Abstract: A wireless network includes a client device and an access point (AP). The client device generates a data packet having a physical layer protocol data unit frame format. The client device transmits the data packet to the AP such that a plurality of long training fields (LTFs) of the data packet is transmitted at higher power as compared to a data field of the data packet, and a preamble portion of the data packet is transmitted at higher power as compared to the plurality of LTFs. Further, the data field includes various resource units (RUs) and one such RU is utilized for data transmission between the client device and the AP. The transmission of the data packet from the client device to the AP in the aforementioned manner results in the range extension of the wireless network.

Abstract: A method for controlling communication of information includes selecting a group of stations within range of an access point, transmitting a first signal from the access point to a first station in the group, and receiving at the access point a second signal from a second station in the group. The first signal is transmitted to the first station through a downlink channel. The second signal is received from the second station through an uplink channel. Transmission of the first signal takes place during a first period and reception of the second signal takes place during a second period overlapping the first period, in order to perform full-duplex different-frequency communications based on an 802.11 standard between the access point and the first station and the second station.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a method for processing received distributed multiple-input and multiple-output (DMIMO) OFDM signals from a plurality of transmitters, including: performing an initial carrier frequency offset (CFO) correction; receiving a plurality of OFDM symbols; re-constructing the channel every N symbols based upon a channel estimate for each transmitter and an estimate of residual CFO for each of the transmitters based upon the long term fields (LTF), wherein N is an integer; and equalizing the received OFDM symbols using the re-constructed channel.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a method for processing received distributed multiple-input and multiple-output (DMIMO) OFDM signals from a plurality of transmitters, including: performing an initial carrier frequency offset (CFO) correction; receiving a plurality of OFDM symbols; re-constructing the channel every N symbols based upon a channel estimate for each transmitter and an estimate of residual CFO for each of the transmitters based upon the long term fields (LTF), wherein N is an integer; and equalizing the received OFDM symbols using the re-constructed channel.

Abstract: A method for controlling communication of information includes selecting a group of stations within range of an access point, transmitting a first signal from the access point to a first station in the group, and receiving at the access point a second signal from a second station in the group. The first signal is transmitted to the first station through a downlink channel. The second signal is received from the second station through an uplink channel. Transmission of the first signal takes place during a first period and reception of the second signal takes place during a second period overlapping the first period, in order to perform full-duplex different-frequency communications based on an 802.11 standard between the access point and the first station and the second station.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described that provide for D2D synchronization. The methods, systems, and/or devices may include tools and techniques that provide for synchronizing a mobile device based on detection of a reliability alarm. A reliability alarm may be used between mobile devices, which is transmitted and/or received on specific D2D resources. Since the resources are reserved for the reliability alarm, a mobile device which was previously isolated from network synchronization will be able to receive the reliability alarm that a reliable synchronization signal is close when it moves within range of a reliable device. Once a reliability alarm is received the mobile device may free other resources to allow it to receive synchronization signals from the reliable devices. The mobile device may then synchronize with the network based on the received synchronization signals and transmit its own reliability alarm for subsequent isolated devices to use.

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: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with enabling timing source selection and deselection in a decentralized manner for distributed D2D synchronization in densely populated communications systems. In an example, a communications device, functioning in a non-timing source (TS) mode, is equipped to receive a request for timing information during a synchronization channel. The communications device may further be equipped to determine whether to switch to a TS mode based on a selection utility metric value. In another example, a communications device, functioning in a TS mode, is equipped to transmit a TIB during a synchronization channel, and determine whether to switch to a non-TS mode based on a deselection utility metric value. In the TS mode, the UE is configured to transmit a TIB, while in the non-TS mode the UE is configured not to transmit the TIB.

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: 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: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The UE determines timing information associated with a synchronization signal to be transmitted. The timing information includes a hop count and a reliability indicator associated with the synchronization signal. The reliability indicator is independent of the hop count and indicates one of reliable or unreliable. The UE broadcasts the timing information with the synchronization signal. The hop count may be a number of hops the synchronization signal is from a base station synchronization signal received from a base station.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with improving resource allocation for distributed D2D synchronization in densely populated communications systems. In an example, a communications device is equipped to transmit a synchronization signal during a beacon period of a synchronization channel. In an aspect, the synchronization channel may include the beacon period, a paging period, and a TIB period. The communications device may further be equipped to monitor at least one of the beacon period, the paging period, or the TIB period of the synchronization channel for one or more signals from one or more UEs in a D2D network, and determine whether to transmit information during at least one of the beacon period, the paging period, or the TIB period based at least in part on the monitoring.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus allocates K blocks of subframes for WAN and peer-to-peer communications in a discovery period T and remaining subframes in the discovery period T for WAN communications and allocates a first set of subframes for peer discovery and a second set of subframes for the WAN communications in each block of the K blocks.

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: 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, systems, and devices are described for synchronizing a user equipment (UE) in a device-to-device communications network. The UE may scan for a synchronization signal transmitted from another UE in the network. A synchronization frame including a plurality of slots to use may be identified based at least in part on a result of the scanning. The identified synchronization frame may be analyzed to select a slot to use from the plurality of slots of the synchronization frame. A synchronization signal may be transmitted using the identified synchronization frame and the selected slot.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described that provide for D2D synchronization. The methods, systems, and/or devices may include tools and techniques that provide for synchronizing a mobile device based on detection of a reliability alarm. A reliability alarm may be used between mobile devices, which is transmitted and/or received on specific D2D resources. Since the resources are reserved for the reliability alarm, a mobile device which was previously isolated from network synchronization will be able to receive the reliability alarm that a reliable synchronization signal is close when it moves within range of a reliable device. Once a reliability alarm is received the mobile device may free other resources to allow it to receive synchronization signals from the reliable devices. The mobile device may then synchronize with the network based on the received synchronization signals and transmit its own reliability alarm for subsequent isolated devices to use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allocation of resources for handover related measurements in a communications system including user equipment (UE) devices, a macro base station and small base stations (e.g., femtocells) are described. Some embodiments are well suited for systems where the number of femtocells may equal or outnumber the number of UE devices. In some embodiments a macro base station allocates periodic communications resources for transmission of pilots by UEs or femtocells. The macro base station configures either femtocells or active UEs to transmit pilots using the allocated communications resources based on the relative number of femtocells to active UEs in the coverage area of the macro base station, devices which are lower in number transmitting the pilots. Transmitters (UE devices or femtocells) transmit pilots along with identification information using the allocated resource(s) and receivers measure the pilot signals. The pilot signal measurements may be used to make handover decisions.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with improving resource allocation for distributed D2D synchronization in densely populated communications systems. In an example, a communications device is equipped to transmit a synchronization signal during a beacon period of a synchronization channel. In an aspect, the synchronization channel may include the beacon period, a paging period, and a TIB period. The communications device may further be equipped to monitor at least one of the beacon period, the paging period, or the TIB period of the synchronization channel for one or more signals from one or more UEs in a D2D network, and determine whether to transmit information during at least one of the beacon period, the paging period, or the TIB period based at least in part on the monitoring.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with enabling timing source selection and deselection in a decentralized manner for distributed D2D synchronization in densely populated communications systems. In an example, a communications device, functioning in a non-timing source (TS) mode, is equipped to receive a request for timing information during a synchronization channel. The communications device may further be equipped to determine whether to switch to a TS mode based on a selection utility metric value. In another example, a communications device, functioning in a TS mode, is equipped to transmit a TIB during a synchronization channel, and determine whether to switch to a non-TS mode based on a deselection utility metric value. In the TS mode, the UE is configured to transmit a TIB, while in the non-TS mode the UE is configured not to transmit the TIB.