Abstract: Methods and apparatus for storing, manipulating, retrieving, and forwarding state, e.g., context and other information, used to support communications sessions with one or more end nodes, e.g., mobile devices, are described. Various features are directed to a mobile node controlling the transfer of state from a first access node to a second access node during a handoff operation thereby eliminating any need for state transfer messages to be transmitted between the second access node and the first access node during handoff. Other features of the invention are directed to the use of a core network node to store state information. State information stored in the core node can be accessed and used by access nodes in cases where a mobile node does not send a state transfer message during a handoff, e.g., because communication with the first access node is lost or because such messages are not supported.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for managing a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS). In one configuration, content of an MBMS may be received while operating in a coverage area of a base station. A transition to operate outside the coverage area of the base station may be sensed. A peer discovery signal to request a relay of the content of the MBMS may be transmitted. The peer discovery signal may include an identifier of the MBMS. In another configuration, a first peer discovery signal including an out-of-coverage status indicator for the mobile device or MBMS query and an identifier of an MBMS may be received from the mobile device. A determination may be made regarding whether to relay content of the MBMS. Upon determining to relay the content of the MBMS, a second peer discovery signal indicating a capability to relay the content of the MBMS may be transmitted.

Abstract: A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be equipped to obtain one or more application identifiers from one or more applications on a wireless device, generate a super identifier (SID) having elements corresponding to the one or more applications and a base that identifies one or more common properties of the one or more applications, and broadcast the SID during one or more peer discovery slots allocated for the wireless device. In another example, a UE may be equipped to receive the SID broadcast by another UE, determine a match between at least one of the one or more common properties in the base, and determine whether an element associated with one or more applications is present in the SID.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with providing private expression protection in a wireless communications network. In one example, a UE is equipped to internally receive a request (e.g., from an application running on the UE) to announce a private expression and/or at least a reference to an expression-code associated with the private expression, and determine whether the reference to the expression-code and/or the expression-code matches a stored instance of the expression-code. In an aspect, the UE may be equipped to announce the at least one of the private expression or the expression-code when stored instance of the expression-code corresponds to the expression-code received with the request. In another aspect, the UE may be equipped to prohibit announcement of any information associated with the private expression when stored expression-code does not correspond to the expression-code received with the request.

Abstract: In an ad hoc peer-to-peer type network during peer discovery, information relating to users of various devices is broadcast to other devices in the network, which can compromise privacy of the users. Instead of announcing a public identifier that might be known by a multitude of individuals, the user device announces a private identifier that might be known to, or determined by, a select few individuals. The individuals selected can be given a key to determine the private identifier associated with a public identifier, or vice versa, wherein that key can have a validity range or a period of time, after which the key expires. Prior to the expiration of the key, the selected individuals, through their respective devices, can detect a corresponding user and/or device by the current private identifier being announced, thus mitigating the number of people that are aware of the user's presence.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wireless communications in regional networks, e.g., ad hoc peer to peer networks, are described. Wireless communications devices transmit and monitor for presence indicator signals broadcast from other peer communications devices in its local vicinity. A wireless communications device maintains a list of discovered devices in its vicinity. A first wireless communications device transmits a paging signal directly over an airlink to a second communications device, which is on its list and to which it desires to send data units, e.g., user data in a peer to peer traffic segment. In response to a received paging response signal from the second device, the first device transmits data units, intended for the second device, to a third device, which acts as an intermediary node. The power level for the data unit signal is controlled to be lower than the power level used for the paging signal. FIG.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for peer-to-peer or device-to-device location services. Mobile devices with a known location (referred to as landmarks) may broadcast their location information and/or a reference signal for other mobile devices (referred to as targets). Landmarks may determine their location through GPS or other location determining means. Targets may have limited or no connection to location determining services, and they may use broadcast information from landmarks, without a request, to determine the targets' location. The targets may determine absolute and/or relative locations. Once a target device determines its location it may assume a role of a landmark to provide broadcast location information to other devices.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS). In one configuration, service announcement information for at least one MBMS may be received. At least a subset of the service announcement information may be broadcast in a peer discovery signal. Content of the at least one MBMS may then be relayed to at least one mobile device operating outside a coverage area of a base station. In another configuration, an out-of-coverage status indicator or MBMS query may be broadcast in a first peer discovery signal, and a second peer discovery signal may be received from at least one MBMS relay device. The second peer discovery signal may include at least a subset of service announcement information for at least one MBMS.

Abstract: Improved group communications methods which are well suited for a wireless environment are described. End nodes request that access nodes make changes in group membership information maintained at the access node. The access node responds to the requests by a response signal indicating a grant or denial of the request. Requests may be to add or remove the end node, e.g., a mobile wireless terminal, from a particular group membership list identified in the request signal. The access node maintains a detailed list of group members and uses the information to control how signals, e.g., packets, are transmitted to the group members. Group membership information may be updated at the access node at the time of handoff and/or an end node enters the cell or otherwise changes its point of network attachment.

Abstract: The invention described herein enables a form of downlink macro-diversity in packet-switched cellular networks. It allows packets to be selectively delivered from a network/internetwork to an end node, e.g., a wireless communication device or terminal, over a set of available link-layer connections to/from the end node, through one or more access nodes, e.g., base stations. Downlink macro-diversity is particularly important when the link-layer connections between the end node and the corresponding access node, e.g., the access links, are subject to independent or partially correlated time variations in signal strength and interference. In accordance with the invention, the end node dynamically selects the downlink to be used out of a set of available access links on a per packet basis subject to prevailing channel conditions, availability of air-link resources and other constraints.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing wireless communications. In one method, a mobile device may determine to transition to a relay status. The relay status may indicate a capability of the mobile device to function as a relay device between at least one other mobile device and a base station. A peer discovery signal that indicates the relay status may then be transmitted. In another method, a mobile device may broadcast an out-of-coverage status indicator in a first peer discovery signal. A second peer discovery signal may be received from at least one other mobile device. The second peer discovery signal may indicate a capability of the at least one other mobile device to function as a relay device.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to systems and methods for processing messages in a wireless communications environment. In an aspect, a communications method is provided. The method includes initiating a registration with a network domain node and generating sequence information with respect to the registration. The sequence information is then employed to facilitate further communications with the network domain node.

Abstract: In an ad hoc peer-to-peer type network during peer discovery, information relating to an identifier associated with users of various devices is broadcast to other devices in an efficient manner. Two or more identifiers can be processed to produce a single value (e.g., bit vector) that is transmitted for the purpose of peer discovery, thus mitigating the need to broadcast the two or more identifiers separately. A public identifier can be converted to a private temporary identifier and the private temporary identifier can be used as one of the inputs to the operation producing the single value to be transmitted. The aspects are not limited to peer discovery and can include broadcasting by inanimate objects or broadcasting of services, functions or interests.

Abstract: Aspects describe enabling two peers that have already paired together under some circumstances to re-identify themselves under different circumstances so that the peers can bypass performing another pairing only to discover that they are already paired. A Bloom filter is constructed from an available pool of locally selected identifiers and is sent to a peer node in a first message. Upon receiving the message with the Bloom filter, peer node checks all its known identifiers. If peer node finds that one of its identifiers is a member of the Bloom filter, peer node sends a reply in order to achieve a mutual identification.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communicating information, e.g., queries and query responses, in a peer to peer communications network are described. Queries include, e.g., queries for a product, service, activity or activity partner. In some embodiments, a query channel is implemented and utilized. The implemented query channel structure is such that multiple query responses may be communicated corresponding to a single transmitted query. Various embodiments employ randomization in transmission segment selection by an individual communications device within a transmission block to decrease the likelihood of collisions. A communication device's access to the query channel is determined by the communications device itself. A communications device's decision as to whether or not to transmit and/or re-transmit a query is based on one or more of: its query transmission statistics, historical query channel loading information, and priority level information corresponding to the communications device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to the determination of the trustworthiness of information communicated in a message and/or the exchange of trust information are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited to peer to peer wireless communications in an ad-hoc network. At a given time, a communications device may have a trust relationship with a first set of devices. A first communications device determines trustworthiness of a received message from a second device, which is not a member of the first set of devices, based on information received from a third device which is a member of the first set of devices. The first communications device makes an informed decision as to whether or not to act upon the first message based upon its trustworthiness determination.

Abstract: Embodiments describe synchronizing access routers with wireless terminal state information. According to an embodiment is a wireless terminal that transmits a message that includes an address for at least two access routers. State change information can optionally be included in the message. According to another embodiment is an access router that receives a state change notification from a wireless device or another access router. The state change notification is updated in the access router. An acknowledgment confirming the updated state change may be sent to the wireless terminal. Dynamic state synchronization is provided with minimal communication with wireless terminal.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for improving communications of a machine type communications (MTC) device. In a method of communication, a signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) of one or more resource blocks (RBs) of a target device may be estimated by, for example, an MTC device. The MTC device may then select one or more of the RBs of the target device to be in a resource pool based at least in part on the estimated SINR. In some embodiments, the MTC device may compare the estimated SINR of the one or more RBs of the target device to a threshold SINR and select one or more RBs with an SINR less than the threshold SINR to be in the resource pool. In some embodiments, the MTC device may randomly select a resource block from the resource pool and transmit on the selected resource block.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for peer-to-peer or device-to-device location services. Mobile devices with a known location (referred to as landmarks) may broadcast their location information and/or a reference signal for other mobile devices (referred to as targets). Landmarks may determine their location through GPS or other location determining means. Targets may have limited or no connection to location determining services, and they may use broadcast information from landmarks, without a request, to determine the targets' location. The targets may determine absolute and/or relative locations. Once a target device determines its location it may assume a role of a landmark to provide broadcast location information to other devices.

Abstract: Power efficient methods and apparatus for detecting wireless terminals in a relatively small geographic area are described. Wireless terminals transmit discovery signals and/or other signals which may be detected by an access point. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for embodiments where multiple access points, which obtain power from a common power source and/or via a common power bus, with limited power delivery capability. To address power constraints, access points are controlled by a gateway device coupled to the access points so that one or more access points perform monitoring at different times with one or more access points having their receivers powered off while another access point monitors for wireless terminal signals. Power consumption from the common power source is managed by controlling power consumption associated with monitoring operations performed by one or more access points coupled to a common power source.