Abstract: Various embodiments, relate to a communications system in which communications devices of users and communications devices of vehicular systems communicate safety messages through a cellular communications band or the DSRC (Dedicated short-range communications) vehicular communications band or a combination of both. Various methods and apparatus are directed to communicating safety messages between vehicles and pedestrians/cyclists through the use of a cell phone, thus improving the impact of vehicular communications. In some embodiments, at least some cell phones in a communications system includes both a DSRC communications capability and a cellular communications capability.

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: Methods and apparatus for use in a wireless system are described where initiation of packet transmission is constrained in accordance to control actual packet transmission in a manner that reduces contention and possible collisions beyond that provided by lower layer resource contention mechanisms, e.g., 802.11 carrier sensing and/or transmission back-off timing mechanisms. Through higher level, e.g., MAC constraints, on packet transmission initiation, an air interface which employs carrier sensing can be used and controlled in a manner which reduces collisions and interference in applications where small packets, e.g., packets which can be transmitted in a fraction of the maximum permitted transmission time. The methods allow small packets in such systems to be transmitted on a periodic or semi-periodic basis in many cases.

Abstract: An exemplary wireless communications device comprises a processor coupled to a memory and a wireless communications interface. The processor is configured to transmit a first transmission symbol at a first time index from a first set of time indices, and to transmit a second transmission symbol at a second time index different from the first time index from the first set of time indices, a portion of the first transmission symbol and a portion of the second transmission symbol including the same data. The first set of time indices is associated with a first device ID and includes at least one time index not contained in a second set of time indices associated with a second device ID, and the second set includes at least one time index not contained in the first set.

Abstract: A transmission initiation interval timing structure is used in combination with a lower layer timing structure, e.g., physical layer timing structure. A device selects a subset of packet transmission initiation intervals and then limits initiation of packet transmission to those intervals thereby reducing the potential for collisions. Packet transmission may occur outside the initiation interval in which the transmission is initiated. In some embodiments, packet transmission length is intentionally limited to sizes which can be transmitted in a fraction of the amount of time the physical layer allows a single device to continuously transmit, e.g., in an amount of time which is equal to or less than the duration of a packet transmission initiation interval. This increases the probability that multiple devices will be able to successfully transmit small packets at short intervals on a regular basis even when carrier sensing techniques are used.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining, e.g., selecting, communications resources, e.g., tones, to use in a communications system are described. The methods are well suited for use in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Devices seeking to transmit information select tones in pairs for use in transmitting the information. Each tone pair includes a tone and the corresponding image tone. By restricting a communications device to select communications frequencies in pairs, the problem of interference and reduced dynamic range at a receiver due to IQ imbalance is reduced, as compared to the case where devices may use a tone independent of the corresponding image tone for transmission purposes, since the path loss from the transmitter to the receiver is likely to be the same for both tones and the transmission power level is controlled by an individual device using both of the tones.

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: Method and apparatus related to implementing and/or utilizing different polarization antennas with different corresponding average transmit power levels are described. Inter-cell interference is mitigated by having different cells with different power relationships between polarizations antennas. For example, a first base station transmits at a high average power level on its vertical polarization antenna and transmits at a low average power level on its horizontal polarization antenna. Concurrently, a second base station, which is adjacent to the first base station, transmits at a low average power level on its vertical polarization antenna and transmits at a high average power level on its horizontal polarization antenna. In some hexagonal deployment schemes a base station has at most two adjacent base stations using the same power level to antenna polarization direction relationship as it is using.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a first message from a first wireless communication device and a second message from a second wireless communication device, obtains information associated with a first processing delay with respect to the first message and a second processing delay with respect to the second message, and transmits a third message comprising an indication of the information associated with the first and second processing delays.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for classifying a motion state of a mobile device. In one embodiment, accelerometer data representing acceleration components along orthogonal x, y, and z axes of the mobile device are collected. A presence or absence of a half-step frequency relationship between the accelerometer data is determined. Last, the motion state of the device is determined based at least in part on the presence or absence of the half-step frequency relationship.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus is a first BS. The apparatus determines a first channel between a second BS and a first UE served by a third BS, determines a second channel between the first base station and the first UE, and determines a first direction vector to be used by the second base station for sending a data transmission. The apparatus transmits a set of resource blocks to a second UE served by the first base station with a second direction vector determined based on the first channel, the second channel, and the first direction vector to be used by the second base station.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for securing content for delivery via a communications network. The methods, systems and devices may involve coding a plurality of packets using a determined code to generate a coded set of packets. A plurality of packets of the coded set of packets may be hashed to generate a plurality of hashes. The plurality of hashes may be transmitted via the communications network to deliver the secured content.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to peer to peer communication networks are described. Embodiments directed to methods and apparatus for establishing traffic data transmission rates and/or transmission power levels between wireless terminals is described. Embodiments direct to methods and apparatus of making decisions whether or not to transmit as a function of the received power of the received response signals are also described. Transmission of pilot signals after granting of a transmission request and a decision to transmit traffic data has been made occurs in some embodiments. Rate information to be used in determining a traffic rate may be received in response to the pilot signal from a peer to peer (P2P) device.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a first message from a first wireless communication device and a second message from a second wireless communication device, obtains information associated with a first processing delay with respect to the first message and a second processing delay with respect to the second message, and transmits a third message comprising an indication of the information associated with the first and second processing delays.

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 method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus determines paging resources of a plurality of paging resources allocated for listening to paging messages. In addition, the apparatus transmits information indicating the allocated paging resources in a peer discovery signal. The apparatus may determine the paging resources on which to listen based on information received in peer discovery signals received from other wireless devices. The received information indicates the paging resources allocated to the other wireless devices.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate detecting and/or identifying peers in a local area peer-to-peer network. Times (e.g., peer discovery intervals) for performance of mutual detection and identification between peers may be synchronized (e.g., based upon a signal broadcast to the peers). Further, within each partitioned peer discovery interval, a wireless terminal may select a portion of time to transmit (e.g., broadcast) short messages that may be employed by peers to detect and/identify the wireless terminal. Moreover, the remainder of the time within the partitioned peer discovery interval may be employed to listen to short messages received from peers.

Abstract: Methods and devices for processing and retransmitting highway communication system transmissions include determining a reliability of a received message and including an indication of the reliability in retransmitted transmissions. Reliability of received messages may be based on a signal strength of the received peer transmission, comparison of the signal strength to a distance to the transmitter based on message contents, the age of the received message, the signal quality of the received message, and other parameters. An indication of the determined reliability may be included in retransmissions of the message to enable other vehicles and receiver units in the highway communication system to benefit from the reliability determination. Message reliability may be used as part of prioritizing messages for processing. Messages may be processed according to priority so that high priority messages are processed before lower priority messages.

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: Methods, systems, and devices are described for opportunistically using at least a portion of a dedicated short range communications (DSRC) spectrum. A multi-mode device is operated outside of the DSRC spectrum. An activity level is detected on at least a portion of the DSRC spectrum, and it is determined whether to use at least the portion of the DSRC spectrum based at least in part on the detected activity level.