Abstract: An approach is provided for locating communities over an ad-hoc mesh network. Community identifiers are used to locate communities and community members over an ad-hoc mesh network. The community identifiers are also associated with keys to authenticate members of the community and to protect the privacy and anonymity of information exchanged between the members.

Abstract: Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network via a beacon signal that is transmitted at a set interval. Various communication-related activities may be planned around an instance when a beacon signal is expected, or a target beacon transmission time (TBTT). While some networked apparatuses are active during every TBTT, other apparatuses may operate using a diluted beacon period that is an integer multiple of the network beacon signal interval. Diluted beacon intervals may initiate periods of time during which apparatuses may become “aware” of other apparatuses. Awareness may comprise information related to communication configuration, apparatus status, and services offered by the various apparatuses in the network. Awareness information obtained during an awake window may also comprise information on data-related tasks that are pending in one or more apparatuses which may allow for the control of further data conveyance activities.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer program product example embodiments enable contention for access to a wireless communications medium. In example embodiments, a method comprises initiating a channel access procedure by an apparatus; performing, by the apparatus, in response to the channel access procedure initiation, a random draw for permission to start contention with other member apparatuses of a group in which the apparatus belongs, the random draw being based on how many member apparatuses of the group are expected to compete for the wireless communications medium; and starting, by the apparatus, contention for access to the wireless communications medium, if the apparatus wins the random draw.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer program product example embodiments enable access to a wireless communications medium. In example embodiments, a method comprises receiving, by an apparatus, one or more wireless communications message frames including at least a dedicated a network type identifier that identifies an associated network type comprising at least one of a synchronized contention group and an isolated contention group; and determining, by the apparatus, the network type of a wireless communications network associated with the one or more wireless communication message frames, based on the received network type identifier.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer program product example embodiments enable access to a wireless communications medium. In example embodiments, a method comprises receiving, by a first node, at least one of a wireless discovery response message or a wireless discovery announcement message; marking, by the first node, a receive time of the received at least one of the wireless discovery response message or the wireless discovery announcement message; and transmitting, by the first node, a wireless discovery query message including a value representing the marked receive time or an instant later than the receive time.

Abstract: Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network via a beacon signal that is transmitted at a set interval. Various communication-related activities may be planned around an instance when a beacon signal is expected, or a target beacon transmission time (TBTT). While some networked apparatuses are active during every TBTT, other apparatuses may operate using a diluted beacon period that is an integer multiple of the network beacon signal interval. Diluted beacon intervals may initiate periods of time during which apparatuses may become “aware” of other apparatuses. Awareness may comprise information related to communication configuration, apparatus status, and services offered by the various apparatuses in the network. Awareness information obtained during an awake window may also comprise information on data-related tasks that are pending in one or more apparatuses which may allow for the control of further data conveyance activities.

Abstract: Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network via a beacon signal transmitted at a set interval. Communication-related activities may be planned around instances when beacon signals are expected, which may also be known as a target beacon transmission time (TBTT). Scanning opportunities, which are periods of time during which apparatuses may perform passive scanning, may be planned based on an interfere multiple of a network beacon signal interval. Apparatuses may, upon realizing a scanning opportunity, opt either to utilize the scanning opportunity or to participate in network beaconing. In example scenarios where apparatuses opt to utilize scanning opportunities, apparatuses may prepare a network information message and then enter a passive scanning mode. Apparatuses may remain in the passive scanning mode for the duration of the scanning opportunity, reacting when messages are received from devices outside of the network by transmitting the network information message.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer program product example embodiments enable contention for access to a wireless communications medium. In example embodiments, a method comprises initiating a channel access procedure by an apparatus; performing, by the apparatus, in response to the channel access procedure initiation, a random draw for permission to start contention with other member apparatuses of a group in which the apparatus belongs, the random draw being based on how many member apparatuses of the group are expected to compete for the wireless communications medium; and starting, by the apparatus, contention for access to the wireless communications medium, if the apparatus wins the random draw.

Abstract: Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network via a beacon signal that is transmitted at a set interval. Various communication-related activities may be planned around an instance when a beacon signal is expected, or a target beacon transmission time (TBTT). While some networked apparatuses are active during every TBTT, other apparatuses may operate using a diluted beacon period that is an integer multiple of the network beacon signal interval. Diluted beacon intervals may initiate periods of time during which apparatuses may become “aware” of other apparatuses. Awareness may comprise information related to communication configuration, apparatus status, and services offered by the various apparatuses in the network. Awareness information obtained during an awake window may also comprise information on data-related tasks that are pending in one or more apparatuses which may allow for the control of further data conveyance activities.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer program product example embodiments exchange information between wireless devices for joining.

Abstract: Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network via a beacon signal that is transmitted at a set interval. Various communication-related activities may be planned around an instance when a beacon signal is expected, or a target beacon transmission time (TBTT). While some networked apparatuses are active during every TBTT, other apparatuses may operate using a diluted beacon period that is an integer multiple of the network beacon signal interval. Diluted beacon intervals may initiate periods of time during which apparatuses may become “aware” of other apparatuses. Awareness may comprise information related to communication configuration, apparatus status, and services offered by the various apparatuses in the network. Awareness information obtained during an awake window may also comprise information on data-related tasks that are pending in one or more apparatuses which may allow for the control of further data conveyance activities.

Abstract: Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network via a beacon signal transmitted at a set interval. Communication-related activities may be planned around instances when beacon signals are expected, which may also be known as a target beacon transmission time (TBTT). Scanning opportunities, which are periods of time during which apparatuses may perform passive scanning, may be planned based on an interfere multiple of a network beacon signal interval. Apparatuses may, upon realizing a scanning opportunity, opt either to utilize the scanning opportunity or to participate in network beaconing. In example scenarios where apparatuses opt to utilize scanning opportunities, apparatuses may prepare a network information message and then enter a passive scanning mode. Apparatuses may remain in the passive scanning mode for the duration of the scanning opportunity, reacting when messages are received from devices outside of the network by transmitting the network information message.

Abstract: Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a wireless network utilizing a diluted beacon interval that is an integer multiple of a network beacon period signal being transmitted at a set interval. Diluted beacon intervals may reduce communication burden, but may also cause periods of inactivity that allow apparatuses to become unsynchronized with the network. Apparatuses may be active in the network during an awake window wherein a beacon may be transmitted. A set time may also be set during the awake window may delineate a period of time after which any beacon signal received from another apparatus is deemed to be late. Receiving late beacon signals in the apparatus may trigger the transmission of additional beacon signals to help the other apparatuses that transmitted late beacons become resynchronized with the network.

Abstract: A system where apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network utilizing a reduced beacon period based on an integer multiple of a standard beacon period that is established for the network. The reduced beacon periods may initiate scanning opportunities, which are periods of time during which apparatuses may passively scan for beacon messages broadcast from other apparatuses, which upon receipt in a scanning apparatus may trigger the transmission of network information messages. Network information messages may comprise connectivity information that would be usable by outside apparatuses to determine whether participation in the network described in the network information message (e.g., another network) is desired. If the apparatus desires to interact with apparatuses in the other network, then further decisions may be made with respect to how communication between these entities should be established.