Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for operating a peer-to-peer communication environment. The environment includes one or more clusters of peer devices, wherein devices in a single cluster are organized into a logical hierarchy under an anchor master (at the root of the hierarchy) and any number of synchronization masters; other devices are non-master devices. Synchronization parameters established by the anchor master and disseminated throughout the hierarchy enable the clusters' devices to rendezvous, discover peers and services, and communicate among themselves. The anchor master may adjust the synchronization parameters to avoid conflict with another hierarchy. Each device issues beacons (e.g., heartbeats, discovery beacons) that identify the number of devices synchronized with the reporting device, which allows the anchor master to calculate the total number of cluster members. Devices may also report details of a neighboring cluster (e.g.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for coordinating multiple peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. A device operates a first P2P communications protocol to participate in a first P2P network. The device also operates a second P2P communications protocol to participate in a second P2P network. The device can modify at least one of the first P2P network's parameters and at least one of the second P2P network's parameters to minimize conflicts between operations of the P2P networks. To enable it to modify these parameters, the device may configure or reconfigure its operating parameters to cause it to take on a supervisory role (e.g., master, group owner).

Abstract: Embodiments relate to wireless stations that operate to configure direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. In embodiments, a wireless station may establish a peer-to-peer communication schedule with at least one neighboring peer wireless station, announce, to the at least one neighboring peer wireless station, a schedule transition (or migration), wherein the schedule transition includes an effective time of a new schedule, and announce, to the at least one neighboring peer wireless station, the new schedule at the effective time.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a first wireless device initializes a first threshold and sends a first frame transmission to a second wireless device. When the first wireless device determines that the first frame transmission was successful, it adjusts the first threshold to a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold. Additionally, when the first wireless device determines that the first frame transmission was not successful, the first wireless device adjusts the first threshold to a third threshold that is less than the first threshold. The thresholds can be associated with any measure, including carrier sensitivity and/or energy detection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for conducting peer-to-peer communications while channel hopping among two or more wireless channels, at least one of which is a restricted channel. One type of restricted channel requires the use of DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) or a similar scheme for avoiding use of the channel during certain circumstances (e.g., for radar avoidance). Communicating peers may synchronize a channel-hopping sequence with TBTTs (Target Beacon Transmission Times) of the restricted channel(s), so that they switch to such a channel in time to capture a beacon and determine whether the channel is free. If the channel is free, or if no beacon is received, they may immediately begin or resume their communications. They may also quiesce just before another TBTT so as to capture that beacon. Thus, the peer-to-peer communications do not diminish a peer device's ability to receive and comply with channel switch announcements.

Abstract: In some embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate according to Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)—direct communication with neighboring wireless stations, e.g., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to triggering a NAN datapath using Bluetooth low energy (BLE) signaling. The NAN datapath embodiments described herein provide a mechanism through which devices can communicate to establish a Wi-Fi connection via non-Wi-Fi signaling and provide services. Aspects of the datapath development include Wi-Fi connection establishment and datapath initiation. The datapath model may be implemented for unicast and/or multicast communication between wireless stations, including mobile stations.

Abstract: In some embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate to configure direct communication with neighboring mobile stations, e.g., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to NAN datapath scheduling and NAN pre-datapath operation setup and scheduling. The NAN datapath embodiments described herein provide a mechanism through which devices can communicate and provide services. In particular, embodiments described herein relate to techniques for devices (e.g., NAN devices) to propose and confirm schedule updates. The datapath model, and in particular the techniques described herein, may be implemented for unicast and multicast communication between wireless stations.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for initiating a network connection between a first device and a second device. While one or more high-power network interfaces of the first device are in a dormant state, the first device communicates with a second device via the first device's low-power network interface. The first device can determine, based on the communication, whether to establish a network connection with the second device via a high-power network interface of the first device. Next, if the first device is to establish the network connection with the second device via the high-power network interface, the device can wake the first high-power network interface and connect to the second device via the first high-power network interface.

Abstract: In embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate to configure direct communication with neighboring mobile stations, i.e., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to NAN datapath scheduling and NAN pre-datapath operation setup and scheduling. The NAN datapath embodiments described herein provide a mechanism through which stations can communicate and provide services. In particular, embodiments described herein relate to the use of cancelable and non-cancelable further availability windows in conjunction with NAN communication.

Abstract: In embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate to configure direct communication with neighboring mobile stations, i.e., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to NAN datapath scheduling and NAN pre-datapath operation setup and scheduling. The NAN datapath embodiments described herein provide a mechanism through which stations can communicate and provide services. In particular, embodiments described herein relate to the use of data buffering indications in a NAN communication system.

Abstract: A dual-radio AP including both a high-power (e.g., Wi-Fi) radio and a low-power (e.g., BLE) radio may support an assisted wakeup service for a power-limited dual-radio mobile device (STA). The power-limited STA may register with the AP for the assisted wakeup service, and may then disable its Wi-Fi radio (or otherwise initiate a lower-power mode). The power-limited STA may receive a BLE communication indicating the AP has pending Wi-Fi transmissions or updates applicable to the power-limited STA. In response, the power-limited STA may turn on its Wi-Fi radio and receive the pending transmissions or updates from the AP. If an AP does not include a low-power radio, then a high-power/low-power dual-radio STA that is not power-limited may serve as an assisted wakeup service proxy. The proxy may scan and trace the Wi-Fi beacons from the AP, and generate the BLE communication to the power-limited STA on behalf of the AP.

Abstract: Passive and active scanning for extended range wireless networking. The choice between legacy and extended range signaling can depend on one or more factors. For passive scanning, an electronic device may transmit a combination of legacy beacons and extended range beacons for network discovery by receiving electronic devices. For active scanning, an electronic device may transmit extended range probe requests in addition to legacy probe requests to discover all of the access points within its transmission range. Responses to probe requests can use extended range, legacy, single user, and/or multi user protocols.

Abstract: An access point transmits a trigger frame to a set of electronic devices in a wireless local area network (WLAN). In response to one or more requests to send data, the access point transmits the trigger frame, which includes information specifying an ordered list of electronic devices in the set of electronic devices that are allowed to transmit, and that groups the electronic devices in the ordered list of electronic devices into a first subset of the electronic devices and a second subset of the electronic devices. Subsequently, the access point sequentially receives one or more frames from the ordered list of electronic devices, where a first group of the frames received from at least some of the first subset of the electronic devices use single-user transmission and a second group of frames received from at least some of the second subset of the electronic devices use multi-user transmission.

Abstract: An interface circuit in a computing device may communicate with user-interface devices using shared slots during time intervals. In particular, the computing device may transmit outgoing messages to the user-interface devices at a first predefined time during sequential time intervals when the user-interface devices transition from a sleep mode to a normal mode. In response, the computing device may receive incoming messages from one or more of the user-interface devices at a second predefined time following the first predefined time during the sequential time intervals. Then, the computing device may transmit a multicast message to the user-interface devices at a third predefined time during the sequential time intervals. In response to the given multicast message, one of the user-interface devices may communicate data to the computing device. Note that, in some instances, a multicast time slot may instead be used to communicate data to one of the user-interface devices.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that provides wireless service groups. During operation, a wireless device's advertising mechanism advertises a service group over Wi-Fi, wherein the service group comprises at least the wireless device and wherein the service group's security requirements regulate multicast protection within the service group. In response to receiving a request from a second device to be admitted into the service group, the wireless device's security mechanism admits the second device into the service group and sends the service group's security requirements to the second device, thereby enabling the second device to initialize multicast protection in accordance with the service group's security requirements.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that provides wireless service groups. During operation, a wireless device's advertising mechanism advertises a service group over Wi-Fi, wherein the service group comprises at least the wireless device and wherein the service group's security requirements regulate multicast protection within the service group. In response to receiving a request from a second device to be admitted into the service group, the wireless device's security mechanism admits the second device into the service group and sends the service group's security requirements to the second device, thereby enabling the second device to initialize multicast protection in accordance with the service group's security requirements.

Abstract: An access point establishes target wakeup times (TWTs) with one or more associated electronic devices in a WLAN. The access point transitions to a power-saving mode outside of the one or more TWTs. The access point maintains synchronization with the one or more electronic devices, during at least a first TWT in the one or more TWTs, by transmitting, to the one or more electronic devices, a TWT beacon that includes, or in conjunction with, synchronization information. Alternatively or additionally, during at least the first TWT, the access point transmits a multi-user trigger frame that includes the synchronization information to the one or more electronic devices. In response to the multi-user trigger frame, the access point receives data frames from the one or more electronic devices, transmits one or more acknowledgments, and transitions into the power-saving mode during a remainder of at least the first TWT.

Abstract: An access point may receive, from a set of electronic devices, one or more buffer status reports that indicate that at least a subset of the electronic devices have uplink data associated with one or more access categories. In response, the access point may create a group of uplink virtual queues for one or more electronic devices in the subset based on the one or more buffer status reports, where a given uplink virtual queue corresponds to a particular access category and a given electronic device. The access point may start one or more backoff counters with a one-to-one correspondence to uplink virtual queues in the group of uplink virtual queues. When a backoff counter for the given uplink virtual queue reaches zero, the access point may transmit a trigger frame to an electronic device in the subset that corresponds to the given uplink virtual queue.

Abstract: An electronic device that transmits a frame to a second electronic device is described. In particular, during operation, an interface circuit in the electronic device (such as an access point in a WLAN) may transmit the frame to the second electronic device using a Wi-Fi communication protocol. The frame may include information cancelling a previously specified NAV protected time in a preamble of the frame. For example, the information may include a CF-End indication. Moreover, the information may be included in a MAC header of the frame and, more generally, in a preamble of a high efficiency (HE) physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU). Furthermore, the electronic device may transmit the frame in response to a block acknowledgment (BA) from the second electronic device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate to configure direct communication with neighboring mobile stations, e.g., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to accelerated service discovery between peer devices. In some embodiments, a wireless device may broadcast a probe beacon on one or more discovery channels. The wireless device may then scan the discovery channels for an extended period of time. The wireless device may receive a response from a peer device and transmit further service information to the peer device in an availability window indicated in the response.