Abstract: An apparatus receives from a first device a first broadcast message/beacon which comprises an identifier for an enabling station, then uses the identifier to associate with the enabling station to obtain from it a list of at least one license-exempt channel (e.g., TV whitespaces). In one embodiment the apparatus can then join an ad hoc network (IBSS) with the first device and transmit a second beacon which comprises the identifier for the enabling station. If the apparatus hears multiple beacons advertising different IBSSs, it can select to join the first device's ad hoc network over the other(s) based on a service offered or the first device's network being trusted. Various examples are detailed for where in the beacon frame the identifier (e.g., SSID) might be placed. In one example the apparatus and first device are Mode I devices and the enabling station is a Mode II device under (draft) IEEE802.11af.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product provide improved detection of overlapping wireless networks. In this regard, the method, apparatus and computer program product may utilize a processor, such as a processor on a wireless access point, to determine one or more parameters for a scan of a wireless network to identify overlapping networks. Wireless stations may utilize the parameters to determine the content of a scan report generated from a scan of the wireless network. The wireless stations may further utilize the parameters to determine which values should be monitored and/or recorded during the scan of the network. The wireless stations may respond to the access point with results corresponding to the parameters requested by the access point, and the access point may use the results to determine channel access parameters for other devices on the network, such as the wireless stations.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate synchronization of one or more stations with an access point when the stations have awakened from a sleep period. In the context of a method, a channel switch announcement is caused to be provided on a first channel that indicates that an access point is to switch to a second channel. The method also provides for the access point to switch to the second channel and, following switching of the access point to the second channel, the method causes a post-announcement to be provided on the first channel indicating that the access point previously switched to the second channel.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are concerned with method of controlling transmission of a set of transmissions from a source device to at least one destination device according to a multicast transmission scheme, the set of transmissions including random linear network coded packets that are to be multicast by the source device to the destination devices. These embodiments differ from this conventional approach in that the number of packets that are encoded for multicast transmission or the rate of transmission thereof is configured using feedback from the destination devices regarding their progress in decoding a previously multicast set of transmissions.

Abstract: A wireless device transmits a device-to-device discovery signal using the same transmission resource that is used for transmitting uplink retransmissions to a base station by a second wireless device. The device-to-device discovery signal is transmitted at a power that is determined in accordance with a control signal received by the wireless device from the base station. In an example, the wireless device transmits the device-to-device discovery signal on an uplink control channel established for use for sending uplink control signals to the base station.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a method for determining a back-off window value for accessing a transmission channel. The method comprises receiving, at a first wireless node, a first set of time-varying parameters for at least one second wireless node; and using, by the first wireless node, the received first set of time-varying parameters at least partially and a second set of time-varying parameters of the first wireless node in determining a back-off window value for the first wireless node for accessing the transmission channel.

Abstract: There are provided measures for enabling an inter-cell device discovery in device-to-device communication. Such measures may exemplarily include observing, at a device residing in a cell representing a serving cell of said device, a device-to-device discovery signal from another device residing in another cell representing a non-serving cell of said device, and modifying at least one of one or more cell reselection parameters referring to the serving cell of said device and one or more cell selection parameters referring to the non-serving cell of said device on the basis of the observed device-to-device discovery signal.

Abstract: The invention allows fairness provision in wireless mesh networks with respect to the data rate that stations communicate. A fairness metric is obtained during a mesh profile negotiation performed in order for a wireless station to join a wireless mesh network. Predetermined mesh transmission parameters of the wireless station are sent to previously joined wireless stations in a predetermined neighborhood of the wireless station. From the previously joined wireless stations their respective predetermined mesh transmission parameters are received. In response to a first predetermined event, a transmission opportunity window is determined for the wireless station based on the obtained fairness metric, the predetermined mesh transmission parameters of the wireless station, and the predetermined mesh transmission parameters of the previously joined wireless stations.

Abstract: There is provided a mechanism usable for allocating resources and provide control information about a signal to be transmitted by a communication network element such as a D2D device on resources which may be pre-allocated or allocated directly for the signaling. A resource allocation information element is generated which indicates to resources being allocated to a specific communication function, such as D2D. A content or value of a resource allocation field indicates a control information usable for forming a signal to be transmitted via the indicated resources. By means of the value of the resource allocation field, the D2D device derives a signal characteristic or the like of the signal to be transmitted on the indicated resources. The resource indication may be implicit in the form of an indication of a pre-allocated resource, or direct by indicating a dedicated resource.

Abstract: There is provided a mechanism for controlling a transmission of data in a fragmentation transmission mode. When fragments are transmitted in a fragmentation transmission mode, it is determined whether the fragment frame is received successfully or whether an acknowledgment message for confirming a successful transmission of the fragment frame is received. In case the acknowledgment for the successful transmission of the one fragment frame is not received, or the fragment is frame is not successfully received, the fragmentation transmission mode is maintained and a retransmission of the fragment frame is initiated.

Abstract: A wireless device operates in a first mode in which the device can send data to and receive data from an access point. The device receives control data from the access point comprising first data indicative of a time period and second data indicative of a control parameter. The device operates in a second mode for the time period specified by the first data and on the basis of the control parameter. In the second mode, at least some circuitry of the device used for sending data and at least some circuitry of the device used for receiving data is placed in a low power state, and data to be sent to the access point is stored in a buffer of the device. After expiry of the time period, the device operates in the first mode to send the data stored in the buffer to the access point.

Abstract: A fixed or Mode II device enables a Mode I device for license exempt operation by providing to it a list of available license exempt radio channels and a parameter indicating an interval at which contact verification signals CVSs are to be sent. The CVSs verify whether the list remains valid. The fixed/Mode II device then repeatedly sends contact verification signals spaced in time from one another according to the interval. In various embodiments the parameter may be an explicit indication (number of seconds or number of beacons between consecutive CVSs), or it may be implicit (derived from an ID of the fixed/Mode II or Mode I device or a frequency channel, in which the relevant ID is the parameter). A plurality of enabled Mode I devices each gets a device-specific list, and in one embodiment the interval is the same for each of them and the explicit indication is broadcast while in another the parameter is provided to each of them via unicast messages and the interval may differ.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are concerned with method of controlling transmission of a set of transmissions from a source device to at least one destination device according to a multicast transmission scheme, the set of transmissions including random linear network coded packets that are to be multicast by the source device to the destination devices. These embodiments differ from this conventional approach in that the number of packets that are encoded for multicast transmission or the rate of transmission thereof is configured using feedback from the destination devices regarding their progress in decoding a previously multicast set of transmissions.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are concerned with method of controlling transmission of a set of transmissions from a source device to at least one destination device according to a multicast transmission scheme, the set of transmissions comprising including random linear network coded packets that are to be multicast by the source device to the destination devices. These embodiments differ from this conventional approach in that the number of packets that are encoded for multicast transmission or the rate of transmission thereof is configured using feedback from the destination devices regarding their progress in decoding a previously multicast set of transmissions.

Abstract: An apparatus receives from a first device a first broadcast message/beacon which comprises an identifier for an enabling station, then uses the identifier to associate with the enabling station to obtain from it a list of at least one license-exempt channel (e.g., TV whitespaces). In one embodiment the apparatus can then join an ad hoc network (IBSS) with the first device and transmit a second beacon which comprises the identifier for the enabling station. If the apparatus hears multiple beacons advertising different IBSSs, it can select to join the first device's ad hoc network over the other(s) based on a service offered or the first device's network being trusted. Various examples are detailed for where in the beacon frame the identifier (e.g., SSID) might be placed. In one example the apparatus and first device are Mode I devices and the enabling station is a Mode II device under (draft) IEEE802.11af.

Abstract: A wireless backhaul link is established by sending from a mobile first access node to a second access node a priority request message requesting high priority for a link between them. The established wireless backhaul link is utilized as part of a wireless multihop connection between the second access node and at least one user device attached to the mobile first access node. In various embodiments the high priority is requested by indicating a priority class (e.g., highest priority, at least higher than any current priority, and at least as high as a highest current priority) and may also indicate how many user devices are attached and/or an amount of data waiting to be sent. A first timer may be initiated upon inactivity on the wireless backhaul link and continuous inactivity through expiry of that automatically results in a reduction of the priority class for the wireless backhaul link.