Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to determining location of one or more mobile devices based on signals received by mobile device and signals received by fixed devices such as access points (APs) in a communications system are described. In accordance with various embodiments, mobile devices, e.g., peer devices, measure one or more signal characteristics, e.g., received signal power level, of signals received from peer devices and report this information along with information identifying the peer devices to which individual signal measurements correspond. The time of the signal measurements is also reported allowing a location determination server to time align signal measurements made by multiple different devices, e.g., mobile devices and access points, and use signals measurements from the multiple devices to determine the location of one or mobile devices, e.g., at one or more points in time, with more accuracy than if AP signal measurement alone were used.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, mobile wireless devices which use prediction maps, e.g., RF prediction maps, to determine their location also contribute to the updating and distribution of parameters relating to prediction map generation. After a device determines its location, it uses the signal measurements used in determining the device's location to determine updated parameters which can be used in generating signal prediction maps in the future. The generated parameters are then transmitted to another device for use in generating prediction maps and/or distribution to other devices. In this manner parameters corresponding to a particular location can be updated and distributed without the need for a survey team and/or dedicated equipment. The devices using the prediction map become the devices which also aid in the updating of the parameters used to facilitate generation of a prediction map at some future time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for resolving an ambiguity with regard to a mobile device's location are described. In various embodiments, when a level of ambiguity with regard to the location of a mobile device is detected, and the level of ambiguity is above a threshold, an ambiguity resolution request signal is generated and transmitted. In this manner, a wireless terminal needing help in determining its location reliably may request such help but at other times may determine its own location without assistance. In some embodiments the ambiguity resolution request signal includes information, e.g., location probabilities, on one or more locations which are under consideration as possible locations of the mobile device. A device responding to the ambiguity resolution request provides information allowing the mobile device confronted with a location ambiguity to eliminate at least on location under consideration or to generate a new probability for one or more locations under consideration.

Abstract: Signal measurements are received, e.g., by a network device such as a location determination server, and a location of a mobile device to which the signal measurements correspond is determined. The measurements are also used to update parameters used to generate a signal prediction map. The signal prediction map, generated using the updated parameters, is then used for determining the position of another mobile device. In some embodiments parameter updating is performed when the location of a device is determined to a predetermined degree of certainty but not when the position of a mobile device is determined with a lower degree of certainty. Parameters used for generating prediction maps are updated, e.g., refined, based on signals collected for use in determining the location of a device without the need to conduct an updated survey and/or take signal measurements specifically for the purpose of updating prediction map parameters.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to determining location of mobile devices based on signals and/or location history information received from other mobile devices are described. In various embodiments mobile devices monitor signals from other devices. Mobile devices store signal measurement information along with time stamp information and information identifying the device from which a measured signal was received. In various embodiments a mobile communications device which determines its location with reasonable accuracy, e.g., to within a predetermined distance or some other accuracy metric, transmits location history information indicating one or more past locations, and optionally the device's current location, and the times it was at the indicated locations. Reliability information is communicated with the time and location information in some embodiments.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus well suited for supporting communications over different ranges in, for example, a peer to peer wireless communications system, are described. In the peer to peer network at least some of the types of signals, e.g., peer discovery signals and/or paging signals, are transmitted with no closed loop power control. An exemplary peer to peer timing structure includes air link resources allocated for a particular type of signaling in which the resources are segmented into multiple blocks which do not overlap in time, different ones of the multiple blocks being associated with different ranges. The characteristics of the basic transmission units of the multiple blocks based on range are different, e.g., tone size and symbol width are different. A wireless communications device implements the peer to peer timing structure and uses resources from different range based blocks at different times. Data traffic transmission units may be the same regardless of the range.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communicating the location of a mobile wireless communications device are described. Codewords, e.g., values or sets of bits, are selected from a codebook mapping different codewords to corresponding pieces of location information. In a first approach location information is communicated by using codewords from different codebooks with the product, e.g., intersection of location information provided by the codewords, providing relatively detailed location information using relatively few bits. In a second approach user specific codebooks are defined for individual users. The codewords in the codebook corresponding to a particular user map to locations the individual specific user is likely to frequent. In another approach codewords are transmitted at different power levels and/or using different coding rates. Received codewords corresponding to a device may be used in combination to determine the location or refine the understanding of the device location.

Abstract: Mobile devices are used as temporary location anchor points, e.g., to supplement fixed location permanent location anchor points, in a wireless communications system in which mobile device locations are determined. A mobile device receives a command or request to operate as a location anchor point. In some embodiments, the command includes time information indicating the amount of time the mobile device is to operate as a location anchor point. In some embodiments, a mobile device operating as a location anchor point reports a received signal strength measurement along with information identifying the device from which the signal was received to a network element, e.g., a location server node. In some embodiments, a mobile device operating as a location anchor point broadcasts a signal providing location information. The mobile device receives compensation for operating as a location anchor point. Compensation may be monetary, services, or benefits provided by the network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to communicating advertisements and/or service announcements to devices in a communications system are described. In various embodiments mobile devices are used as mobile advertisement transmission platforms. Advertisements may be downloaded to the wireless communications device along with transmission constraints. Transmission of an advertisement is made when a transmission constraint, e.g., target audience constraint is satisfied. The wireless terminal may change its transmission frequency, coding rate and/or other transmission characteristics to satisfy a transmission constraint and/or optimize revenue. The mobile device reports advertisements transmissions to a network device, e.g., advertisement server and the owner of the device is compensated for the transmissions. Transmission constraints may involve a number of devices to be reached, the type of devices to be reached, and/or other constraints relating to the demographics of device users.

Abstract: A mobile wireless device receives a set of fingerprint prediction maps, e.g., RF signal prediction maps, and corresponding probability metrics, e.g., indicative of map reliability. A fingerprint prediction map is an expected signal measurement map corresponding to a parameter or parameters to be measured and a area given a set of expected conditions. At different times, e.g., due to different conditions, a different map in the set of fingerprint prediction maps may be more likely to be accurate. The mobile wireless device updates the probability metrics, associated with different alternative maps in the set of maps, as a function of one or more of: known information, sensor readings, measurements, detected information, and position determination. The mobile wireless device determines its current position using fingerprint predication maps and one or more updated probability metrics.

Abstract: Techniques for transmitting signals using time hopping or time and frequency hopping are described. In one design, a terminal selects different slots to use for transmission in multiple frames with time hopping. Each frame includes multiple slots, and each slot covers a particular time duration. The selected slots are at different time locations in the multiple frames. In another design, a terminal selects different resource units to use for transmission in multiple frames with time and frequency hopping. The selected resource units are at different time and frequency locations in the multiple frames. For both designs, the terminal sends a signal (e.g., a peer discovery signal) in the selected slots or resource units in the multiple frames. The terminal may detect for signals (e.g., peer discovery signals) from other terminals in slots not used for transmission by the terminal.

Abstract: Techniques for performing automatic gain control (AGC) at a receiver are described. The receiver may receive an OFDM-based symbol composed of a cyclic prefix and a useful portion. The receiver may scale the OFDM-based symbol with an initial receiver gain, adjust the initial receiver gain based on the cyclic prefix, apply the adjusted receiver gain prior to the useful portion, and process the useful portion to recover at least one signal sent by at least one transmitter. The receiver may select the initial receiver gain, e.g., based on a predicted received power level for the at least one transmitter, a pattern of different receiver gains, etc. The receiver may apply the initial receiver gain at the start of the OFDM-based symbol. The receiver may measure the power of a set of samples in the cyclic prefix and may adjust the receiver gain based on the measured power and a target power.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to peer to peer communication networks are described. Embodiments directed to methods and apparatus for establishing traffic data transmission rates and/or transmission power levels between wireless terminals is described. Embodiments direct to methods and apparatus of making decisions whether or not to transmit as a function of the received power of the received response signals are also described. Transmission of pilot signals after granting of a transmission request and a decision to transmit traffic data has been made occurs in some embodiments. Rate information to be used in determining a traffic rate may be received in response to the pilot signal from a peer to peer (P2P) device.

Abstract: The methods and apparatus described herein are used to operate a wireless device. One method of operating a wireless device includes filtering a first set of digital samples using a first filter at a first time to generate a first signal, transmitting the first signal, filtering a second set of digital samples using a second filter at a second time to generate a second signal, and transmitting the second signal. In one embodiment, an apparatus for operating a wireless device includes a processor configured to filter, at a first wireless device, a first set of digital samples using a first filter at a first time to generate a first signal, transmit, from the first wireless device, the first signal, and filter, at the first wireless device, a second set of digital samples using a second filter at a second time to generate a second signal.

Abstract: A wireless terminal detects timing signals from different local timing signal sources. The wireless terminal selects from the plurality of detected timing signal sources two timing signal sources in accordance with a predetermined timing signal source priority ordering. In some embodiments, the wireless terminal intentionally selects two timing signal sources which are not synchronized with respect to one another. The wireless terminal determines a first set of peer communications time intervals corresponding to a first selected timing signal source and a second set of peer communications time intervals corresponding to a second selected timing signal source. The wireless terminal transmits a peer to peer signal, e.g., a peer discovery signal, during at least one of the first set of peer communications time intervals. The wireless terminal transmits a peer to peer signal, e.g., a peer discovery signal, during at least one of the second set of peer communications time intervals.

Abstract: A first wireless communications device includes a wide area network (WAN) interface and a peer to peer interface. The first device discovers the presence of a second wireless communications device via a peer discovery signal, received via its peer to peer interface. The second device has been transmitting, e.g., periodically, certain information, e.g., its location and/or shopping preferences, to a node within the WAN. The detected first signal triggers an application alert in the first device. The first device recovers past information about the second device through a second signal received via its WAN interface. The first device uses information communicated in the first signal, e.g., device identifier information, and information communicated in the second signal, e.g., past location and/or shopping information, to generate a targeted message for the second device. The first device communicates the targeted message via its peer to peer interface in a peer to peer traffic channel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using different frequency bands are described. In some embodiments a first frequency band which is a licensed spectrum frequency band is used for peer discovery, device authentication, session establishment between peer devices and/or supporting an ongoing communications through control signaling. When available, a second frequency band, e.g., an unlicensed public frequency band is used for communicating data while the communications session is maintained using one or more control signals communicated in the first frequency band. Data and control signaling may be performed on a time division basis during a time period in which data is communicated.

Abstract: One feature provides for establishing an ad hoc peer-to-peer network over an existing channel allocation for another network. To mitigate interference between multiple peer-to-peer devices, a plurality of receiver chains in a receiver device may be configured with beamforming coefficients so as to focus reception in the direction of an intended signal from a transmitter device while minimizing reception from other directions. Similarly, the receiver device may also use a plurality of antennas and a transmitter chain to beamform in the direction of the transmitter device, thereby focusing its transmission toward the transmitter device. The receiver device may also notify nearby devices that it is employing a plurality of receive antennas. This information can be used by the nearby devices to more intelligently perform transmitter yielding. By utilizing beamforming information to make the transmitter and/or receiver yielding decision, better interference mitigation may be achieved.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus supporting load balancing in a wireless communications system implementing decentralized control are described. Different channels, e.g., unused TV channels, are available in different locations for use for communications. Various communications technologies, e.g., WiFi, 3G Blue-Tooth, etc., may be supported by a communications device and may be allowed to be used on the available channels. A wireless communications device evaluates its current local environment, e.g., estimating potential rates that it may use and/or estimating latency, for each of a plurality of available alternative channel/technology combinations. The wireless communications device selects a channel and technology combination to use as a function of its estimates. The wireless communications device uses its selected channel and technology combination for communications, e.g., for peer to peer communications including direct peer to peer traffic signaling as part of a local peer to peer network.

Abstract: The methods and apparatus described herein are used to perform indoor and urban geolocation positioning. One method of estimating a geolocation of one of a first wireless device or a second wireless device includes receiving, at the first wireless device, a signal from the second wireless device, determining, at the first wireless device, a physical characteristic of the received signal, and determining, at the first wireless device, a region on a map representing a geolocation of the first wireless device or the second wireless device based on the physical characteristic of the received signal, a state transition matrix and a state occupancy vector.