Abstract: A communication device generates a legacy portion of a physical layer (PHY) preamble of a PHY data unit. The legacy portion includes a plurality of legacy training fields and a legacy signal field that indicates a duration of the PHY data unit. The communication device generates a non-legacy portion of the PHY preamble to include a multi-bit signal field header to indicate at least one of i) a particular wireless communication protocol from among the multiple wireless communication protocols, and ii) a particular version of the particular wireless communication protocol. The communication device generates the non-legacy portion of the PHY preamble to also include a non-legacy signal field having a field format that conforms to the at least one of the i) particular wireless communication protocol and ii) the particular version of the particular wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: A communication device generates a legacy portion of a physical layer (PHY) preamble of a PHY data unit. The legacy portion includes a plurality of legacy training fields and a legacy signal field that indicates a duration of the PHY data unit. The communication device generates a non-legacy portion of the PHY preamble to include a multi-bit signal field header to indicate a packet type of the PHY data unit from among a plurality of packet types defined by a wireless communication protocol, the plurality of packet types corresponding to a plurality of non-legacy signal field formats. The communication device generates a non-legacy portion of the PHY preamble to also include a non-legacy signal field having a field format i) selected from the plurality of non-legacy signal field formats and ii) consistent with the packet type indicated by the multi-bit signal field header.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may be an eNB. The eNB informs UE(s) of a change in at least one of a first configuration for transmission of ACKs/NACKs by the UE(s) for DL transmissions received by the UE(s) or a second configuration for reception of ACKs/NACKs by the UE(s) for UL transmissions sent by the UE(s). The eNB indicates to the UE(s) one or more resources in which the UE(s) is to transmit the ACKs/NACKs for the received DL transmissions or is to receive the ACKs/NACKs for sent UL transmissions. The eNB indicates to the UE(s) a subset of the DL transmissions to the UE(s) for which the UE(s) is to transmit the ACKs/NACKs or a subset of the UL transmissions by the UE(s) for which the UE(s) is to receive the ACKs/NACKs.

Abstract: Spurious signals are cancelled in a radio frequency (RF) transmitter. According to one method, a first baseband signal is fed into a first input port of an RF mixer of the RF transmitter, a carrier signal is fed into a second input port of the RF mixer, and an RF spurious signal is measured at an output port of the RF mixer. A baseband compensation signal is generated based on the first baseband signal and the RF spurious signal, and a modified baseband signal is generated by subtracting the baseband compensation signal from the first baseband signal. The modified baseband signal, instead of the first baseband signal, is fed into the first input port of the RF mixer.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless device includes selecting a connection identifier with a first node, receiving a scheduling control signal on a resource associated with the connection identifier, and determining a presence of a second node transmitting on the same resource associated with the connection identifier based on the received scheduling control signal.

Abstract: A decentralized approach to peer discovery channel selection is used in some embodiments. In some such embodiments, a mobile wireless terminal supporting a peer to peer signaling protocol, independently determines what channels to use for peer discovery without a central controller indicating the channel or channels to be used. Assuming channels are of a suitable quality, the channels having the best quality need not be identified, with channel selection being made on a predetermined channel ordering basis from those with suitable quality. Different wireless communications devices in the system use the same peer discovery channel selection process making it likely that the same channel or channels will tend to be picked to be used for peer discovery. Other embodiments are directed to implementing a centralized approach to peer discovery channel selection in which a central controller or base station selects channels to be used for peer discovery signaling.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method of the apparatus, and a computer program in the apparatus are provided in which the apparatus determines a group to which each of a plurality of wireless devices is associated based on signals received from the plurality of wireless devices. The apparatus selects a group for access to a wireless medium from a plurality of groups based on the group determined for each of the plurality of wireless devices and based on reducing interference with the plurality of wireless devices. Each of the plurality of groups has a different priority. The apparatus communicates using peer-to-peer communication on the wireless medium with a priority based on the selected group.

Abstract: A femto base station (BS) maintains two different timings: a femto BS downlink timing and a femto BS uplink timing. A femto base station's uplink reference timing is based on the macro uplink timing being used by one or more UE devices in the local vicinity of the femto BS. In some embodiments, the femto BS synchronizes its femto uplink timing to the macro uplink timing being used by the closest UE device transmitting uplink signals to the macro BS. In other embodiments, the femto BS determines its femto base station uplink timing based on one or more uplink signals from UE devices in its vicinity transmitting to the macro BS. In various embodiments, femto cell uplink signals and macro cell uplink signals are received at a femto cell BS in synchronization. This approach facilitates frequency division multiplexing (FDM) in the uplink between a macro cell and a femto cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to selecting and/or using different coding methods for a broadcast channel are described. The coding method to be used is selected as a function of an estimated level of congestion. Various methods and apparatus are well suited for use in peer to peer wireless communications systems including broadcast peer discovery channels. A wireless communications device, e.g., a mobile terminal supporting peer to peer signaling, detects peer discovery signals from other devices and estimates a level of congestion. The wireless communications device selects one of a plurality of alternative coding methods as a function of the estimated level of congestion. Two different coding methods which may be used, in some embodiments, vary in at least one of: coding rate, convolution code used, and amount of resources used. The wireless device transmits information indicating the selected coding method and coded peer discovery data in accordance with the selected coding method.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatus relate to sharing QoS privileges between devices having a higher service level subscription and devices having lower service level subscription. QoS privileges are associated with a QoS service level which is in turn tied to devices, e.g., based on a service level subscription of the device. Devices with higher service level subscription are entitled to superior QoS privileges than the devices with lower service level subscription. In various embodiments a first device with higher QoS service level provides, to a second device having lower QoS service level, information used to obtain a QoS privilege to which the first device is entitled. Thus the second device entitled to lower QoS privileges is provided with the superior QoS privileges on a limited basis, e.g., for communicating with the first device corresponding to the higher QoS service level.

Abstract: A wireless communications device supports a constant transmission power mode of operation and a time varying transmission power mode of operation for transmitting data, e.g., peer discovery data. The device determines an amount of network congestion and switches between the two modes of operation as a function of the determined amount of network congestion. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in a peer to peer ad hoc wireless communications system in which a limited amount of air link resources are available for peer discovery signaling and the same peer discovery resources are, at times, used concurrently by multiple devices. When network congestion is low, the device operates in the constant transmission power mode. When network congestion is high, the device operates in the time varying power mode. Devices sharing a common peer discovery resource in a local area intentionally select different time varying transmission patterns.

Abstract: A communications system includes a plurality of different types of small coverage area base stations, e.g., femto cell base stations, WiFi access points and Bluetooth access points within a macro cell. Different user equipment (UE) devices, e.g., different smartphones, include different capabilities. In order for UE devices and small coverage area base stations with compatible capabilities to efficiently discover one another, the various small coverage area base stations and various UE devices utilize the macro cell communications band and macro cell communication protocol to coordinate device discovery and exchange discovery information and control information which allows a UE device to access a compatible small coverage area base station and subsequently communicate user data, e.g., traffic data, with the UE device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that facilitate handover related measurements and decision making in a communications system including user equipment (UE) devices, a macro base station and femto base stations (femtocells) are described. In some embodiments a UE device transmits pilots along with identification information using UE device selected transmission resources from a set of recurring UE pilot transmission resources dedicated by a macro base station for UE pilot signal and related device information transmission purposes. Femto base stations measure the UE transmitted pilot signals and report the signal strength measurement results and corresponding device identifiers to a handoff decision control entity, e.g., an eNodeB or control node, which makes handover decisions. By relying on UE transmitted pilots measured by multiple base stations, e.g., femto base stations, the need for femto cells to transmit pilots can be reduced while well informed UE handoff decisions still being possible.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling interference with regard to important control signals, e.g., synchronization signals and broadcast channel signals, are described. A configurable base station monitors for and receives signals from other base stations in its local vicinity and determines the implemented frame timings corresponding to the other deployed base stations. If possible, the configurable base station selects to use a frame timing offset which is different from the frame timing offsets being used by the other base stations. In some embodiments, symbol level and subframe level synchronization are maintained between the base stations; however, frame level synchronization may, and sometimes does vary. Different adjacent base stations may, and sometimes do, intentionally offset their frame boundaries by multiples of a subframe.

Abstract: A femto base station (BS) maintains two different timings: a femto BS downlink timing and a femto BS uplink timing. A femto base station's uplink reference timing is based on the macro uplink timing being used by one or more UE devices in the local vicinity of the femto BS. In some embodiments, the femto BS synchronizes its femto uplink timing to the macro uplink timing being used by the closest UE device transmitting uplink signals to the macro BS. In other embodiments, the femto BS determines its femto base station uplink timing based on one or more uplink signals from UE devices in its vicinity transmitting to the macro BS. In various embodiments, femto cell uplink signals and macro cell uplink signals are received at a femto cell BS in synchronization. This approach facilitates frequency division multiplexing (FDM) in the uplink between a macro cell and a femto cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently scheduling links in wireless communications networks are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in ad hoc wireless networks in which scheduling decisions are made in a distributed and/or decentralized manner. In some embodiments, the links in a network, e.g., in a peer to peer ad hoc network, are adaptively grouped based on comparable link channel gain. Exemplary signaling used, in some but not necessarily all embodiments, by devices to estimate channel gains include broadcast connection identifier signals and reverse broadcast connection identifier signals. Grouping links into sets based on comparable link channel gain, and selectively ordering the scheduling priorities of the different groups, is used to improve scheduling efficiency, e.g., decrease the likelihood that unnecessary yielding occurs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for refining, e.g., reducing, a paging area corresponding to a user equipment device, e.g., a cellular inactive UE device. Various embodiments are well suited for communications systems in which user equipment devices participate in peer to peer communications networks in which direct user device to user device communications are employed. A user equipment device participating in a peer to peer network transmits discovery signals. A femto base station and/or a cellular active UE device in the local vicinity of the UE device transmitting the peer to peer discovery signal eavesdrops on the peer discovery signaling and detects the presence of the cellular inactive UE device. The detection of the cellular inactive UE device is reported to a MME. The MME determines a paging area corresponding to the detected UE device based on the reported information and the location of the reporting device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allocating traffic contention resource units in a wireless communications system in which decisions are made in a distributed manner are described. A wireless communications device, corresponding to a link, self allocates resource units for traffic contention. Decisions regarding initially acquiring resources, relinquishing acquired resources, and/or acquiring additional resources for traffic contention are based on detected levels of network congestion and/or detected changes in network congestion. A wireless communications device detects a level of network congestion and determines a number of resource units to acquire for traffic contention based on the detected level of network congestion.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless device is provided in which a number of neighboring nodes is estimated, a medium access priority to access a communication resource in a current timeslot is determined, and whether to transmit a scheduling control signal in the current timeslot is determined based on the number of neighboring nodes and the medium access priority.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to control channels in a wireless communications system are described. Different white space bands may be available at different locations. A wireless terminal monitors control information from multiple potentially available communications channels. Control time slots corresponding to some different channels are intentionally time offset from one another. Some embodiments implement predetermined control slot timing synchronized with respect to an external timing source. In other embodiments, a wireless terminal selects a control time slot on a new channel as a function of control slot timing on channels already in use. A wireless terminal selects one of a plurality of communications channels for use in communicating information and determines a position of a control time slot to be used on the selected communications channels. The wireless terminal uses the control time slot on the selected communications channel to transmit and receive control information.