown in FIG. 500 of FIG. 5 is considered to belong to device ID 2. Continuing this example, transmit unit 0, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4. 502 can be the device ID 2 discovery resource 304 of the discovery interval 1 airlink resource 206, and the transmit unit 1 504 can be the device ID 2 discovery resource 410 of the discovery interval 2 of the airlink resource 208.

The multiple ordered transmit units available for transmitting peer discovery information are indicated by the slow rate discovery transmit unit and grouping 544 corresponding to the device identifier as indicated by grouping 542. Includes additional transmit units used for fast discovery that correspond to the same device identifier as. In this example, the set of slow rate discovery transmit units corresponding to device identifier 542 is shown shaded by a crosshatch and includes transmit units 502, 512, 522, and 532. The set of additional transmit units used for fast rate discovery corresponding to this device identifier is shown unshaded and transmit units 504, 506, 508, 510, 514, 516, 518, 520, 524, 526. , 528, 530, 534, 536, 538, and 540.

FIG. 6 shows a secure hash function coding module 604 that processes the input discovery information that produces the coded information. The output encoded information is mapped to several parts, each part of which is communicated via the transmission unit.

In FIG. 600, the secure hash function coding module 604 receives discovery information 602 and time value t0 606 and has multiple parts as shown by column 608 (A)._N-2, B_N-2, C_N-2, D_N-2Indicates that a set of output information including) is generated. In this example, each part corresponds to 16 information bits as shown by column 610. Column 612 shows that there is a correspondence between the different coded output parts and the transmit unit type. More specifically, part A_N-2Is communicated using the P0 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part B_N-2Is communicated using the P1 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part C_N-2Is communicated using the P2 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part D_N-2Is communicated using the P3 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure.

In FIG. 630, the secure hash function coding module 604 receives discovery information 632 and time value t1 636 and has multiple parts as shown by column 638 (A)._N-1, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-1Indicates that a set of output information including) is generated. In this example, each part corresponds to 16 information bits as shown by column 640. Column 642 shows that there is a correspondence between the different coded output parts and the transmit unit type. More specifically, part A_N-1Is communicated using the P0 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part B_N-1Is communicated using the P1 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part C_N-1Is communicated using the P2 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part D_N-1Is communicated using the P3 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure.

In drawing 650, the secure hash function coding module 604 receives discovery information 652 and time value t2 656 and is shown in multiple parts (A) as shown by column 658._N, B_N, C_N, D_NIndicates that a set of output information including) is generated. In this example, each part corresponds to 16 information bits as shown by column 660. Column 662 shows that there is a correspondence between the different coded output parts and the transmit unit type. More specifically, part A_NIs communicated using the P0 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part B_NIs communicated using the P1 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part C_NIs communicated using the P2 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part D_NIs communicated using the P3 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure.

The input discovery information 602 may be the same as or different from the input discovery information 632. Similarly, the input discovery information 632 may be the same as or different from the input discovery information 652. In each case, the secure hash function coding module 604 can include additional inputs, eg, keys, as needed for the operation, and in some cases.

FIG. 7 shows a secure hash function coding module 704 that processes some input discovery information, eg, discovery identification information, that produces secure coding information. The output secure coding information is combined by the combination module 703 with additional discovery information, such as type information and / or bits representing flags. The result of this combination is mapped to several parts where each part is communicated via the transmit unit.

Therefore, FIG. 7 shows a modified embodiment with respect to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 7, some discovery information communicated is not subject to secure hash function coding. For example, bits representing type information and / or bits representing flags cannot and sometimes do not apply secure hash function coding. In the example of FIG. 7, the discovery information (702, 732, 752) is the discovery information (702a, 732a, 752a) to which the secure hash function coding is applied and the discovery information (702b) to which the secure hash function encoding is not applied, respectively. , 732b, 752b).

FIG. 700 shows that the secure hash function coding module 704 receives the discovery information 702a and the time value t0 706 and generates the secure coding information 705. Combination module 703 receives secure coding information 705 and discovery information 702b and has multiple parts (A) as indicated by column 708._N-2, B_N-2, C_N-2, D_N-2) To generate a set of output information. In this example, each part corresponds to 20 information bits as indicated by column 710. Column 712 shows that there is a correspondence between the different coded output parts and the transmit unit type. More specifically, part A_N-2Is communicated using the P0 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part B_N-2Is communicated using the P1 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part C_N-2Is communicated using the P2 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part D_N-2Is communicated using the P3 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure.

FIG. 730 shows that the secure hash function coding module 704 receives discovery information 732a and time value t1 736 and generates secure coding information 735. Combination module 703 receives secure coding information 735 and discovery information 732b and has multiple parts (A) as shown by column 738._N-1, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-1) To generate a set of output information. In this example, each part corresponds to 20 information bits as shown by column 740. Column 742 shows that there is a correspondence between the different coded output parts and the transmit unit type. More specifically, part A_N-1Is communicated using the P0 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part B_N-1Is communicated using the P1 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part C_N-1Is communicated using the P2 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part D_N-1Is communicated using the P3 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure.

FIG. 750 shows that the secure hash function coding module 704 receives the discovery information 752a and the time value t2 756 and generates the secure coding information 755. Combination module 703 receives secure coding information 755 and discovery information 752b and has multiple parts (A) as shown by column 758._N, B_N, C_N, D_N) To generate a set of output information. In this example, each part corresponds to 20 information bits as shown by column 760. Column 762 shows that there is a correspondence between the different coded output parts and the transmit unit type. More specifically, part A_NIs communicated using the P0 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part B_NIs communicated using the P1 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part C_NIs communicated using the P2 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure, part D_NIs communicated using the P3 transmit unit type in the circular timing structure.

The input discovery information 702 may be the same as or different from the input discovery information 732. Similarly, the input discovery information 732 may be the same as or different from the input discovery information 752. In each case, the secure hash function coding module 704 can include additional inputs, eg, keys, as needed for the operation, and in some cases.

Figure 8 shows three exemplary formats for discovery information carried using the four output parts. FIG. 800 contains 64 bits of output discovery identification information 802 to be transmitted as indicated by block 804 and includes four parts (part A 806, part B 808, part C 810, and part D 812). The first exemplary format is shown. This format is an exemplary format corresponding to the example in FIG. For example, the four output parts of drawing 800 of FIG. 8 (part A 806, part B 808, part C 810, part D 812) are set {A._n-2, B_n-2, C_n-2, And D_n-2} Or a set of four output parts is {A_n-1, B_n-1, C_n-1, And D_n-1} Or the set of Figure 6 {A_n, B_n, C_n, And D_n}.

FIG. 820 is a second example in which the output discovery identification information 834 to be transmitted contains 80 bits and contains four output parts (part A 834, part B 836, part C 838, and part D 840). Format is shown. This format is an exemplary format corresponding to the example in FIG. For example, the four output parts of drawing 820 of FIG. 8 (part A 834, part B 836, part C 840, part D 842) are set {A._n-2, B_n-2, C_n-2, And D_n-2} Or a set of four output parts is {A_n-1, B_n-1, C_n-1, And D_n-1} Or the set in Figure 7 {A_n, B_n, C_n, And D_n}. In the example of FIG. 820, the output discovery information to be communicated is 8-bit wide type field 822 as shown by 828 and 8-bit wide flag field 824 as shown by block 830. And contains a discovery identity field 826 that is 64-bit wide as indicated by block 832. In the example of drawing 820, the type field 822 and the flag field 824 are included as part of part A 834, and the discovery identifier 826 is a bit in part A 834, part B 836, part C 838, and part D 840. Is communicated using.

FIG. 850 is a third example in which the output discovery identification information 834 to be transmitted contains 80 bits and contains four output parts (part A 893, part B 895, part C 897, and part D 899). Format is shown. This format is an exemplary format corresponding to the example in FIG. For example, the four output parts of drawing 850 of FIG. 8 (part A 893, part B 895, part C 897, part D 899) are set {A._n-2, B_n-2, C_n-2, And D_n-2} Or a set of four output parts is {A_n-1, B_n-1, C_n-1, And D_n-1} Or the set in Figure 7 {A_n, B_n, C_n, And D_n}. In the example of FIG. 850, the output discovery information to be communicated in part A 893 is 2 bits as shown by type field 852, block 878, which is 2 bits wide as shown in block 876. It includes a flag field 854 that is wide and a discovery identity field 856 that is 16 bits wide as indicated by block 880. The output discovery information to be communicated in part B 895 is type field 858, which is 2 bits wide as shown in block 882, and flag field 860, which is 2 bits wide as shown by block 884. , And contains a discovery identity field 862 that is 16 bits wide as indicated by block 886. The output discovery information to be communicated in part C 897 is type field 864, which is 2 bits wide as shown in block 888, and flag field 866, which is 2 bits wide as shown by block 890. , And contains a discovery identity field 868 that is 16 bits wide as indicated by block 892. Part D The output discovery information to be communicated in 899 is the type field 870, which is 2 bits wide as shown by 894, the flag field 872, which is 2 bits wide as shown by block 896, and the block. Includes discovery identification field 874, which is 16 bits wide as indicated by 898.

The type information carried in the type field includes, for example, information indicating the format of other found information carried, for example, other upper layer found information. For example, the type value carried in the type field is used to identify how to process the carried discovery information, for example, different type values may be used in different formats and / or may be used. Maps to different ciphers and / or different ciphers that can be used. Type field values can and are sometimes used to carry what is processed, eg, represented by the hashed discovery information.

Flags are used to indicate one or more binary states, such as abilities or characteristics. In some embodiments, the flag is used to identify the device type, eg, router. In some embodiments, some of the discovery information to be carried is included in all transmission parts. In some embodiments, some of the discovery information to be carried is split onto a set of associated peer discovery transmission parts. Some parts of the discovery information, such as a fragment set of flags, may be time-critical enough to be included in all transmission parts. In some embodiments, the receiving device must have already received the type value so that it can interpret some discovery information that is being communicated, so in such an embodiment the type is The frequencies carried can affect, and sometimes affect, the ability to respond to a partial set of discovery information. In some such embodiments, a type field is included within each discovery transmission portion to facilitate fast restoration of the discovery information carried by the received and transmitted portion.

Other embodiments may include, or instead of, other fields, such as header fields, CRC fields, etc., in addition to those described with respect to FIG.

FIG. 9 shows the generated portion of FIG. 6 or 7 to an ordered transmit unit to carry the discovery information associated with the wireless communication device identifier according to an exemplary embodiment using a particular mapping pattern. Indicates to be mapped. Ordered sequence of transmit units (904, 906, 908, 910, 912, 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930, 932, 934, 936, 938, 940, 942, 944, The types (P0, P1, P2, P3) of 946, 948, 950, 952, 954, 956, 958, 960, 962, 964, 966, 968, 970, 972, 974, 976, 978, 980, 982, respectively. , P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0 , P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3) and information (A_N-1, B_N-2, C_N-2, D_N-2, A_N-1, B_N-1, C_N-2, D_N-2, A_N-1, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-2, A_N-1, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-1, A_N-1, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-1, A_N, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-1, A_N, B_N, C_N-1, D_N-1, A_N, B_N, C_N, D_N-1, A_N, B_N, C_N, D_N, A_N, B_N, C_N, D_N) Are transported respectively. Transmission units (904, 914, 924, 934, 944, 954, 964, and 974) are slow rate discovery transmission units as shown by crosshatch shading, and transmission units (906, 908, 910, 912, 916, 918, 920, 922, 926, 928, 930, 932, 936, 938, 940, 942, 946, 948, 950, 952, 956, 958, 960, 962, 966, 968, 970, 972, 976, 978, 980, and 982) can be observed to be additional transmit units used for fast rate discovery. An additional transmit unit for a given type of fast rate discovery is specified to carry a portion of information that has already been transmitted through the same type of slow rate discovery transmit unit when transporting the transmit unit. Please note.

If a first peer-to-peer communication device with an identifier corresponding to a set of transmit units is in fast rate discovery information transmission mode, it will transmit using each of the transmit units. However, if the peer-to-peer communication device is initially in slow rate discovery transmit mode, it will transmit using the slow rate discovery resource, but on the additional transmit resource specified for fast rate discovery. Refrain from sending. The structure of FIG. 9 shows the dispersal of the same portion of the discovery information from the first peer-to-peer communication regardless of the transmission mode, thereby allowing the information from the second peer-to-peer device to be used when the fast rate mode is used. Faster potential restoration is facilitated. In addition, using the illustrated structure in Figure 9, the peer-to-peer discovery assist node or base station uses (i) a slow discovery rate transmission unit to provide additional transmissions specified for the fast discovery rate. Sending Discovery Signals Without Using Units Receives and detects discovery signals communicated from a first peer-to-peer communication device, and (ii) then provides additional transmit units specified for fast rate discovery. It is advantageous to be able to use, for example, fill in some other unused additional transmit units specified for fast rate discovery and broadcast such received information. A second peer-to-peer communication device that seeks to detect peer-to-peer information from the first peer-to-peer discovery device can receive and process discovery transmit units that appear in each of the transmit units associated with the device identifier. .. The second peer-to-peer communication device does not need to know the source of any particular additional transmit unit signal, eg, the first communication device or assist node.

FIG. 10 shows mapping the generated portion of FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 to an ordered transmit unit to carry discovery information associated with a wireless communication device identifier according to another exemplary embodiment. There is. Ordered sequences of transmit units (1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1012, 1014, 1016, 1018, 1020, 1022, 1024, 1026, 1028, 1030, 1032, 1034, 1036, 1038, 1040, 1042, 1044, The types (P0, P1, P2, P3) of 1046, 1048, 1050, 1052, 1054, 1056, 1058, 1060, 1062, 1064, 1066, 1068, 1070, 1072, 1074, 1076, 1078, 1080, 1082, respectively. , P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0 , P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3, P0, P1, P2, P3) and information (A_N-1, B_N-2, C_N-2, D_N-2, A_N-2, B_N-1, C_N-2, D_N-2, A_N-2, B_N-2, C_N-1, D_N-2, A_N-2, B_N-2, C_N-2, D_N-1, A_N-1, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-1, A_N, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-1, A_N-1, B_N, C_N-1, D_N-1, A_N-1, B_N-1, C_N, D_N-1, A_N-1, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N, A_N, B_N, C_N, D_N) Are transported respectively. Transmit units (1004, 1014, 1024, 1034, 1044, 1054, 1064, and 1074) are slow rate discovery transmit units, as shown by crosshatch shading, and transmit units (1006, 1008, 1010, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1018, 1020, 1022, 1026, 1028, 1030, 1032, 1036, 1038, 1040, 1042, 1046, 1048, 1050, 1052, 1056, 1058, 1060, 1062, 1066, 1068, 1070, 1072, It can be observed that 1076, 1078, 1080, and 1082) are additional transmit units used for fast rate discovery. An additional transmit unit for fast rate discovery is via the slow rate discovery transmit unit when transporting the transmit unit. Note that it is specified to carry the information portion that has already been transmitted. In this example, the information carried on the additional resources associated with fast rate discovery does not change until a set of slow rate discovery information is sent.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1100 showing an exemplary method of manipulating the first node to assist in communicating peer discovery information corresponding to the second node. The first node is, for example, one of the peer discovery assist node 114 and the server node 112 of system 100 in FIG. 1, and the second node is the peer-to-peer communication device (102, 104) of system 100 in FIG. , 106, 108, 110). Steps 1104, 1108, and 1110 are optional steps that are included in some embodiments, but not necessarily all. Steps 1107 and 1113 are included in some embodiments, but not necessarily in all embodiments, for example, peers in which the first node corresponds to both the second and third nodes. It is also an optional step included in the embodiment that assists in communicating the discovery information.

In one embodiment in which steps 1104, 1108, and 1110 are omitted, the operation proceeds from step 1102 to step 1106 and from step 1106 to step 1112. In other exemplary embodiments where steps 1104, 1108, and 1110 are omitted, the operation proceeds from step 1102 to steps 1106 and 1107, the operation proceeds from step 1106 to step 1112, and the operation proceeds from steps 1107 to 1113. Proceed to.

The flowchart describes an embodiment that includes steps 1104, 1108, and 1110. The operation begins at step 1102 and proceeds to step 1104, where the first node stores timing structure information indicating a circular pattern of peer discovery receive intervals and peer discovery transmit intervals. The operation proceeds from step 1104 to step 1106. In step 1106, the first device receives, via the airlink, the portion of one or more sets of peer discovery information received from the second node at the first rate. The operation proceeds from step 1106 to step 1108.

In step 1108, the first device determines, with the current time information and the stored timing structure information, whether to instruct the first node to switch from receive to transmit. If the decision in step 1108 does not switch, the operation returns to the input in step 1108. However, if the decision in step 1108 switches, the operation proceeds from step 1108 to step 1110. In step 1110, the first node is controlled to switch between reception and transmission based on the stored timing structure information. The operation proceeds from step 1110 to step 1112. In step 1112, the first device transmits the received portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to the second node at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate, via the airlink.

In some embodiments, transmitting via the airlink at a second rate involves transmitting an individual received portion of a set of peer discovery information multiple times. In some embodiments, transmitting at a second rate over the airlink comprises transmitting a full set of peer discovery information for each received portion of peer discovery information.

In some embodiments, the set of peer discovery information comprises N parts, each of which is transmitted N times.

In some embodiments, the already received set of peer discovery information is transmitted between two consecutively received pieces of peer discovery information.

In some embodiments, the first node supports simultaneous discovery assist to multiple nodes that transmit discovery information at a slow rate. For example, in some embodiments, the first node also assists in communicating peer discovery information corresponding to the third node. In one such embodiment, the method of Flowchart 1100 comprises steps 1107 and 1113. In one embodiment, which can be performed in parallel with step 1106, in step 1107, the first node is the first rate of one or more sets of peer discovery information from the third node via the airlink. Receive the part received by. In step 1113, which can be performed in parallel with step 1112 in one embodiment, the first node corresponds to the third node at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate, via the airlink. Send the received part of the discovery information.

In some exemplary embodiments, step 1107 is performed in series with step 1106. In some exemplary embodiments, step 1113 is performed in series with step 1112.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart 1200 of an exemplary method of manipulating a node, eg, an assist node, or a server node such as a base station, to assist in communicating discovery information. The operation of the exemplary method begins at step 1202 and proceeds to step 1204, where the node stores the peer-to-peer timing structure information as the stored peer-to-peer timing structure information 1205. The storage of step 1205 is, for example, part of the node configuration and / or node initialization process. The stored peer-to-peer timing structure information 1205 contains, for example, information that identifies multiple discovery interval airlink resources, information that associates a specific discovery interval airlink resource with a specific device identifier, and information that indicates a circular discovery interval pattern. Including.

The operation proceeds from steps 1204 to 1206, where the node determines the time with respect to the peer-to-peer timing structure. In some embodiments, the reference signal is received through the backhaul to adjust the timing, whereas in other embodiments, the time is determined and synchronized with respect to the peer-to-peer timing structure via the wireless interface. The reference signal is received. The operation proceeds from step 1206 to step 1208. In step 1208, which is executed while in progress, the node holds the timing and outputs the current time 1209.

The operation proceeds from step 1206 to steps 1210, 1212, 1214, and connection node A 1216. In step 1210, which is performed while in progress, the node monitors, for example, whether a discovery signal arrives from a peer-to-peer radio terminal in a local neighborhood where it is transmitting. The detected device ID 1211 is the output of monitoring 1210. In some embodiments, different devices can be associated with the same device identifier at different times. For example, a device identifier is associated with a particular set of discovery interval airlink resources that map to this ID, and this device identifier is obtained by a wireless terminal that wants to be temporarily active. , Will be retained.

Step 1212 is performed for each one or more of the detected device IDs. In step 1212, the node classifies the wireless terminal associated with the device ID as being in one of the slow rate discovery nodes or the fast rate discovery mode. For example, if a node detects a discovery signal at the slow rate discovery interval associated with a device ID on the airline resource associated with the device ID, but the device is on the airline resource associated with the device ID. If no discovery signal is detected at the additional discovery interval associated with the ID, this node concludes that the wireless terminal currently associated with the device ID is operating in slow rate mode to send discovery information. .. Conversely, if a node detects a discovery signal on an airlink resource that is associated with a device ID that corresponds to both the slow rate discovery resource and the additional resource, then this node has the radio associated with the device ID. It is classified as being in a fast rate discovery mode where the terminal sends discovery information. Detected device ID 1211 is the input to step 1212, and the device ID of the wireless terminal in the low-speed rate discovery mode 1213 is the output of step 1212.

Step 1214 is performed for each wireless terminal that is in slow rate discovery mode. At step 1214, the node determines whether to act as a discovery assist node for the wireless terminal. Information 1215, which identifies the device ID of the wireless terminal assisted by this node, is the output of step 1214.

The operation proceeds from step 1206 to step 1218 via connection node A 1216 for each of the wireless terminals assisted according to information 1215. In step 1218, which is performed while in progress, the node identifies the next time interval discovery resource associated with the device ID currently held by the assisted WT. The current time 1209, the stored circular peer-to-peer timing structure information 1205, and the device ID 1215 of the wireless terminal to be assisted are inputs to step 1218. For each identified interval discovery resource associated with the device identifier, the operation proceeds from step 1218 to step 1220.

At step 1220, the node determines whether the identified interval discovery resource is a slow rate interval discovery resource or an additional interval discovery resource. If the identified interval airlink resource is a slow rate interval airlink discovery resource, the operation proceeds from step 1220 to step 1222, but the identified interval discovery resource is an additional interval airlink discovery resource. If so, the operation proceeds from step 1220 to step 1228.

Returning to step 1222, in step 1222, the nodes are configured to receive at this interval. Then, in step 1224, the node receives the discovery information portion from the wireless terminal associated with the device ID. The operation proceeds from step 1224 to step 1226. In step 1226, the node stores the received discovery information portion as the stored discovery information portion 1227, and also stores the time tag information and device ID information associated with the received discovery information portion as information 1229.

Returning to step 1228, in step 1228, the nodes are configured to transmit at this interval. The operation proceeds from step 1228 to step 1230. At step 1230, the node checks whether the appropriate stored discovery information portion is available for transmission using additional interval resources according to the transmission pattern information. Step 1230 uses as input some of the available pairs of stored information (1227, 1229) and stored circular timing structure information 1205. Certain discoveries, which are scheduled to resend at identified intervals using additional interval discovery resources depending on the timing structure, may be, for example, the wireless terminal has just begun to transmit. Alternatively, the signal may not be available from the node due to failure to receive the discovery signal part due to weak signal or interference.

In step 1230, if the node determines that the stored information scheduled to send at the identified intervals is not available, the operation proceeds from 1230 to 1232, where the node is added. Interval Refrain from sending at that interval on the Airlink resource. However, in step 1230, if the node determines that the stored information scheduled to send at the identified intervals is available for transmission, then the operation proceeds from 1230 to 1234. Therefore, the node generates a signal that repeats the discovery information received at the previous interval according to the discovery information repetition pattern for the stored peer-to-peer timing structure. The operation proceeds from steps 1234 to 1236, where the node uses an additional discovery interval airlink resource, eg, a segment, to send the signal generated at that interval. The node acted as a proxy to the wireless terminal in slow rate discovery information transmission mode when performing step 1236, and would have made a transmission if the wireless terminal was in fast rate discovery information transmission mode. Send the same information at intervals. The proxy function facilitates high-speed restoration of discovery information by other peer-to-peer devices.

In one exemplary embodiment, where the low-speed rate discovery information portion is generated as a set of N parts, upon entering a steady-state state of assisting the discovery of the wireless terminal, the discovery information portion is received from the wireless terminal, for example. , Step 1224 is executed once, whereas step 1236 that retransmits the discovery information part received by the node is executed N times. In the example of FIG. 14, N = 4. Figures 9 and 10 show two exemplary patterns that can be utilized by wireless terminals and assist nodes. With respect to Figures 9 and 10, the radio terminal is in slow rate discovery mode, transmitting using the slow rate discovery interval airlink resource, identified by crosshatch shading, and identified without shading. Additional discovery interval Airlink resources are considered dormant. The portion of the assist node performing the method of Flowchart 1200 in FIG. 12 received at the slow rate discovery interval on the slow rate airlink resource identified by crosshatch shading and received for later retransmission. I think that it stores. It is also considered that the transmission is performed at the additional discovery interval using the additional discovery interval airlink resource identified without shading. It can be observed that the discovery information portion corresponding to the additional discovery interval communicates the information transmitted at the previous slow rate discovery interval according to the circular structure.

FIG. 13 is a drawing showing an exemplary communication node 1300, eg, a peer discovery assist node, or a server node such as a base station node, according to an exemplary embodiment. The exemplary communication node 1300 is, for example, one of the peer discovery assist node 114 and the server node 112 of system 100 in FIG.

The communication node 1300 is a wireless receiver module 1302, a wireless transmitter module 1304, a processor 1306, and a user I / O device 1308 that are coupled together via a bus 1312 that various elements use to exchange data and information. , And memory 1310. In some embodiments, the communication node 1300 also comprises a network interface 1307 coupled to bus 1312. Network interface 1307 couples the communication node 1300 to other network nodes and / or the Internet, eg, a wired backhaul network.

Memory 1310 stores routine 1318 and data / information 1320. The processor 1306, eg, the CPU, executes routine 1318 and uses the data / information 1320 in memory 1310 to control the operation of the communication node 1300, a method, eg, the flow of FIG. 11 The method of FIG. 1100 or FIG. Implement the method of Flowchart 1200 in.

The radio receiver module 1302, eg, an OFDM or CDMA receiver, receives a peer discovery information signal in which the communication device 1300 receives a signal from another radio device, eg, carries some of the peer discovery information to the peer-to-peer device. It is coupled to the receiving antenna 1314 used for. In some embodiments, the communication device 1300 is timed via one or more signals received via the wireless receiver module 1302, eg, via an OFDM beacon signal received from the beacon transmitter 116. Synchronize with the structure, eg, peer-to-peer circular timing structure.

The radio transmitter module 1304, for example an OFDM or CDMA transmitter, is coupled to a transmit antenna 1316 that the communication node 1300 uses to transmit signals to the radio device. The transmitted signal includes a signal carrying a received peer discovery information portion that is being broadcast to assist in communicating peer discovery information at a high rate.

The radio receiver module 1302 receives the portion of one or more sets of peer discovery information received at the first rate from another node, eg, the first peer-to-peer radio terminal, via the airlink. .. The radio transmitter module 1304 transmits the received restoration portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to the other node at the second rate, which is faster than the first rate, via the air link. In some embodiments, transmitting via the airlink at a second rate involves transmitting an individual received portion of a set of peer discovery information multiple times. In some embodiments, transmitting at a second rate over the airlink comprises transmitting a full set of peer discovery information for each received portion of the set of peer discovery information. In some embodiments, the set of peer discovery information comprises N parts, each of which is transmitted N times. In some embodiments, the already received set of peer discovery information is transmitted between two consecutively received pieces of peer discovery information. In some embodiments, the communication node 1300 simultaneously supports discovery assist for multiple devices, eg, at a slow rate according to the circulation timing and frequency structure recognized by the communication node and two or more different radio terminals. Supports resending the received and restored discovery information portion corresponding to two or more different radio terminals that broadcast the discovery information.

The user I / O device 1308 includes, for example, a microphone, keyboard, keypad, camera, speaker, display, and the like. By using the user I / O device 1308, the operator of the communication device 1300 can input data / information, access the output data / information, and control at least some functions of the communication node 1300, for example. , Peer discovery assist function, input peer discovery assist determination, and / or activation of screening criteria, configuration control, and / or control of timing / frequency structure information loading.

Network interface 1307 connects the communication node 1300 to other network nodes such as servers, routers, base stations, AAA nodes, system control nodes, timing reference nodes, and / or the Internet. In some embodiments, the communication node 1300 synchronizes with a timing structure, such as a peer-to-peer circular timing structure, via signaling communicated over network interface 1307.

Routine 1318 includes communication routine 1322 and control routine 1324. Communication routine 1322 implements the various communication protocols used by communication node 1300. The control routine 1324 includes a peer discovery partial restoration module 1326, an assist control module 1328, a mode control module 1330, a node identification module 1332, a discovery information rate determination module 1334, an assist determination module 1336, and an assist signal generation module 1338. The data / information 1320 was identified as the stored timing structure information 1339, the restored peer discovery part 1352, the generated assist signal 1354, the information 1356 identifying the current receive / transmit mode, and transmitting the discovery information. Includes wireless terminal 1358, information 1360 that identifies the discovery information mode of the wireless terminal that transmits discovery information, and information 1362 that identifies the wireless terminal to be assisted.

The peer-to-peer discovery part restore module 1326 is a portion of peer-to-peer discovery information communicated from a peer-to-peer wireless device that is communicated using a slow-rate peer-to-peer wireless device, for example, a received portion of peer discovery information communicated from another device. To restore. The restored peer discovery part 1352 contains the stored restored and received peer discovery part from the peer discovery part restore module 1326. Some transmitted peer discovery parts of interest may not be restored, for example because the received signal is weak or interfering. In various embodiments, the discovery information portion may be successfully restored by module 1326 and made available for subsequent retransmissions, but some or all of the underlying pre-encrypted discovery information may be from node 1300. It may not be accessible. For example, device 1300 may not include a particular decryption module or may not have access to the keys needed to decrypt the encrypted discovery information portion. Thus, device 1300 can perform proxy assist, but can maintain security between trusted and / or authorized users. The stored restored received peer discovery portion 1352 can be utilized for subsequent retransmissions, eg, at appropriate additional discovery intervals with timing / frequency structure information.

The assist control module 1328 controls the wireless transmitter module 1304 to transmit an assist signal at a second rate that carries the received and restored portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to another node, eg, a peer-to-peer wireless terminal. To do. The second rate at which the communication node 1300 is controlled to send the received and restored portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to the other mode is such that the communication node 1300 receives the peer discovery information portion from the other node. Faster than the first rate controlled by. For example, in the example of FIG. 14, the assist node transmits four received and restored discovery information parts for each received and restored part.

In various embodiments, transmitting at a second rate over the airlink involves transmitting an individual received portion of a set of peer discovery information multiple times. For example, the communication node 1300 has the timing / frequency structure as shown in FIG. 9, and the wireless terminal in the slow rate discovery transmission mode uses the slow rate discovery airlink resource shown by the crosshatch shading to provide the discovery information part. Consider that you are transmitting, and that communication node 1300 is transmitting using the additional discovery interval resource indicated by the unshaded. In such a scenario, device 1300 has the discovery information part A as indicated by arrow 904._N-1Receives and restores, but then part A as indicated by arrows 912, 920, 928, and 936._N-1Is sent 4 times. Similarly, device 1300 has the discovery information portion B as indicated by arrow 914._N-1Receives and restores, but then part B as indicated by arrows 922, 930, 938, and 946._N-1Is sent 4 times. Similarly, device 1300 has the discovery information part C as indicated by arrow 924._N-1Receives and restores, but then part C as indicated by arrows 932, 940, 948, and 946._N-1Is sent 4 times. Similarly, device 1300 has the discovery information part D as indicated by arrow 934._N-1Receives and restores, but then part D as indicated by arrows 942, 950, 958, and 966._N-1Is sent 4 times.

In some embodiments, transmitting at a second rate over the airlink comprises transmitting a full set of peer discovery information for each received portion of peer discovery information. Continuing with the above example using Figure 9, four complete sets of peer discovery information corresponding to the four received parts of the set of peer discovery information are being transmitted, but this set of peer discovery information. Is a set {part A_N-1, Part B_N-1, Part C_N-1, Part D_N-1}.

In some embodiments, the set of peer discovery information includes K parts, each of which is transmitted N times. Continuing with the above example using FIG. 9, the set of peer discovery information has four parts, thus K = 4, and each of the four parts is transmitted four times.

In some embodiments, an already received set of peer discovery information can, and sometimes is transmitted, between two consecutively received pieces of peer discovery information. Continuing with the above example using Figure 9, the set {A received before the peer discovery information_N-1, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-1} Is the part D received consecutively as indicated by arrows 934, 936, 938, 940, 942, 944._N-1And A_NIs sent to and from. Next, consider the alternative timing / frequency mapping pattern shown by FIG. 10, again, the communication device 1300 receives and shades for the slow rate discovery interval resource shown in the crosshatch shading. Suppose you want to send for the additional discovery interval resources indicated by the absence. In this exemplary embodiment, the already received set of peer discovery information is transmitted between two consecutively received pieces of peer discovery information. Received part A, for example, as indicated by arrows 1044 and 1054._NAnd B_NAlready received set of peer discovery information with {A_N-1, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-1} Is transmitted as indicated by arrows 1052, 1046, 1048, 1050. Similarly, received part B, as indicated by arrows 1054 and 1064._NAnd C_NAlready received set of peer discovery information with {A_N-1, B_N-1, C_N-1, D_N-1} Is transmitted as indicated by arrows 1060, 1062, 1056, 1058.

The mode control module 1330 controls the communication node to switch between reception and transmission based on the stored timing structure information. The current Rx / TX mode 1356 is in receive mode, for example to receive discovery information at slow rate peer discovery intervals, or is in transmit mode, for example, to send discovery information at additional discovery intervals. Identify if it is in.

Node identification module 1332 identifies that peer discovery information is being transmitted from a wireless terminal that currently corresponds to a particular identifier. In some embodiments, a particular airlink resource, eg, a segment, within a timing / frequency structure is associated with a particular device identifier. Therefore, by discovering the discovery information portion on a particular slow rate discovery interval resource, communication node 1300 identifies that the radio terminal associated with its device identifier is currently active for broadcasting discovery information. be able to. The identified wireless terminal 1358 that transmits the discovery information is the output of the node identification module 1330. For example, each of the identifiers can be associated with the set of airlink resources specified for peer discovery. If the communication node 1300 restores the peer discovery signal received on a particular resource, the node identification module can conclude that the wireless terminal currently corresponding to that resource is active.

Peer-to-peer radio terminals may use airlink resources, such as the segment associated with the currently held identifier, to transmit peer discovery information at a slow or fast rate. At slow rates, peer-to-peer radio terminals transmit on slow rate peer discovery interval resources at slow rate discovery intervals, but refrain from transmitting over additional discovery interval resources at additional discovery intervals. The discovery information rate determination module 1334 determines whether the wireless terminal actively transmitting the discovery information is in the high-speed rate transmission mode for the discovery information or the low-speed rate transmission mode for the discovery information. The discovery information mode 1360 of the wireless terminal that transmits the discovery information is the output of the discovery information rate determination module 1334.

Additional discovery intervals corresponding to device identifiers The lack of detection of received and restored discovery information on the Airlink resource is due to the discovery information rate determination module 1334 that puts the wireless terminal corresponding to the device identifier into slow rate mode. Can be used to determine if. Additional discovery intervals corresponding to the device identifier Detection of received and restored discovery information on the Airlink resource is either by the discovery information rate determination module 1334 that the wireless terminal corresponding to the device identifier is in fast rate mode. It can be used to determine if it is already assisted by another node. In some embodiments, the communication node is in a state where the peer-to-peer wireless terminal is in the fast rate discovery information transmission mode, or the peer-to-peer wireless terminal is in the low speed rate discovery information transmission mode, but is already assisted by another node. Do not distinguish between states that have been. In some other embodiments, the communication node 1300 corresponds to, for example, the same device identifier, but receives received signals at slow rate peer discovery intervals and additional discovery intervals, such as received power, received SNR. Attempts to distinguish between the two scenarios by comparing, and / or SINR. In some embodiments, flags are used to distinguish whether the discovery part is retrieved from the original node or from a node that acts as an assist node.

The assist determination module line 1336 determines whether to assist the communication of the discovery information to the wireless terminal corresponding to the device identifier determined that the communication device 1300 is transmitting the discovery information in the low-speed rate discovery transmission mode. The information 1360 is an input for assisting the decision module 1336, while the information 1362 that identifies the wireless terminal to be assisted is the output of the assist decision module 1336.

The assist signal generation module 1338 should communicate with the wireless terminal determined to be assisted by the communication device 1300 at an additional discovery interval corresponding to the same device identifier according to the pattern information of the stored timing structure. For example, generate a signal containing a restored peer discovery portion that is communicated at a slow rate discovery interval. Therefore, in the case of wireless terminals where the communication device 1300 has decided to assist, the communication device 1300 generates an assist signal and uses the discovery interval segment of the additional discovery interval corresponding to the device identifier to assist those assist signals. To send.

The stored timing / frequency structure information 1339 is information that identifies peer discovery interval resources that correspond to different identifiers that may be temporarily associated with the wireless terminal (information that identifies peer discovery interval resources for device identifier ID 11340, ... contains multiple sets of information identifying peer discovery interval resources for device ID N 1346), mapping pattern information 1351. Information 1340 that identifies the peer discovery interval resource for device ID 1 includes information 1342 that identifies the slow rate peer discovery interval resource and information 1344 that identifies the additional discovery interval resource. Similarly, information 1346 that identifies the peer discovery interval resource for device identifier ID N includes information 1348 that identifies the slow rate peer discovery interval resource and information 1350 that identifies the additional discovery interval resource.

The stored timing structure information 1339 indicates, for example, with respect to the time when the communication node 1300 assists another node, for example, the peer-to-peer wireless terminal in the low-speed rate discovery transmission mode, when communicating the peer discovery information. Contains information indicating the cyclic pattern of the peer discovery reception interval and the peer discovery transmission interval. For example, assuming that the communication device 1300 is assisting a wireless terminal that currently holds identifier 1, the information 1342 that identifies the slow rate peer discovery interval resource is the peer discovery receive interval and resource on the communication node 1300 side. Information 1344, which indicates the intervals and segments to be considered and additional discovery interval resources, indicates the intervals and segments to be considered peer discovery transmission intervals and segments on the communication node 1300 side. As an alternative, or in addition, if you consider that the communication device 1300 is assisting the wireless terminal that currently holds the identifier N, the information 1348 that identifies the slow rate peer discovery interval resource is on the communication node 1300 side. Information 1350, which indicates the peer discovery receive interval and the interval and the segment to be considered, and the additional discovery interval resource, indicates the interval and the segment to be considered as the peer discovery transmission interval and the segment on the communication node 1300 side.

Mapping pattern information 1351 includes information that identifies parts of the information associated with a particular discovery information resource within the circular timing and frequency structure. For example, information 1351 defines the mapping of the discovery information portion to an indexed set of discovery resources in the circular timing / frequency structure. Corresponding to the device identifier, the mapping pattern information 1351 includes information that identifies which previously transmitted portion received on the slow rate discovery resource is retransmitted on a particular additional discovery resource. 9 and 10 show examples of some information defined by mapping pattern information for two exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a drawing 1400 showing the transmission of exemplary nodes and discovery information within a peer-to-peer communication system. This exemplary node operates in fast rate discovery mode and is transmitting discovery information at a fast rate, as indicated by the discovery signal 1412 being transmitted along the time axis 1410, the first radio. Includes terminal 1402, eg, peer-to-peer mobile node. This exemplary node operates in slow rate discovery mode and is transmitting discovery information at a slow rate, as indicated by the discovery signal 1414 being transmitted along the time axis 1410, a second radio. Includes terminal 1404, eg, a second peer-to-peer mobile node. Similarly, a third radio terminal 1406, eg, a third peer-to-peer mobile node, operating in slow rate discovery mode, as indicated by the discovery signal 1416 being transmitted along the time axis 1410. , Sending discovery information at a slow rate. Also included is an exemplary node 1408, eg, an assist node such as a base station or a server node. Node 1408 is WT2 1404 and WT3 Recognizing that the 1406 is sending discovery information at a slow rate, it decides to assist both nodes (1404, 1406), and if the node is in fast rate discovery mode instead of slow rate discovery mode. For example, the discovery information is transmitted using the air link resource that would have been used by the wireless terminal 2 1404 and the wireless terminal 3 1406. The discovery information signal 1418 transmitted by node 1408 is an already transmitted discovery information signal transmitted by WT2 1404 and 1406 according to a predetermined transmission pattern sequence as represented by, for example, FIG. 9 or FIG. Includes a copy.

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary peer-to-peer radio terminal 1502, an exemplary assist node 1504, an air link resource associated with communicating a discovery information portion, and an exemplary signaling according to an exemplary embodiment. Is. In this example, the peer-to-peer wireless terminal 1502 is currently in low-speed rate discovery transmission mode, and the assist node 1504 is currently assisting the wireless terminal 1502 for communication with the discovery information portion. Wireless terminal 1502 set {Part A_N-1 1501, part B_N-1 1503, part C_N-1 1505, part D_N-1 The first set of discovery information parts that are 1507}, and the set {part A_N 1509, part B_N 1511, part C_N 1513, part D_N Suppose you have already generated a second set of discovery information parts that are 1515}. The wireless terminal 1502 uses a previous slow rate discovery interval airlink resource, eg, a segment to discover information portion A._N-1 1501, B_N-1 1503, C_N-1 1505, and D_N-1 It is assumed that the 1507 has already been transmitted and that the assist node has received such a transmission and has stored the received portion in memory for use in retransmission.

FIG. 1508 is a graph with frequency on the vertical axis 1514 and time on the horizontal axis 1512, which is associated with the device identifier currently held by the wireless terminal 1502, Discovery Interval Airlink Resources (1516, 1518, 1520, 1522, 1524, 1526, 1528, 1530, 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538, 1540, 1542, 1544, 1546, 1548, 1550, 1552, 1554), eg, segments or transmit units. The airlink resources shown by crosshatch shading (1516, 1526, 1536, 1546) are slow rate discovery airlink resources, but are shown without shading (1518, 1520,). 1522, 1524, 1528, 1530, 1532, 1534, 1538, 1540, 1542, 1544, 1548, 1550, 1552, 1554) are additional discovery airlink resources.

FIG. 1506 shows the signaling transmitted by the peer-to-peer radio terminal 1502, while FIG. 1510 shows the signaling transmitted by the assist node 1504. The wireless terminal 1502 uses the low-speed rate discovery airlink resource 1516 to discover information part A._N Sends a signal 1556 that carries an 1509. This transmitted signal 1556 is the discovery information part A._N Received and restored by assist node 1504, which stores 1509. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1518 to discover discovery information part B._N-1 Send signal 1558 to carry 1503. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1520 to discover discovery information part C._N-1 Sends signal 1560 carrying 1505. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1522 to discover discovery information part D._N-1 Sends the signal 1562 that carries the 1507. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1524 to discover information part A._N Sends a signal 1564 that carries 1509.

The wireless terminal 1502 uses the low-speed rate discovery airlink resource 1526 to discover information part B._N Send signal 1566 to carry 1511. This transmitted signal 1566 is the discovery information part B._N Received and restored by assist node 1504, which stores 1511. Assist node 1504 uses additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1528 to discover discovery information part C._N-1 Sends signal 1568 carrying 1505. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1530 to discover discovery information part D._N-1 Sends the signal 1570 that carries the 1507. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1532 to discover information part A._N Sends a signal 1572 that carries 1509. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1534 to discover discovery information part B._N Send signal 1574 to carry 1511.

Radio terminal 1502 uses low-speed rate discovery airlink resource 1536 to discover information part C_N Sends signal 1576, which carries 1513. This transmitted signal 1576 is the discovery information part C._N Received and restored by assist node 1504, which stores 1513. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1538 to discover discovery information part D._N-1 Sends the signal 1578 that carries the 1507. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1540 to discover discovery information part A._N Sends a signal 1580 that carries an 1509. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1542 to discover discovery information part B._N It sends a signal 1582 that carries 1511. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1544 to discover information part C._N Send signal 1584 to carry 1513.

Radio terminal 1502 uses low-speed rate discovery airlink resource 1546 to discover information part D_N Sends the signal 1586 that carries the 1515. The transmitted signal 1586 is the discovery information part D._N Received and restored by the assist node 1504, which stores the 1515. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1548 to discover information part A._N Sends a signal 1588 that carries an 1509. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1550 to discover discovery information part B._N Sends the signal 1590 that carries 1511. Assist node 1504 uses additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1552 to discover discovery information part C._N Sends signal 1592 to carry 1513. Assist node 1504 uses the additional discovery interval Airlink resource 1554 to discover information part D._N Send signal 1594 to carry 1515.

The exemplary wireless terminal 1502 is, for example, one of the peer-to-peer wireless terminals (102, 104, 106, 108, 110) of FIG. An exemplary assist node 1504 is, for example, one of the nodes (112, 114) in FIG. The combination of discovery signaling from peer-to-peer radio terminal 1502 and assist node 1504 is that the peer-to-peer radio terminal 1502 is transmitting in high-speed rate discovery transmission mode to other peer-to-peer radio terminals near the node (1502, 1504). It seems. As a result, high-speed restoration of the discovery information with the wireless terminal 1502 as the first source can be smoothly performed even if the wireless terminal 1502 does not execute each transmission. In this way, the peer-to-peer wireless terminal 1502, which can also be a mobile device, can save battery power, but the discovery information is available from other devices at a high speed because it is assisted by the assist node 1504.

Various embodiments of technology can be implemented in software, hardware, and / or in combination with hardware and software. Various embodiments are intended for devices such as mobile access terminals, base stations including one or more attachment points, and / or communication systems. Various embodiments also cover methods, such as methods of controlling and / or manipulating mobile nodes, base stations, and / or communication systems, such as hosts. Various embodiments include machine-readable media containing machine-readable instructions for controlling the machine to implement one or more steps of the method, such as a computer-readable medium, such as a ROM, RAM, CD, hard disk. Etc. are also targeted.

In various embodiments, the nodes described herein are steps corresponding to one or more methods, eg, a step of receiving a signal, a step of determining the best connection to a carrier of interest, the current step. It is implemented using one or more modules that perform the steps of calculating the service level showing the metric for the attachment point, calculating the service level showing the metric for the alternative attachment point, and making the handoff decision. Therefore, in some embodiments, different features are implemented using multiple modules. Such modules can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. Many of the above methods or method steps are on machines, eg, general purpose, with or without additional hardware to implement all or part of the above method, eg, on one or more nodes. It can be implemented using machine-readable instructions such as software stored on a memory device, such as RAM, a machine-readable medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, to control a computer. Thus, among other things, various embodiments are directed to machine-readable media containing machine-readable instructions that cause a machine, eg, a processor and associated hardware, to perform one or more of the steps of the methods described above. And. Some embodiments are intended for devices comprising a processor configured to implement one, or more or all of the steps of one or more of the methods of the invention, eg, a communication device. To do.

Some embodiments provide a computer, or computer-readable medium, comprising code for causing a computer, or multiple computers, to perform various functions, steps, activities, and / or operations, such as one or more of the steps described above. Targets computer program products that are equipped. Depending on the embodiment, the computer program product can and sometimes contains different code for each step to be performed. Thus, computer program products can and sometimes include code for each individual step of a method, eg, a method of controlling a communication device or node. The code is in the form of machine-executable instructions stored on computer-readable media such as RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), or other types of storage devices, such as computer-executable instructions. be able to. In addition to targeting computer program products, some embodiments implement one or more of the various functions, steps, activities, and / or actions of one or more of the methods described above. Targets processors that are configured in this way. Accordingly, some embodiments are directed to processors such as CPUs that are configured to implement some or all of the steps in the methods described herein. The processor may be intended for use with, for example, communication devices or other devices described in this application.

In some embodiments, one or more devices, eg, one or more processors of a communication device, such as a wireless terminal, eg, a CPU, is a step in the method described as being performed by the communication device. Is configured to run. Thus, some, but not all, embodiments have a processor with modules corresponding to each of the steps of the various described methods performed by the device comprising the processor, eg, communication. Target devices. In some, but not all, devices, such as communication devices, include modules corresponding to each of the steps of the various described methods performed by the device on which the processor is provided. Modules can be implemented using software and / or hardware.

Although described with respect to OFDM systems, at least some of the methods and devices of various embodiments are applicable to a wide range of communication systems, including many non-OFDM and / or non-cellular systems.

Many additional modifications to the methods and devices of the various embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art by considering the above description. Such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Methods and devices shall be used with CDMA, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDM), and / or various other types of communication technologies that can be used to form wireless communication links between access nodes and mobile nodes. And is used in various embodiments. In some embodiments, the access node is implemented as a base station that establishes a communication link with a mobile node that uses OFDM and / or CDMA. In various embodiments, mobile nodes are implemented as laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or other portable devices that include receiver / transmitter circuits and logic and / or routines that implement the method. .. In addition, the invention described in the claims at the time of filing is added below.<u style="single">[C1]</u><u style="single"> A method of manipulating the first node to assist in communicating peer discovery information corresponding to the second node.</u><u style="single"> Receiving parts of one or more sets of peer discovery information from the second node via the airlink, and yet said parts are received at the first rate.</u><u style="single"> Sending the received portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to the second node at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate, via the airlink.</u><u style="single"> How to prepare.</u><u style="single">[C2]</u><u style="single"> Sending at a second rate over the airlink involves sending individual received parts of a set of peer discovery information multiple times.</u><u style="single"> The method described in [C1].</u><u style="single">[C3]</u><u style="single"> Sending at a second rate over the airlink involves sending a full set of peer discovery information for each received portion of the set of peer discovery information.</u><u style="single"> The method described in [C2].</u><u style="single">[C4]</u><u style="single"> The set of peer discovery information includes N parts, each of which is transmitted N times.</u><u style="single"> The method described in [C3].</u><u style="single">[C5]</u><u style="single"> An already received set of peer discovery information is transmitted between two consecutively received pieces of peer discovery information.</u><u style="single"> The method described in [C3].</u><u style="single">[C6]</u><u style="single"> It further comprises storing timing structure information indicating a circular pattern of peer discovery receive interval and peer discovery transmit interval.</u><u style="single"> The method described in [C3].</u><u style="single">[C7]</u><u style="single"> Further comprising controlling the first node to switch between receiving and transmitting based on the stored timing structure information.</u><u style="single"> The method described in [C6].</u><u style="single">[C8]</u><u style="single"> Receiving a portion of one or more sets of peer discovery information from a third node via an airlink, and yet said portion is received at the first rate.</u><u style="single"> To transmit the received portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to the third node at the second rate, which is faster than the first rate, via the air link.</u><u style="single"> The method described in [C1], further comprising.</u><u style="single">[C9]</u><u style="single"> It is the first node to assist in communicating the peer discovery information corresponding to the second node.</u><u style="single"> A radio receiver module for receiving a portion of one or more sets of peer discovery information from the second node via an airlink, and the portion being received at the first rate.</u><u style="single"> The peer discovery partial restoration module for restoring the received portion,</u><u style="single"> A radio transmitter module for transmitting a received restoration portion of peer discovery information corresponding to the second node at a second rate faster than the first rate via an air link.</u><u style="single"> First node with.</u><u style="single">[C10]</u><u style="single"> A storage module for storing the restored received portion is further provided.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C9].</u><u style="single">[C11]</u><u style="single"> It further comprises an assist control module for controlling the radio transmitter module that transmits the received and restored portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to the second node at the second rate.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C9].</u><u style="single">[C12]</u><u style="single"> Sending at a second rate over the airlink involves sending individual received parts of a set of peer discovery information multiple times.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C9].</u><u style="single">[C13]</u><u style="single"> Sending at a second rate over the airlink involves sending a full set of peer discovery information for each received portion of the set of peer discovery information.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C12].</u><u style="single">[C14]</u><u style="single"> The set of peer discovery information includes N parts, each of which is transmitted N times.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C13].</u><u style="single">[C15]</u><u style="single"> An already received set of peer discovery information is transmitted between two consecutively received pieces of peer discovery information.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C13].</u><u style="single">[C16]</u><u style="single"> It further comprises a memory containing stored timing structure information indicating a circular pattern of peer discovery receive interval and peer discovery transmit interval.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C13].</u><u style="single">[C17]</u><u style="single"> A mode control module for controlling the first node so as to switch between reception and transmission based on the stored timing structure information is further provided.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C16].</u><u style="single">[C18]</u><u style="single"> The radio receiver module is also for receiving a portion of one or more sets of peer discovery information from a third node via an airlink, the portion being received at the first rate. ,</u><u style="single"> The peer discovery partial restoration module is also for restoring the received portion from the third node.</u><u style="single"> The wireless transmitter module is for transmitting a received restoration portion of peer discovery information corresponding to the third node at the second rate, which is faster than the first rate, via the air link. It's also a thing,</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C9].</u><u style="single">[C19]</u><u style="single"> It further includes an assist decision module for deciding whether to perform discovery mode assist for one or more devices in which a slow rate discovery signal is detected.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C18].</u><u style="single">[C20]</u><u style="single"> It is the first node to assist in communicating the peer discovery information corresponding to the second node.</u><u style="single"> A radio receiver means for receiving a portion of one or more sets of peer discovery information from the second node via an airlink, and the portion is received at a first rate, said. Peer discovery part restoration means to restore the received part,</u><u style="single"> A radio transmitter means for transmitting a received restoration portion of peer discovery information corresponding to the second node at a second rate faster than the first rate via an air link.</u><u style="single"> First node with.</u><u style="single">[C21]</u><u style="single"> Further provided with a storage means for storing the restored received portion.</u><u style="single"> The wireless communication device described in [C20].</u><u style="single">[C22]</u><u style="single"> It further comprises an assist control means for controlling the radio transmitter means to transmit the received and restored portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to the second node at the second rate.</u><u style="single"> The wireless communication device described in [C20].</u><u style="single">[C23]</u><u style="single"> Sending at a second rate over the airlink involves sending individual received parts of a set of peer discovery information multiple times.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C20].</u><u style="single">[C24]</u><u style="single"> Sending at a second rate over the airlink involves sending a full set of peer discovery information for each received portion of the set of peer discovery information.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C23].</u><u style="single">[C25]</u><u style="single"> The set of peer discovery information includes N parts, each of which is transmitted N times.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C24].</u><u style="single">[C26]</u><u style="single"> An already received set of peer discovery information is transmitted between two consecutively received pieces of peer discovery information.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C24].</u><u style="single">[C27]</u><u style="single"> Further provided with memory means containing stored timing structure information indicating a circular pattern of peer discovery receive intervals and peer discovery transmit intervals.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C24].</u><u style="single">[C28]</u><u style="single"> A mode control means for controlling the first node so as to switch between reception and transmission based on the stored timing structure information is further provided.</u><u style="single"> The first node described in [C27].</u><u style="single">[C29]</u><u style="single"> A computer program product for use on the first node, equipped with a computer-readable medium.</u><u style="single"> The computer-readable medium is</u><u style="single"> A code for causing the computer to receive one or more sets of peer discovery information from the second node via the airlink, and the said portion is received at the first rate.</u><u style="single"> A code for causing the computer to transmit the received portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to the first node at a second rate faster than the first rate via the airlink.</u><u style="single"> A computer program product.</u><u style="single">[C30]</u><u style="single"> The code for causing the computer to transmit at a second rate over the airlink includes a code for causing the computer to transmit an individual received portion of a set of peer discovery information multiple times.</u><u style="single"> Computer program products described in [C29].</u><u style="single">[C31]</u><u style="single"> The code for causing the computer to transmit at a second rate over the airlink is a code for causing the computer to transmit a full set of peer discovery information for each received portion of the set of peer discovery information. Including,</u><u style="single"> Computer program products described in [C29].</u><u style="single">[C32]</u><u style="single"> A device with a processor for use on the first node.</u><u style="single"> The processor</u><u style="single"> A portion of one or more sets of peer discovery information is received from the second node via the airlink, yet said portion is received at the first rate.</u><u style="single"> The received portion of the peer discovery information corresponding to the first node is transmitted via the airlink at a second rate faster than the first rate.</u><u style="single"> A device configured to be.</u><u style="single">[C33]</u><u style="single"> Configuring to transmit at a second rate over the airlink includes configuring to transmit individual received parts of a set of peer discovery information multiple times.</u><u style="single"> The device according to [C32].</u><u style="single">[C34]</u><u style="single"> Configuring to transmit at a second rate over the airlink includes configuring to transmit a full set of peer discovery information for each received portion of the set of peer discovery information. ,</u><u style="single"> The device according to [C33].</u>