Methods and apparatus for peer discovery in a communications system
US8605625B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 10, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 9, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W48/14
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus supporting enhanced discovery operations in peer to peer networks are described. Peer discovery, based on direct peer to peer discovery between two mobile nodes can be somewhat limited, e.g., due to power limitations, processing power, and/or channel conditions. An access point, e.g., base station, monitors for and receives peer discovery signals conveying a set of identifiers from a wireless communications device. The access point retransmits at least one identifier in the set in a wireless peer to peer communications channel. Thus the access point effectively extends the peer discovery range for wireless communications devices utilizing the peer to peer network. Wireless communications devices can monitor for and recover the rebroadcast peer discovery signals from access points. Thus, via access point signaling a wireless communications device can be made situationally aware of other devices of interest which would be otherwise outside its discovery detection range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.